My father and I have been on the lookout for 1932-34 ford projects for years but were never able to hold onto or scrape together the funds necessary for them. We spent a while living out in Colorado where early metal is available but mostly comprised of non ford makes. One day, we stopped by the local engine builders shop, he pointed us in the direction of a 1934 Studebaker. A few miles away we found it, but it turned out to be a four door humpback sedan. However it was straight, relatively rust free, a roller and only $700. Why not right!? We hauled it home and started thinking of ways to make it into something we liked. We started by chopping out the rear doors, taking 5" out of the top and filling the roof insert, essentially making it a 5 window modified, haha not so pretty. That was more than ten years ago, since then it's been traded back and forth several times, sold off, re purchased by me then eventually given back to my father to pay my rent. The reason it stuck around is because as an ugly "orphan" 5 window studebaker modified, it just wasn't worth anything. When my father got it back the final time he said "screw it" I'll make a 3 window lakes style coupe out of it. This was achieved by lengthening the doors 8", re chopping and refilling the roof, grafting a 1949 Lincoln deck lid in and forming quarters using several old body scraps including the original rear door skins, 1936 buick fenders, 1949 dodge truck hood sections. The rear window is 1939 buick, door tops are 1939 Chevy.....the list goes on. The frame is the original '34 stude rails but they've been boxed, kicked front and rear, bobbed, pinched, 150 holes were filled..... Basically it took a lot of work! The second car started as a 1932 studebaker four door sedan, I think. The cowl and doors came in a collection of body parts piled up on a 1929 buick chassis. The cowl was folded down the middle, the doors and bottom cowl corners were rusted out, but it had bitching body lines reminiscent of a '32 ford. This was another thing that we held onto because, in that condition, it just wasn't worth anything. So when my father completed his '34, I asked if I could have a go with the '32 pieces. I hunted around for rear quarters for a few months to no avail, in the meantime I got a '27 Essex frame, and found a "rebuilt" '57 nailhead so I could set it up as a roller. After failing to find some quarters to graft on, I noticed a Plymouth deck lid sitting in the back of a friends truck, I laid it up behind the doors and figured it would do. I've had a bit of experience metal shaping but unfortunately we sold off the English wheel and other tools before one of our moves to CA. Luckily after asking around, several friends leant me everything necessary to form my quarters. Everything from the doors back was hand made excluding the decklid. Both of these cars were built from a pile of parts that just weren't worth a whole lot. We took inspiration from early hotroders who took what they got and made what they want. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Wow!!!!!!! I saw the three window in some pics and wondered about it. They are both beautiful cars. Good job!
Just goes to show that you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if you have the imagination and perseverance to do it, excellent job on both of them.
I started reading your story before looking at any of the pics. I must say, in my head I was thinking this is gonna be a huge mess. I was blown away when I scrolled down & saw the cars. They are awesome. I truly think they could be the coolest hybrid cars I've ever seen. You and your Dad should be very proud of what you accomplished. You pulled off what hundreds have not. Way cool!
Holy smokes! Reading this had my minds eye in visioning something totally different (and not so good). Nice rides and excellent work !
Thanks for the thumbs up! Much appreciated. Ha I know they sound like a Frankenstein nightmare. I found a few photos including what the '32 started with after a little straightening and rust repair. I have a few more in progress shots somewhere of the homemade intake on the '32 and hopefully one of the bellhousing my father made to run a Dodge 5 speed behind the hemi. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Completely refreshing, the grills are beautiful! Some guys pay good money just to get their car titled. Between the two cars, you probably had several to choose from! Again, very nice end result.
I recently came across a couple of awesome supercharged flatheads they gave me the idea of putting a 471 blower on the nailhead. A friend offered one up, but after I looked it over, it didn't seem worth the effort to rebuild it. A few days ago I met a guy less than a hour away with a beautiful piece I couldn't resist . There's going I be a lot of work involved to get this thing on the nailhead but It's gotta happen. The next question is 2x4 or 4x2? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
You two have a great eye , good preport ions good fallow through , and detail ! More photos please , oh ya love the grills . What is the roadsters grill off of ?
Need More Pictures !!! After viewing this Thread I was blown away by the quality of the Work and the Dedication to each project. Then You pulled an "Ace Card" and painted one of them Black !!! You Guys Got Balls..... Jeff
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