Projects SCORED A '34 - Still can't belive it !!!

welcome to the 34 Ford coupe club!

 

That car looks great. But I am also partial to the Red wires.

 

Great look'n 34, shit can the WW, wires look good but it needs to be lowered!

 

Great score ... lower it a little and drive it like you stole it!

 

Just dont "fix" what aint broke! Please run the wires.

 

I like the RED wires better.

 

Great find and one more vote for the wires

 

excellent! let's hear the story.
also, put me down for running the wires but please paint them black!

 

Car looks terrific, congratulations!!

 

That looks nice!

 

WOW! that thing looks clean! Good job, I'm jelouse.

 

OK, I'll ask the question that is on every reader's mind, about how much was it? + or - $30,000?

I know it's not p.c. to ask, but you guys want to know what is "affordable". Hey, he doesn't have to answer.

 

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Your 2010 summer is going to be a memorable one!

 

Gorgeous!..

 

That is nice!!

 

Sweet score! Can't wait to hear the full story.

 

Great find -- looks like a really nice, virginal '34.

If the wires are 16" Kelseys, I favor them; if they're Ford wheels, I like it better with the discs.

Tell us the rest of the story, and what your plans are for the car.

 

Thanks for the kind words...

I have a few minutes, so here is the rest of the story... (kinda long)

I'm at a small local car show when an older fellow wanders up to me and asks if the '54 Ford is mine. I say yes and he says he has an NOS horn ring for the car. I tell him I want it and make arrangements to pick it up on my way up north the next weekend.

About an hour later he wanders back up to me and asks were I bought the car. I say Beaverton, MI. He replies " this is Don Davis's old car. I say yup, and immediately go into how I can't wait to see Don and show him the car now and how I promised him The a ride in it. The old fellow then informs me that Don past away (cancer) shortly after selling me the car. (see related thread "RIP Don Davis").

The fellow then starts to open up about being 78 yrs old and having too many projects. Says he might be willing to sell some of them. I let him know I'll leave myself a couple of hours when I come up to pick up the horn ring.

I go up the next weekend and am amazed at the cars and parts he has collected over the years, He has 4 really nice and desirable projects (30's, 40's and a '50 convertible) and a ton of old parts. We spend a couple hours wandering around and chating. This guy remembers every part, when he bought it, why he bought it, and who had the car he bought it off of. Amazing.

As I prepare to leave, he shows me a few pictures of a '57 Chevy that he took. At the end of the pile of pictures is one picture of the '34. I ask about the car and he replies that he was helping a friend restore the car when he became ill (again cancer) and past away. Says he got to take him for one ride in the car before he died. He says the widow still has the car in a pole barn a few miles away.

I leave and tell him how much I enjoyed talking with him and I would be in touch soon.

I can't get the '34 out of my head, but don't even know if its for sale and highly doubt I could afford it.

A week later I call up the fellow and ask if I can come up and and lend a hand on one of his projects. I mention how much I would like to go and see the '34. He says sure, and that he could take me over to see it. So I go up and we take a look at the car. Instant love!! He mentions that the widow would sell but she does not want to see the car after it is gone. He gives me a price range she is considering. I get her phone number as she was out of town at the time. We spend the rest of the day chatting and going through his brag book of cars he had from since the '50's. It was truly an awesome day.

I call the lady later that day and ask her if she would sell. She says she is ready to sell and tells me her price. I say I will take it at her price and we make arrangements to sign the paper work 4 days later after the 4th of July weekend.

Sorry this is so long, but people always wonder how this shit happens. Well this time, it all started with a horn ring.

I now have a '34 Ford and a real friend. I just wish I would have met the fellow 20 years ago as he is truly an old-school hot rodder.


P.S... I want to make it clear that I did not steal this car from a widow. Yes, I did get a great deal, but she set the price on the car after discussing it with her 2 sons. Her sons are my age (40) and are musclecar guys. They have kept some of thier fathers other cars but were not interested in this one (??????).

I'll update you guys with some of my plans for the car later as this post turned into a freakin book!!

 

Great story. It's always a chain of events that leads people to some really great cars. Seeing how nice you're '54 turned out it's probably that I'll love your '34 too!!!!

 

Great car and story, congrats.

 

GREAT car! Love the story...glad you got a new hot rod buddy!
Would like to see pics of this guys stable too.
(I vote for the wires).

 

what an awesome story and you made a friend who has great stories to tell to , hope he gets to finish some projects , the car is shweet

 

OK, got the kids to bed. Gotta few to go over my plans for the car.

Plan on leaving the body as is and just adjusting the altitude a little in front and back.

Wheels will be either the 16 inch spokes powder coated black with new center caps. Option 2 is a set of '40 Ford steelies coated black with narrow trim rings and chrome bullet lugs with no center caps. Both options will be wrapped in black wall bias-plies.

The car came with a custom gray cloth and interior (removed during restoration) probably done in the '70's. I want to clean it up and reinstall it, warts and all.

I plan to drive it ,as is, until winter (after getting it rewired and replacing a bad fuel pump). I will then make a decision on repowering the car. I don't think the 85-90 hp flattie is going to cut it and hop up parts for the 21 stud engines are almost nonexistent. A later flat head or possibly a well dressed y-block may find its way under the Hood.

That the quick and dirty plans.

After all the discussion about the damn blue wheels, I can't wait to hear everyone's opinions about all my other plans!

 

Cool car.
Cool story.
Cool plans.

 

That is a great story and a beautiful coupe. Congratulations.

 

I agree, that is one great story, and I'm glad you got the 34!

 

Grate find bouth friend and car
i had that kind of Esperance with a rare 49 VW Hebmuller Cabriolet
about 25 + years ago