Hey Hambrothers, So this last week, my friend Cory was telling me that he had mentioned to his Grandpa that i had several old projects, and his Grandpa had wanted to meet me, and show me his car, and just talk shop. So over the weekend, we drove down to his Grandpa's house. When we got there, I found a small little house, with a garage connected. We were led into the garage and waited there for him to come in from the back yard. In his garage, was the most beutiful, pristine car i had ever seen. Now i have been to hundreds of shows and museums, including the Ferrari historical museum outside Modena Italy, and this car was as perfect if not more perfect then anything i had ever seen. Grandpa Portz, came in and proceeded to introduce himself and tell me his story. It all started in the 30s, where as a youngster he made a model plane that was so intricate it won an Ohio contest and moved to gain national recognition, it sits today in the Smithsonian. In ww2 he became a b17 mechanic, at Evans Feild, among other places. In 1975 he found a frame and rusted body of an old roadster in a junk yard, and bought it and began his restoration. The car was a 36? give or take a few years, Cord. Now this car is just being completed this month. He has built everything on this car from building all the wood bracing, and counting every stich in the upholstry and making it perfect, to fully building the motor, wheels, and EVERYTHING. It has been a life long project. Among a e type and a xk 140 that he sold to fund this build. He has also done work on other Cords with his expertice to pay for his own project. For me, as a younger guy, this kind of thing is like church when your a kid. A reverence and respect for old timers who served int he war, and also car guys who pioneered what im doing now. The guy was a well of information and a car lover like i had never met. I snapped a few photos of him and his Cord, and thought it was so cool i should share it with those of you who like this sort of thing. Heres his Cord Heres a photo of him and his award winning model, as a kid, then him as a young hot rodder in 54 or so, then him in the cockpit of this plane hes working on in 43 Heres his wall in his machine room, covered with letters from Generals, world war 2 aces thanking him for his work on their planes, awards from this and that. None of them he bragged about, we had to read them when he wasnt lookin. Heres his Cord
what a job...and I might add...job well done..my dad was a wwII vet ..Navy Sea Bee's and Marine's..we owe so much to these guys who have kept and continue to keep us free...d32
Every once in a while you run into a true craftsman. This gentleman is definitly that. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Man, that Cord is AWESOME!! Cory's grandpa is a top-notch mechanic, builder/restorer, and one of those quiet American heros you get to meet every now and then. Great story.
I'm confused! Are both of the Cords in your photos his, and if so which one are you talking about as the latest restoration? If he restored both, well all the better. If you have a chance to visit with him again, ask him about the photo of the 7/11 Gee Bee on his wall. It would be very cool if he also had a connection to the Granville Brothers who built the badest air racers if the 30's.
I'm guessing he was a little young to have too much connection with the granvilles. the model he built is of a Laird turner meteor air racer that wasn't even a thought in the designer's head until 1936 and won the thompson race in 38 and 39. the Granvilles were bankrupt and out of business by 33-34. Most likely a fan of air racers in general. the man has exceptional taste in both cars and planes in any case!
that blue cord looks familiar, i have seen it at a few car shows in Santa Rosa, you can learn alot from a guy like that, like i say, he has forgot, more then i know,
Beautiful. To see two Cord convertibles in one place has to be next to impossible. Certainly has my respect. Thank you for sharing!
Damn gotta love those cords, and the guy who's building them sounds awesome. That good old fashioned quiet skill.-dd
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