During the Night Prowlers show, I met a gentle men named Don Green. He bought the car from he thought the original owner was Vick Swarrington the car has Vick's Rocket on the hood, on the radio it has Rocket. The tag Fogoni & Falaschi 074. is fasten just above the vin tag. The car was in some of the early fifties east coast mags, anybody can help out we would appreciate it. Happy Trails, Mick
it looks like the same gut who built the pink shark?? from ct.same wheel wells and general biuld style>? the name will pop into my pea brain momentarily
that thing was in the swapmeet at springfield at the nsra show... some guy was buying it while i was lookin it over.... i asked the guy that had it there and he didnt seem to know jack **** about it....
Mick, when Don and Betty showed up sat, I was going to mention to you to ask Betty about her "new" car. They bought the car at the Springfield,Mo. fairgrounds last spring. I had seen the car and talked to the son of the original owner of the car. At least, that was his story. He said it was bought new and shipped to Paris France where it was customized by the frim which you read on the attached tag. He then said it had sat for several years when it was decided to sell. But, I am sure Betty and Don told you that much. Betty's story is that when they went by that car she asked Don to look at it. Betty said Don said it was the ugliest car he had seen. She talked him into buying it, anyway. All I know or want to tell. Jim
Mick, I think I have a mag with a complete article on that car including old build pics. The trick will be to find it. May be a few days but I will look for it.
no no it was the pink beast and frank maratta was the biulder i have no idea if he biult that buick but if you have ever seen the pink beast there are similarities..and im not making fun of that buick iether
I could have sworn that car was in one of the orignal issues of Hop Up. I'll track down the book to see if I'm wrong.
[ QUOTE ] the pink beast and frank maratta was the builder [/ QUOTE ] When they were descibing the car to me, Frank Maratta was the first thing that popped into my head. They emailed this picture to me this morning so I hadn't had the chance to go through my mags yet. They are looking for magazine coverage to see what it originaly looked like, so they can start a resto. Ugly? kinda, but considering it was built in the early 50s I would like to see it restored. Hey Jim besides running into you, this was another highlight of the weekend. Thanks guys for the help. Happy Trails, Mick
That car "sort of" resembles the styling of Figoni et Falaschi in the way that Homer Simpson,"sort of"resembles the Mona Lisa(Both of them have 2 eyes and they smile). It looks like there was a lot of metal work done to the car and probably pretty decent work to boot but I doubt that it is in the cl*** of that coachbuilder.Looks like someone was very inspired by their work and decided to try and replicate it.A lot of that was going on in the late 40's and early 50's and the results ranged from,"not too bad" to "hideous".I think the Buick falls somewhere in between the two.My feeling is it should probably be cosmetically restored and enjoyed by the new owners.BTW here is a pic of an original F&F body taken from the 'net.
I found a picture in one of my mags caption above the picture reads as follows: Buick Roadmaster in two tone green with chrome medallions over the front and rear fenders. The Car is entirely restyled from rear fenders forward, designer-owner Vic Morbidelli, Union City, NJ., expects to install a full race Cad engine. car valued at $9,500 Does this ring a bell with anybody? Happy Trails, Mick
Let me explain Vic Morbidelli was my grandfather. That's definetly his car. Sadly he p***ed away before I was born and his only child (my father) died when I was 10. I have one picture of the car it's a postcard papa vic had made up for the unveiling of the car. Unfortunatly I know nothing else about cars at all. I am very curious to see any pictures you guys might find of it though, or any information you have on it. Thanks Jason Morbidelli dissenterinc@yahoo.com
Ran across this old post. I took the pistures of this car in this link. Car is in Joplin Missouri. http://forums.aaca.org/f169/have-any-you-ever-seen-car-264302.html Did anyone ever find it in any old magazines? Kent
Thanks for posting the update, It was a very ugly custom back when it was built and it looks like it isn't going to get better. My opinion the car needs to go back the way it was. Cars like this have some kool history and it needs to be restored carefully with a lot of thought. Looking at the pictures, looks like they are going to turn it into a custom that was restored in the 90's Painted bumpers? Yuk! The original build the inserts were either chromed or copper plated. I didn't think that it could be worse. Amen brother! LOL! I had one but I gave it to the owner to help him with the restoration. I thought that I bought another one to replace the one that I gave away. Back then a lot of customs were trying to make their mark in history. They didn't have the benefit of having Rikster's web site to see what will work or not. I love this custom history. If I can find it I will post the picture. Happy Trails, Mick
hey mick have you talked to don about it recently? what ever came about it? hes just down the road, i can try and run down there one day.
I hadn't talked to Don since I gave him the magazine and that has been years ago. I love all kustoms so it would be kool to get an update. Happy Trails, Mick
We have it pretty much all done. My dad didn't put it back to the original color or chrome, I wish that he had. We are selling it, so hopefully the new owner will put it back to the original color, and chrome. I'll post a pic of it real soon.
In 1979 I was towing s**** buses for the NYCTA when I went past a body shop on rt 440 Staten Island NY and noticed an old car covered up with a tarp. I stopped in and the guy uncovered it for me, it was this car Vic's Rocket which was a 47 Buick. It had a straight 8 with a blower mounted on the intake side of the motor. The car ran but the brakes were out and it was for sale $500.00. I gave the lead to my car club at the time, Long Island NY Olds club of America and two members went and purchased it. They put it on the road and I lost contact with them. A year or so later it was in Hemmings for sale. You can call it ugly but it's pure hot rod history.
I guess my long term memory is still good. The car was pictured in Trend book 1001 CUSTOM CAR ANNUAL on page 121. Buick Roadmaster in two tone green with chrome teardrop medallions over front and rear fenders shown. Car is entirely restyled from rear fenders forward, and designer owner Vic Morbidelli, Union City, NJ. expects to install a full race Cad engine. Car is valued at $9500 This in a section ***led CUSTOMS WITH CHARACTER A lineup of cars with singular personalties. They said that right. dechrome
I think if you declutterred the sides of the car and simplified the chrome trim and bumpers. Reshaped the wheel openings I think you might have something quite nice there.
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