I was checking the R&C website and came across this feature The Fastest 1932 Fords From The Early Days Of Racing Now this image below caught my attention with the '34 Ford RPU in the background, it looks to be an early So-Cal Plating shop truck. This photo is from about 1933-4 so the RPU would be new. TRJ feature on the So-Cal plating '35 delivery (phaeton) had a couple of shots of two similar '32-'34 RPUs. Does anyone have more pics of this early custom? Cheers Jimmy
Im not 100% but it might be the Atlas chrome truck which I think was earlier then the So-cal truck.I also think Frank Kurtis had a hand in building it as well.
Enlarged from the top photo... Below shows what I think is the same truck (top inset photo) as beeing a truck designed by George DuVall for the So. Cal. Plating company, according to an Rod & Custom Magazine article on George DuVall And below is the design sketch George made for the truck.
These two pics are from the book Kurtis-Kraft,by Gordon Eliot White. The text says Frank Kurtis built the one similar to the one in your pic for Southern California Plating Co. He built the light colored one from a '34 roadster for Atlas Chrome Plating Co. I sure wish that cat with the trophy would move so we could see what was done at the rear.What an era!
In the last post, the light colored roadster actually looks to be a 28-29, with a custom 34 front end on it. In the picture with George holding the grill, that grill appears on a 28-29 Roadster in one of the Montgomery books.
Hey, For years, at the Model T Swap Meet, in Long Beach, a guy who sold old carbs & magnetos, would always have the grille off that race car displayed on his sales table. Every year I'd check it out, and admire the craftsmanship it took to make it. It wasn't until I saw and read the Kurtis book, and saw the picture, that I learned who built that grille, Frank Kurtis! S****ey Devils C.C. "Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"
I think this might be the same truck. Same bumper different headlight treatment. Here's another shot of the Atlas plating truck...Sooo Cool...
Here is another picture of the pickup you are refering to. The article states it is a 31 Ford which furnished the design for the startling grille which distinguished the radical terraplane of that era.
Looking over the pictures I found a few differences - By comparing "Jimmy B" pictures, such as the windshield slant to the door line and the front fender line near the bumper, "StanLow69" and "Nostalgia59" picture 1 looks like the same truck with headlight exception on "Nostalgia59" picture 1. "Rikster" inset picture is correct, but picture 2 and "LowLife" picture - the grille has a noticeible center bar and the headlights are different, though the fenders are similar. "Nostalgia59" picture 2 the grille, headlights and fender are different, but the windshield angle to the door looks to be a similar "laid back" angle (like a DuVall). One can only wonder, Were more then we know of built and are now stored away only to see the light of day again in the future ??????
I'm almost positive this truck is a '32.... And this truck is a '33. Different grille, windshield, bumper and fender shape...
That is Henry Puckett the owner of Atlas Plating Co from Los Angeles(holding the trophy) with Ted Horn Driving. I have quite a few of these pictures and will show some other angles of the Official Car when I can get the pictures into the computer. Any thoughts or interest let me know.
Yes please.... Scan and share them here. I would love to see more of these photo of these fantastic cars. Thanks.
Me too. It's just hard to believe none of those customs survive. But, then again, many Duesenbergs and L29 cords were s****ped as worthless outdated cars.
That grille was on a T Dry Lakes car. The Atlas Chrome car does exist today, but has a later body and grille on it. Bob
Anybody have a better picture of this car? At least I'm ***uming it's a car and not a wild roof design on a truck. I was also checking out the grille work on the trucks and can't help but notice some similarities between the Du Vall and the custom coachwork put out by Brewster & Co. Here is a picture of a Brewster Ford owned by Hemmings Motor News.....
Sorry man, I've lived in the northeast all my 55 years! The roof line caught my eye and interest. I'd still like to see the whole vehicle.
I think his name is Nostalgia59, and he must have posted on this thread, I would think. Yes, and that actually is/was a car; I recall it was a new 35 phaeton, but they customized it when it was brand new in late 35? and used some brand new 36 nose parts? It is a beautiful custom truck, and there are lots of pics on hamb. They also used it as a push/pull car at the local circle tracks, too.
Found it! Thanks guys! This is freakin' wild... I love it and "nostalgia59" is doing an awesome job of recreating this marvel. Just look at it! Ain't see a thing of beauty! Look at that roof line, look at that grille work! Fabulous! This is truely a work of art! I gotta get back to that thread, I've got 6 more pages of drooling to go!
Seeing those pics again, makes is so hard to think it was s****ped. Yes, stuff gets old, but that was a well known work of art that someone must have wanted to save. Why does no-one positively recall what actually happened to it......
Finding the original So Cal Plating Special would be the ultimate find of a lifetime. Even finding another photo of it(not shown in Nostalgia59`s album)in a magazine would be a plus in my book.
As an aside, those of us who still build model kits will recognise the So Cal Plating truck roofline design in the AMT 1/25th Phantom Vicky plastic of about 10 yrs ago..........while the kit was deleted yrs ago its worth finding if you like model kits and custom history.........andyd
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