Roy is a pretty neet guy........ and I would like to thank his son Sid.I could have talked to Roy for hours.......so interesting. I am sitting in a Holiday Inn somewheres in Kentuckty............ Heading of to Bowling Green. I aspire to be like Roy.......... I wish Sid would chime in and fill in any blanks........ Later fellas.
I saw the car at the Lincoln, NE March swap meet several years ago...it's showing some age, but still damn cool!
Ok guys let me see if I can help out here on getting things right. My dad and I drove the car 120 miles to the Ameria Cruise in Lincoln in 1996 or 97. It was not at the march swap meet. My father built the car with no electicity except for the grafting the 1930 Chevy rear half of frame to the front of the Model A frame for the kick up. He went to the neighbor and they arc welded it. All the rest of the welding was hammer welded. The front fenders were made from spare tire covers and the very rear body panel off a model A 2dr sedan. My dad said it had the right shape and roll for the inner part of the fender. If you notice the rear moon hubcaps are bulged out to clear the Model A rear axle. My dad did this by taking iron balls of different sizes and took the hubcaps out to the snow drift and let the ball roll to the center and hit it with a hammer till they would clear the axle. The tires were bought from Sears in 1948 and still look good. This car has always been in my life and will be till I die!!! My Dad gave me the car disease and there is no cure for it!!!!!!!!
Is the 1911 Excelsior a motorbike? If it is it kinda completes the deal, A sweet hot rod, a cool bi-plane, and a neat motorcycle. Damn, I am in awe of the original rodders.
Very cool! I wish more people would put the cycle fenders on these days, they look great. I plan on doing that on my truck, I just have to figure out what I can make them out of since there's not too many of the spare tire covers laying around these days. Probably cut up some "custom chopper" fenders.
The 1911 excelsior is a motorcycle that was my grandfathers. My grandfather traded it off in 1926 for a pearl handle gun. My dad in the 90's went to a estate sale of the man that my grandfather traded it to and found the motorcycle behind a chicken coupe and bought it. He is now restoring it.
Goodness Sid, after all the years I've known you, I never had a clue your dad was a rodder (Should have guessed, I reckon). Next time you get by the shop you'll have to fill us in a bit more.
This story puts the cool factor right on the rev limiter. What a slice of history Roy has lived through and lived it at full throttle. Looks like we will hear a lot more from him before he's done. AMAZING!!! Frank
Well we are taking the coupe to the KKOA Show in Salina Kansas. We last had it out in 1995 in Lincoln Nebr.
Who wouldn't get stoked on this story?!?!? Some European influences? Dig the Conti cover on the trunk lid and the sporty car fenders. Gary
Well I have seen it w/ own two eyes in person. Simply amazing piece. And getting to hang out w/ Roy and Sid and listen to Roy's stories was the icing on the cake. Made the show in Salina for me. Just incredible. Thanks Roy for bringing it down to let everyone appreciate. Can't wait to see it on Austin at the Revolution.....
You don't see many original's any more that haven't been modiifyied. This car shows how they really did it and the quality and skills the builder had back then. Thanks for posting and for the story.
Dad had a good time showing his car in Salina and visiting with everyone. Thanks for everyone that came by and said hi. We are planning on having it in Austin at the Revolution in November. www.droppedaxles.com
Just spent all weekend with Roy & Sid at Salina. He even ended up keeping my kids company for a while...It was great to see his car out and hear him talk about it. I always enjoy spending time with Roy.
Getting the model A ready for the Revolution in Austin Dec 10th. Brought the car down to Okla. and doing a little work to it. Hope the weather stays good. My dad is 85 years old now and is driving down to Austin for the show. www.droppedaxles.com
We just got back from the Hotrod Revolution. Dad had a really good time. Winning best of show made his day. Thanks everyone that stoped and visted with him. If it was not for El Jefe, Reggie Hill and Norm Jones we would not have been there. Also a big thanks to Keith Tardle
Wow! I spent quite a while looking at that car at the Austin show. I did not know anything about the history until I got home and looked up this thread here on the HAMB. Something told me that the car was worth looking for It's history and I am glad that I did. I really like that you got it out for us-THANKS!
Roy was featured in a magazine this month! Rod and Kulture Illustrated!! http://www.rodandkulture.com/
Just got my July issue of Rod and Custom with coverage of the Hot Rod Reunion, it has Roy's car in it.
Just got the new Rod & Custom, on page 10, letters to the editor, is a letter from Rich Palmer and he says his father, Bill Palmer, was excited to see Roy Drapals car featured as he did the upholstrey work over 50 years ago! And of course they placed a picture of Roy's car next to it with Sid in the right! Way to go Roy!
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