Customs Elegant Farmer

With alot of the old custom feature cars popping up in recent years I was wondering if anyone had any info on the " Elegant Farmer" Wheelbarrow rod ?

I still have the old color postcards from Promotions Inc. I bought as a kid at my local amu*****t park vending machine and the postcard mentioned a guy named Willard Wayne as the builder of this feature car. I was curious as to whether this guy really existed or if the "farmer" was built by another builder ?

I realize these creations were built and displayed to pull people into the shows back then and weren't functional but nonetheless they're a part of the whole hot rod & nostalgia scene.

 

I dont remember that one.

 

Here is a link about the MPC model kit.

http://www.showrods.com/showrod_pages/elegant_farmer.html

and a picture from a 1969 show

http://www.hubgarage.com/original.h...egant_Farmer_Portland_Roadster_Show_1969_.jpg

and another picture

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robertberkowitzrsbimageworks/3965107724/

and this is a pretty neat page if you're into model kits

http://www.showrods.com/home_page_links/alpha_list.html

 

Thanks for the tip on the web site. I've visited that site many times ,a must see for anybody into the old Show Rod model kits. I wish I had all of the original kits I bought new back in the day for $1.50 -$2.00 LOL. These days putting a model kit together is an expensive proposition.

 

Yes the Elegant Farmer was built by Willard Wayne of Hayward California. I was working for Promotions back in'68 and '69 and brought the strange vehicle back to Detroit for Bob Larivee. Willard helped me bunches back then, and wish I could contact him...great guy. Frank

 

Frank

Thanks alot for your reply. That sounds like that was a cool job you had back then with Promotions Inc. Did you haul any of the feature cars around the country or was that a one time thing picking up the "elegant Farmer" ?

Do you remember if Willard Wayne built cars as an occupation ? I was always curious as to whether or not Willard Wayne was a real person. I had never seen his name in print ***ociating him with any other Show Car type vehicle.

I actually saw the "Elegant Farmer" in person at the local annual Custom Car show back in about 1972. That definitely was one of the more creative feature cars touring back then.

Thanks again !

 

Yes, it was a fun, interesting year. I hauled the feature cars for different shows on the show circuit, plus a few single car runs to small shows or to pick up a vehicle. The Paddy Wagon by Carl Casper, Syletto by Ron Gerstener, the Voxmobile, several Barris cars, Bathtub Buggy, Bed Buggy, etc. Also the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, the Little Red Wagon, and Don Garlits Swamp Rat 1.
When I met Willard Wayne he had a small engine repair shop in Hayward, and I believe he only built the one show vehicle. I haven't heard of him after the "Farmer".
Happy motoring! Frank

 

Frank

That's definitely a job I'd have taken ,had I been driving back then, L.O.L. I was 10 back in 1970 and I attended my first custom car show in 1971 after coaxing my Brother to take me. I've pretty much been a regular attendee except for missing a couple of years in between the last 40.

Thanks again for the info and the memories of the job with Promotions Inc. "back in the day".

Take care.
Dennis.

Thn