We are looking forward to taking both cars to several shows this year and drive them, yes drive, even more. The Willys made the several shows last year and we drove it over 600 miles during September alone! Some of that was in the rain during the Hot Rod of the Year event in Indy. The Rockne just received a little updating with new Dayton Wire wheels painted to match the interior and a touch up on the paint in some spots. It is looking fresh and ready to go again this year. For those that we met last year, we hope to see you again and we look forward to meeting several new people this year. We will have both cars at several Goodguys events this year, Bowling Green Hot Rod Reunion and we will be set up with the Lo Man Rods Booth in Columbus, OH this year again. The Lo Man Rods booth will be bigger and better than ever and there will be a lot going on there. You can visit their website and Facebook page to be entered for two weekend passes for the Columbus Goodguys event along with winning two Lo Man Rods t-shirts. Their Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/LoManRods. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Wow, Your Rockne is only the second full fendered and "done" I've ever seen. I've owned mine since since 1963 and it's always been fenderles and for the most part un finished in my view. I did drive the crap out of it for a long time, well till 1975. Been on the back burner since. Maybe this is the year. I like your Car! The Wizzard
We were driving the Willys today and couldn't help but get both cars out and shoot some shots of it and the 32 Studebaker Rockne together. The Rockne won the 1st Street Rod Nationals in Peoria and the 40th Nationals in Louisville. The Willys was the 1964 NHRA "Best Engineered" car. We have a complete 3 year build video and race video of the car available for anyone that wants to see the process Lo Man Rods went through. You can also check out the Lo Man Rods website for more build shots and other projects at: http://lo-manrods.com
My father bought the Rockne in 1968 and it was original a drag car in the early 60's. Dad turned it into a street rod and it won the first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria, IL. He was re-doing the car again until his passing away. After a 13 year build to complete the car like he was going for, with a lot more done than he had in mind, we finally got it done for the 40th Nationals in Louisville where it won top 25 there. It has been great to honor him by taking the car multiple places and sharing the history of the car. Please share a picture of your car if you have one handy.
Here ya go. Not quite like yours but it'll do. Been searching for years for a correct windshield frame. So far nothing but some Chatter. Some day. I do have 4 fenders for it and have had them set on but never to stay. As you can see it's been worked over a bit. No that's not a S.B.C. in it. The Wizzard
I may still have a windshield frame and glass for what it used to have in it. I would have to look for it. We made a one off mold for ours and the windshield is curved with the body and floats in there like a new car does. The top of the dash and around the windshield was built out flush with the windshield itself. Let me know if you have interest in the frame etc. If so, I can look for it and send you pictures of it.
Yes I would like to end up with one. If you could check on it that would be grate. Mine started out with one but I let a glass shop pull one over on me in 1968 and have regretted it since. They actually installed what's there said sorry and at that time I wasn't smart enough to leave with my original parts. You could just P.M. me the information if you don't mind.
Looks like a couple of nice cars,not too many people can honestly say they were even at Peoria. My pal John Collins was there and he still owns the same Deuce 5 window he drove to Peoria. This is the car now,,I believe the car was red or orange at that time. HRP
The only parts that I have are an extra set of front fenders and complete hood. However, nothing is for sale. You may look into the Rockne Registry through Larry Tholen. I have the contact info if anyone needs it. My father actually started this list many years ago and used to track where cars and parts were for Rockne cars.
Ole Buzz would be so proud of you! The Rockne sure looks nice....I personally like it better now than before! I will definitely be at Bowling Green and please come by and visit....I will have either Akin's orange 40 or the Mid Continent Securities Spl. vintage Epperly laydown Indy roadster...same spot....the triangle of grass coming in on the right...will be nice to visit! You need a sticker for the back glass similar to mine: "Hell no it ain't a Packard!", except yours needs to read "Hell no it ain't a Ford!" Doesn't some guy from your area have the slick modified '32 black Packard.....think I saw where it's gonna be at an auction.......(I may be mistaken as to owns this very nice car)......Keep on Rocknein'!..............Joe
WOW!! Both of those are FANTASTIC!! But the 32 Rockne is a stunner. As much as everybody like 32 Fords, including me, I'd rather have your car. I would put a small simple set of nerf bars on it, and door handles if it could be done without messing with the beautiful paint work. If I couldn't, oh well.
Thanks! I know I met you many years ago when my father was alive. I look forward to speaking with you this year in Bowling Green. My brother will be driving the Rockne and I will be in the Willys. Hope to speak with you then.
Thanks! I love 32 Fords also but I like having something that not everyone else has and has no idea what it is. No one can just buy new parts for Rocknes and items are hard to find.
Wow, Kevin! That Rockne is just damn near perfect. Never saw one with such a great stance. And the burgundy wires are awesome.
Thank you! We wanted to change the look of the car this year and give it some color to match the interior. I give props to Dayton Wire Wheels. They are always great to work with!
That car "rocked" when it was purple, it and your Willys are just plain beautiful! Have fun,haul ass!
Bill Roell out of Covington, KY (I believe) painted the candy purple on the car after it was black at the first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria. We were thinking about doing some sort of purple on it again but didn't want it to look like an Easter egg or like any other purple car. We decided to go back to black since it was originally black and would be easy to touch up after driving the car and putting some chips on it. We plan on driving both a lot this year and take them a lot of places. We drove the Willys a ton last summer and did several short 100-200 mile tours in it. No one can say that both cars just sit inside a trailer.
The Jalopy Journal
