I'm envious, so I'll pretend it's mine... Hopped up flathead; check, with as many rare late '40s goodies as possible. Juice brakes; check. Oh, and '40 Ford wheels, not wires. Drop. And, (gasp), a chop! I've always thought the high stock windshield and header on the '35 & '36 roadster looks dated. A generous chop brings out the Zephyr genetics in the design of these cars. But it's not mine, "it's yours, so blah, blah...." Just make sure you drive it!
That would make a pretty sweet rat rod If it were mine, I would do all the mild stuff that everyone is saying. Juice brakes, dropped axle, etc. As far at the chop issue: pull the top, windshield, and stanchions off, Then order up a brand new set of chopped repop stuff. Seal all the original parts up and stick it up in the rafters. That is what I would do, but either way it looks good.
If you are planning on keeping it ,do what you want,if just going to sell it leave it cherry.,find something not so dang nice to rod and chop up.
People always say keep the parts so it can go back to stock.... but they never do for a good reason. Stock is boring. I would chop the top. I just did on my 36 roadster and it looks MUCH better than stock. Certainly juice brakes and a hotter engine is in order. Stance is everything. It should be changed as well.
And from the same area...Kellogg was Battle Creek MI. about the car, although it pains me to say it, I'd probably keep it as is. Is it bone stock, original paint, original everything? If so, then I'd not touch it. If it had an amateur restoration in the 60's - 70's, then I'd have no problem making some simple modifications. If the car can be proven to have some pedigree, then I'd present the car for sale, with pedigree as is. Take the $$ and buy a 35 that maybe isn't quite so nice, and build it the way I want... You're not going to enjoy it if it isn't what you want. That's for sure.
Me? I'd leave most of it alone. I'd buff the paint back, re-do the seat, add dual steel-packs, a dropped front axle and upgrade the braking system. If the engine is okay I'd paint the mill some shade of red, add some chrome acorn nuts and twin carbs, some clear red wires and an electric fuel pump. I might even upgrade the steering with one of those neat-o Mavel R&P steering gears. Then I'd drive the wheels off of it on nice sunny days. You can always undo this junk if it hits the big time Arizona auction block some day.
Nice car.I would hot rod/change it to your own taste without doing anything that couldn't be undone and keep all the original parts so that it could always be returned to original. If nothing else do the juice brakes though you can never have brakes that are too good.My 2 cents.
I agree with Mustangsix It is so Cherry !!! Just my opinion, it's your car, and there are a lot of things that can be done, and easily reversed if needed to be. NICE CAR.
NICE!!!!!! I wouldn't do anything that can't be reversed with wrenches. It will make a cool cruiser,Bonesy....
As said......do it with restaint!!!! Nothin' that can't be undone easily!!!! Will make an awesome rod!!!!
I'm faced with just the same situation with the '38 that Harrison used to own. After trying to get it to stop (absent replacing every mehanical component in the brake system) I'm installing the restored front spindles/brakes and restored '40 rearend that came from a '40 I used to own. Harrison put a 2X2 intake w/2 new English Stromberg 97's on it so the engine runs like a top. However............the flathead will NOT run highway speeds forever. This is the place I'm at. I want to get on the highway at 65-75 for a few hours at a time. So..........my current plan is to put a very mild 301 I've got and a '39 top loader in to accomplish that goal. I'll drive it a while with the new brakes before making a final decision but missing a chance to stir up the old SBC debate just isn't in my nature. Frank
My own story from 10 years ago.........I'm a 37 Ford guy and had spent many years looking for a decent 37 Ford Club Cabriolet to build into a street rod......Like everyone else I drove many miles to look at cars presented as nice, only to find piles of rusted sheetmetal that resembled a 37 when I got there.......In 2000 I found one in the San Fransisco area that looked pretty good in the pic's and decided to take a chance on buying it without going to see it....It was priced at $19,000 so I thought that when it showed up it would probably end being a thrown together Bondo Buggy, but at the price I thought I'd take a chance...... When it showed up a couple of weeks later, it ended up being a all original rust free car that had a Radio and Stewart-Warner southwind heater, it was one of those cars that when it was running, you couldn't hear it........Bottom line........I found my dream car.......But........I couldn't touch it........Kept it for 5 years and sold it for a tidy profit................I really miss that car as I know I could never find another one.... Ken
My two cents, spend some time researching the history of the the car, that way you can find out if it's historical significance is high enough, in your mind, for you not change anything. Tough choice to make, because I think they look damn good in stock trim, and dropped with a rubber rake. Here's a picture Ryan took at last weekend's Pasadena Reliability Run.
It's your to do what you want. Any one saying you should leave it alone, ask them to give you $40,000.00 and they can leave it alone!
Do you want to enjoy driving it and have some fun with it or are you going to flip it somewhere down the road ? If you plan on flipping it leave it stock. It"s your car.......if it were mine and i had the funds . I would send it to CORNHUSKER ! Tell him to suprise me when it"s done. 35"s are my fav......
nice score bonesy!!!why dont u just trade me for my deuce that way u dont have worry about it i got the the same thing with my 36 all orignal never been restored its a tuff call man congrats!!
I agree with this, an unrestored car as nice as that is a rare thing even w/o the Kellogg provenance. Could probably sell or trade with a museum for something more appropriate hot rod wise. Nah, lets find every restored and original car and cut them up to make Old Yeller replicas!
I haven't read any of the posts but yours, although I can imagine what they say. Back in 40's, 50's, or even the 60's the car could have been that good or better shape and still rodded. This is a hot rod forum, you're a hot rodder and that is a the perfect candidate for BOTH!
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