Last Friday I had the privilege of buying this 1934 Ford 5W coupe show car from the family of the builder who p***ed away last November. The car was built in 1962-63 and was shown at car shows across the midwest. It was parked in 1966 and never left the garage again until July3, 2026. Because the builder was a friend since high school, I am having a hard time knowing exactly what to say in this post because of the mixed emotions I am having with owning the car, so I am going to say little about it right now. But I did want to share these pictures with my HAMB buddies because I knew they would enjoy seeing it. I will say that "in my mind" I am only the care-taker of this car in order that it can get the deep cleaning it so badly needs and deserves. I plan to change nothing, to restore nothing, to leave it just as I found it. I do not plan to start it or fix the brakes or fix anything else that may need repair. I will find all the info I can about it from the family and collect any history on it that they (or others) may have. And after that.... I cant say at this time because I don't know. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will answer questions you may have about THE CAR if I know the answer.
Nice! You're truly the right caretaker! It's like finding THE right woman: sometimes they find you. The car is perfectly built. Once it's cleaned up, I hope you bring it out to a few shows for all to enjoy. The car deserves it...
We can only hope, When our time has p***ed, The right caretaker takes over where we left off, Bet your friend is glad you have it.
Thats a great car. Your friend did well in building his dream. I am sorry for your loss. The deep cleaning and attention that you will be giving this car might be some good time of reflection on the life that you and he had together.
Yes, sorry for your and the family's loss. I would have a difficult time just cleaning it and leaving it an art display, not go the extra mile and get it back to running, but this is YOUR choice as it's caretaker. We don't know about how the owner viewed the car and was able to keep it as-is for so long. I hope you enjoy it and are able to share it with others. I'd recommend the Auto Geek website for guidance on how to preserve while cleaning such a unique piece of history. Slow, mild and careful over quick and easy. This is from 6 years ago, they may have a different product and technique now, but this is what they have suggested for a long time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS4jfCWsqT0
Many Hot-Rods auto being Resurrected found unbarned From 60's Because went to Vietnam and did not make it back, Parents spouses kept hidden in storage. Congrats yes to me that is a show rod but drive it , & me Its kinda irreplaceable add a agreed Vehicle value insured
@Moriarity Is there a chance you could blow up the pictures to full size? These old eyes of mine ain't what they used to be. Thanks in advance!!
I hope this does not step on @corndog 's toes, but I enlarged the pics some. I'll delete if this is not acceptable.The intent is to make them easier to see, not to overstep your post. Hope this helps, @J. A. Miller
The color , Was it call H-R Purple? With the covered running boards Surprised No side pipes like a Leads sled, The 2-1/2 round single or dual end's
Sorry to hear of the p***ing of your friend. For now, do just what you have planned. Give her a good wash and a hug and just kind of look at it for a while. It will tell you what to do next. -Abone.
Man, sorry for the loss of your friend. Glad you are able to become the next caretaker of a great car that your friend built. I like the idea of getting it all cleaned and polished up. Hoping after some time to deal with all the emotions, you might decide to get it on the road as well. I understand being a little overwhelmed at the moment. Thanks for sharing it with us. It really is a great car.
First, sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. But I second the idea of cleaning it up and then get in in running and driving condition. Letting the world see what your friend made might be the best way to honor him.
Here are some details about the ch***is and drive train. The frame is painted white and looks entirely stock to me. It has NOT been boxed or reenforced any where that I can see. The 327 is adapted to a 39 Ford trans that is hooked to a 40 Ford rear end, still using the torque tube. It has '40 Ford brakes front and rear, no shocks in the back, tube shocks on front using F-1 truck shock mounts. Steering box is original '34 Ford. Front axle is stock '34, not dropped, with split wishbones. stock front spring, spindles, and tie rod. LOTS of chrome on underside...front axle, wishbones, rear axle tubes, rear center section, rear radius rods, all backing plates, master cylinder, tie rod, drag link, pitman arm, and prolly some I forgot. Engine is a 1962 327 small journal #870 block with nothing on the suffix pad. Owner told me himself long ago he bought the long-block new from the local Chevrolet dealership. Having nothing on the Suffix pad would be consistent with an over-the-counter block. The info in the 1965 Car Kraft magazine says the engine has 12.5 to 1 pistons and an Isky 505 cam. That is news to me! I always thought the injection was also' 62 Corvette but numbers on the injection indicate it is a 57 Corvette unit. I always thought that the car was never driver but some local hot rodders have told me they rode in the car in 1965. However, the chrome on the exhaust indicates it has never seen heat? The exhaust manifolds are the large Corvette ran horn with the pipes spitting on both side just past the manifold so that four large chrome pipes exit the rear of the car just past the rear end. No mufflers! Battery is still in the stock location under the driver floor. I know some people think I should get it running and driving. To me that makes no sense given some of the things I just noted regarding the ch***is and the engine. I want to know (as any future owners would) is the engine stuck. I don't know yet, but I will take steps to find that out. But I will not take steps to get it running or stopping as I don't feel it is necessary for what I am hoping happens for this car when I am no longer the caretaker. Corndog
That is a big clue to the past history - Running and driving this hot rod might alter Ir's historic status. As suggested above, give it some time and the car will tell you what to do. Is there any oil in the engine, I vaguely remember that some show cars were ***embled without lubrication - Supposedly to prevent unsightly leaks. Russ
There is oil in the engine and it appears to be used. The gas tank reaks of old gas when you remove the gas cap. I removed the drain plug on the bottom of the tank and nothing came out but rust and fumes. Replacing the tank as a step to getting it running/driving would not be easy but doable. But the biggest problem for me is removing the tank will surely cause paint damage to the tank cover, the bottom of the trunk area, and the insides edges of both rear fenders. So I wont be doing that.
If it has oil and apparently at one point gasoline I'd say it must of been driven at some point in its life. My condolences for the loss of a good friend. And I understand your mixed emotions. And I agree take some time and work thru your emotions. With that said, I'd get it driving, then I wouldn't change a thing but to clean and polish. Once it was road worthy I'd take a ride in it to honor your friend and let him know and see that his dream lives on and then I'd be entering it into local car shows as a survivor and again in honor of your friend to let him know his creation is still being seen and admired by many people who love and respect what he built. If it were me and I'd built it, that would bring great peace to me to know it still lives and breathes and delights others.... .
I just stumbled across a video about an old T. It's posted in the Love For T-Buckets thread. EDIT: In it they mention that 2027 GNRS is having special areas for old mag cover cars and other historic stuff. On the site it's not mentioned except past contenders. https://rodshows.com/grand-national/ I would humbly suggest checking into this and giving yourself a deadline to get it clean. No need to try to get it running, since it sounds like that was very rare in it's former guise anyway. Just the paint, interior and chrome is a m***ive amount to deal with. Do your friend (and yourself) proud!
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