K.C.T.A....Kansas City Timing Assoc......The Ray Erickson collection (vintage pix)

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Ray-- I see you're listed as a "newbie". That's pretty funny!

 

Ray, feel free to send me more pix and I will get them posted for you.

Chris

 

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ooooooo------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This was my first car,a 1935 Chevie coupe--Splt manifold & porter steelpack duals

 

I was just reading Ray's intro. again last night and thinking that I needs to be on the main board here. Thanks for sharing all this.

 

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Ray, surely you must have better pictures of the 48 Merc. What was Gilbert Strange's connection to that? Did he buy it from you? That car was really cool because it was so unique.

 

any idea ray where the crosley tractor ended up? you sure put in a hell of a lot a work on it! super kool thanks ray for the pics

 

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---------Hi! Ray Erickson here-----The Tractor is in metal building in back of my house----It needs restored -I mowed & pushed snow with it for years, --The guys in my club ["The Misfits'] want me to get it going & show it off .--

 

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"LaHoya"---------------------------------------------Ray Erickson here-- This is a long story--I did have other pic's but can't seem to find them--This Merc coupe I chopped channeled & sectioned-- But I took pictures to work to show the guys [I worked at Hallmark Cards ,as an Engaver-- WELLLL ,one the guys asked if he could cut up a picture of side view ,,I said yes , so he shortened length of car,making it a GT type custom rod, whatever--I liked it so much I went home & cut off the chopped roof, Then shortened frame & body ,moving the rear fenders next to door jamb[18 inches ,as a matter of fact] I Named it "LAHOYA"-- iT WAS SO LOW ,THE TOP OF WINDOWS WERE AT MY WAIST LINE I threw away the old roof & used My 50 Merc roof on it ,That is what gave it GT styling _____I had completely welded the whole thing ,Had it basically finished out & I was very concerned about loosing my Wife & Children- I had been consumed wirh 'CAR ****' for so long, I decided to stop. SOOOOOOOOO!!! I yanked out my fullhouse flathead & trans & traded The body & frame to "Gilbert Strange" I traded for A COMPLETE NAUGAHDYE INTERIOR ,carpet, the works,in my 52 Desoto Hardtop [Hemi powered]--He took car to Thompson/Hall Bodyshop & had them finish it out & paint it orange--He named it "El Toro"----That is how it was featured -in 'CAR CRAFT"MAGAZINE-- Gilbert never told that I had built it--In fact Ray Farhner& Doug came over to look at it before I had contacted Gilbert Strange-- At that time ,Doug Still worked for Farhner--He wanted Ray to buy it.......He started his own shop later 0n . --------Anyway,,Car Craft Got so many letters They printed one of the complaint letters [From Al Lawson,whose 53 Stude I chopped] AND AN APOLOLGY -for giving incorrect information--HOWEVER ,hardly anyone Probably ever saw the retraction they printed 3 months later-- :There you have it --Your question really opened up a can of worms-as the saying goes- That was my chance at 15 seconds of fame---- At least I kind of feel that way--considering --That they stated on the cover:"one of the most fantastic early model full customs ever to be built " :[ End of true story Additional note- I scanned a Grille emblem that I Engraved for the "La Hoya" --I still have it------------------------THERE I FINALLY TOLD THE STORY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS ,Signed "Radical Ray Erickson"

 

Ray, I had even forgotten about the Car Craft cover. That is a shame. I had barely remembered Ray and Doug talking about how you had done most of the work, but somehow in the back of my mind it stuck and that's why I asked you. I believe that may have been one of the first cars Doug worked on when he got that shop on 87th.

 

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