Motion Pictures The Earl Bruce 40 ?,.. you decide

I just ran across these, it looks like the Bruce Earl Custom to me,. from a movie called "In a lonely place" 1950

 

Your right !,. I am just happy I remembered his name in any configuration,.... Those two first name, names always screw me up

 

Didn't he coach football for The Ohio State University? I know his brother was a Ford engineer.

 

In modern times...

 

those mirrors are scary..

 

That was Earle Bruce. The 1950 movie would have time-framed Earle at his late teens and was playing at OSU - or at least trying to make the team, which he never did.


Yeah, who doesn't enjoy an old Bogart movie every once in a while?

 

gotta be his car...check out the antenna and chrome stoneguards on the rear fenders. I was lucky to see this car at the All Ford Picnic at La Palma Park years ago...still looked good then.

 

There was a article on him years ago, According to the story he drove the car right from the dealership to the custom shop,.... he also said he drank motor oil every day !

 

Mirrors and quarter windows are a definite no no,i dont care who you are!

 

Ditch the mirrors ..put the skirts back on....Like it was originally.....

 

Stainless rear fender guards are to short and grille sides are different, and original bumper was more suited to the original . I think it's a clone.

 

No, the blue one is the same car.

 

Good to hear that it's still around I do like the grille treatment better but the mirrors are out of place the peep mirrors would look better.

 

I remember the car from one of the Hot Rod Annuals, (maybe '73?) It was shot in B&W, but there was Earl standing in front of it with a beer in his hand.

I've always dug that car.

 

Well a couple of things out of the correct time period is minor compared to the car it self. Its still a hell of a hot rod and thanks for posting the pic's and information.

 

I had that one, actually it was mt Dads, now that I think there was a Ford Annual that came out in the 70's with that car when it was red, with cragars and gold accents....

He was the guy with the Mercedes gull wing coupe that Von Dutch flamed, verticle flames too... cause someone screwed the paint up.

 

Forty Ford coupes beautiful!

Filled quarter windows on Forty Ford coupes - not so beautiful; well okay, they are just freaki' UGLY!!!

 

I can appreciate the historical significance of this car and it's place in hot rodding/custom history, but is there any body else besides me that will admit that they think it really doesn't look as good as a '40 coupe with a stock roofline? Just my opinion, but the proportions look odd.

Bob

 

Well, there's one that agrees with me!

Bob

 

I've seen this car many times....unfortunately! I still can't understand why they filled in the windows...and now those mirrors....good God man, get real!

 

I have always liked it too.
It was in Petersens complete Ford book in @1973.
There have been a couple other articles/interviews published about him.
Including a really good article in American Rodder, not long before it was taken over by Buckaroo. He is a one-of-a-kind!! He claims he's keep his youthful energy and appearence from drinking a quart of valvoline everyday!
One of the cool things about Earle and the coupe, is how they have kept up with the current technology and styles through the years, while still keeping the car traditional(other than the mirrors!) It's got a KILLER flathead in it now.

 

Think of it in the context of when it was done...1940!
Almost all the the metal work on the car was done BEFORE WWII !! If Earle hadn't updated it over the years, and just left it in the garage for 50years, everybody would be trippin' over their ****s saying how cool it is!
The mirrors ARE ugly, but those filled quarter windows make for a HUGE blind spot! Also remember, Earle is @ 85 years old, and still drives it!

 

FWIW, Count me a**** the blasphemers who've never cared for this historically important car. Mostly because of the filled quarter windows. Not as bad as some, but it could still stand as an example of why one might not want to chop a '40 Ford coupe.

It did look better in the old days with the skirts...

 

I agree, but I think one short trip behind the wheel would tell you why it has the Freightliner sized mirrors. The filled quarter windows must make for a mile wide blind spot. Peep mirrors would useless.

Bob

 

Earl Bruce had a Hot Rod too ?,........... crazy !

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=432626

 

I think the question was if it was the car in the movie. I guess most of the posts feel compelled to offer an opinion about the style. Damn near seventy years owned and driven by the same owner, deserves some respect to me. I don't imagine he cares whether anyone likes it or not, it is his baby.

 

Without a doubt, Earl Bruce was a character, ****in bad***, and hot rodder right up to the end of his life. His 40 is *****en and has been on the road forever. When he could no longer drive, he had his friend drive him to shows in it. He was a fixture at the Throttlers picnic and would be one of the last to leave every year. Thats Verne talking to him in the picture.
I believe he p***ed not too many months later. The car is in the good hands of one of his friends. Somewhere out there in cyberspace is a great story(with pictures) of his friends dumping his ashes out the window of the '40 at El Mirage while hauling ***. Funny thing was, some of the ashes blew back in and all over them!! Earl's last joke on them-ha!!
RIP Earl Bruce

 

Yes, it's the car..........Earl was trying to get in the film business as an actor. Mr. Bruce is about 89 years old and still drives the car with a badddddd flatty in it. I think I'll give him a p*** on those mirrors. the car went 121 mph in 1943 and he bought it new in 39 and chopped it then ...If he drinks motor oil everyday I'll start too, he's in great shape for being so old. apparently he flew mustangs in World war 2 and has driven this car for 61 years..My hat's off to you Mr. Bruce.

 

Damnit! I didn't know he p***ed away. may you give 'em hell in Heaven Mr. Bruce.