Here's the deal...this week two cars that are both high on my wish list have popped up and are available and what's even more amazing both within 5 miles of my house! The first is a 55 studebaker coupe (I really want a 54 but I have been leaving notes on this thing for almost 15 years...owned by an old couple it's in amazing shape and the flatty 6 still runs good) that somehow I missed out on but is now available for a good price...good metal, good chrome, decent interior and is a driver for the most part but will need the usual going through...always wanted to build one in the style of a salt flats racer. The second is a Henry J...no drive train but solid sheetmetal and of course the build would be a straight axle gasser. I only have enough money to buy one of them and the reality is I should use the bux to do some more to my 54 plymouth wagon and finish up a few loose ends on my 63 Riviera. I will post pix as soon as I can go check them both out again...probably this afternoon...which one would you go for and why...I'm torn but if I had to make a choice this minute I would go Studie but am holding off until I make arrangements to check out the Henry J. I should also clarify that the original couple who owned the Studebaker wound up letting it go to a guy who owns a couple of small used car lots...not sure what the story is whether they traded it in or sold it but either way I will be dealing with that guy and not the original owners.
I say Stude. You have been bugging them for it. Split the difference and build the Studebaker as a straight-axle gasser.
Yeah, go Stude man. Dont flake on them like soooooo many other people do these days... Youve wanted it for 15 years. Another Henry J will come around. This is the HAMB brother! -GothY-
Henry J...Because I've always liked them.. Then you could find a Stude V8, a 6-71 Blower, roughly 6 Strombergs, a good engine guy, an Econoline axle, some Hurst slicks, some halibrand mags, an Olds rear, a roll of white vinyl, a heavy flaked paint of your choice, lots of gold leaf and striping paint...some tubing for a roll cage, a chromer (preferably one with a big chrome tank) some tubing for a tube frame for the roll cage to attach too, some hinges for the front end, lots of chrome bolts and acorn nuts, more tubing for ladder bars, some springs, a set of sun gauges, some money, a little more money, some gas money, some race gas money, some money incase something breaks, of course your going to need a drag strip entry fee, and then you might need some beer money...the beer money is so you can buy beer, then the beer is used as trading stock to get a pit crew... Yep that's the ticket...
I vote for the Stude. If nothing else, it's a complete, running car, if you get into financial problems later, it will be easier to sell. Particularly if you spend a little time cleaning it up and so forth, if it needs much.
I should probably clarify...I missed out on the Studebaker when the older couple sold it...it wound up in the hands of a guy who owns a couple of small used car lots...as soon as I saw it there I was bummed but was pleasantly surprised that he wasn't asking a fortune for it
That changes everything. Buy the Hank. Don't give those stingy old bastards the satisfaction of seeing their Studebaker turned into something awesome. Let the car lot guy choke on it.
Sell the wife and house and buy them both . Seriously my vote is for the driver or buy them both.Make a deal with carlot and have payments and buy the other car with cash.
If you have been looking at the Stude for 15 years I would go for that one. You'll kick yourself in the teeth if you don't. As for the Gasser/AFX, don't worry we'll find you something when you get to NC Ken. We have two being build in our garage now. '61 Buick with a 401 Nailhead (BLOODYKNUCKLES) and Jeremy's '65 Falcon that is slated to get a 390 FE or a 429 in the next couple months. Or you could always buy my Roadster.
I'd go for the Henry J. I've always thought they were a way cool gasser. Around here they are almost non existant wheras there a few Studys left. Like someone mantioned, get them both even if you have to stash them for awhile to save up some coin to work on them. Being your two favorite cars if you have my luck after this you'll probably never get a chance at either if you pass on this opportunity. Frank
Wish I could figure out a way to take the Riviera off your hands, then you could get both. Know anyone that wants a 47 Ford COE hauler or a 63 Falcon Convert?
Stude,, hands down, sounds like it is a driver and you have been after it for 15 years. I guess I think just the oposite, buy it and show the old people that wouldn't sell it to you how much of a mistake they made.... think,, for 15 years you've probably formulated what you would do with the car,,, so go buy it and put those plans to work
Yeah I have definitely been leaning towards the Studie...I can't afford both so I am going this afternoon to try and strike a deal with the new owner of the Studebaker...Jeff I wish I could by the Hussy...love that sucker
That'll work out just fine if I get the Studebaker...since I know you'll let me do a few passes and tear that 61 up when I get back there
The Jalopy Journal
