This car had been put away in 1960 and hadn't moved for 50-years ! The owner was going to make it in to a "race car", according to his widow, and he removed a few parts and left it sit......and sit and sit and sit. The owner died around 2008 and an aquaintance of mine found out about it and acquired it in the fall of 2010 from the widow. He spent the winter getting it "road worthy" and was driving it in the Spring of 2011. I spotted the car in June of 2011 and told the new owner that "....if he ever wanted to sell it, let me know". He replied that he wouldn't sell it, but he'd trade me even for my '55 Buick, which he'd always liked. Three days later the '36 was registered in my name! I drove the car sparingly for that summer, but it really was a "rat rod" and not put together well, IMO. I undertook to restore it to the best of my ability and rod it to the level that it was worthy of. Right now the ch***is is just about finished and the body is next. Here's some pics that the guy I bought it from sent me, taken from when they dragged it home. Unfortunately, the rear wheels and spare tire were sold off before I got it. Anybody recognize the rear wheels?
bad***! I just drug home a '36 5W that had sat for 35 years. What are your plans for a drivetrain and suspension?
Nice find, TagMan. Odd looking wheels, got a sort of oval vibe to em with the wide 5 bolt pattern going on. Just my opinion but it's no great loss that they're gone. The side mounted rear radius rods are not current best practice either. 3W coupes, you gotta love 'em. Mart.
Wow! What a find...and a straight-across swap for a 55 Buick? Hell yeah! I was going to say "Why don't I ever find those kinda deals?" when I remembered I own a 34 ford coupe...but it wasn't in that kind of condition when I found it. That looks like a pretty nice body to me. I know it's been done many times but still, I'd love to do a "Jack Calori" styled 3 window. Too cool. Those rear wheels are like nothing I've ever seen before. Might make a good garden hole reel.
What a find - really nice 3-window and for a 55 Buick? Wow - I'm sure some covet the 55 Buick, and it is a cool car in and of itself. But, I do think many, many more would covet a '36 Ford 3-window ....
Sorry, no custom. I'm doing this one like I would have in the late-50's - early-60's........if I could have afforded it back then, strictly a hot rod. Hell, I can't afford it now, but I'll just borrow the money out of my kid's inheritance - after all, that's what the Fed's do and it seems to work out OK for them I had wanted to put a Nailhead in it, but the deal didn't work out, so I'm going with a 327 Chevy I have on hand (unless something else comes up in the meantime) and an 833 3-speed w/OD transmission I have that was in an "82 Chevy C10. I also have on hand, either a '57 Ford 9" or a '57 Olds rear end. I'll probably use the 9" as they're cheaper to build and since I'm retired, money is definitely an issue. I also put a Ch***is Engineering dropped axle in it.
Nice coupe, and you can be forgiven for putting a later model auto trans in it, given your advanced years and all, make sure you put a comfy seat in there too . Scotty