While going through some family photos recently, I found a few images of my late fathers 1936 Ford Cabriolet and thought I’d share them here. Dad lived in Alhambra, California and likely bought the Washington Blue beauty around 1940/41. On December 7, 1943 he became a Naval Aviation Cadet and left the car in charge of his younger brother Ralph. Dad bounced around the country completing various pilot training requirements and arrived in the South Pacific as a Marine aviator in April 1945. When WWII ended he was a junior 2nd Lieutenant and as such, didn’t return home to Alhambra until April 1946. Meanwhile, his brother had made some changes to the ‘36 Cabriolet. Whether they were made with or without Dads permission and/or knowledge is lost to history. Suffice to say that being located in Alhambra, a suburb of greater Los Angeles and a hotbed of early hot rodding, the changes were *****in! Ralph had the roof chopped and a Carson top added. I seem to recall Dad saying that his brother also had it converted into a club cab by the addition of a rear seat. Looking at the extended rear roofline I’d guess it was possible but, I’m imagining leg and head room were a challenge! In addition, the spare tire was removed, taillights removed from the rear fenders and replaced by what appear to be ‘39 teardrops (painted bezels?) on either side of the newly recessed license plate. This was topped off with 1941 Ford bumpers. I can’t identify the hub caps up front and would appreciate suggestions. I can only speculate that Ralph likely had the customization accomplished at Jarrett’s Auto Works and the Carson Top Shop right next door on South Vermont in nearby Los Angeles. Here’s the link to a home movie of Dad checking out his old ride for the first time upon his return home: Dad didn’t keep the ‘36 very long as he soon traded it in on a brand new 1946 Buick Super convertible. After being recalled for Korea and training as one of the first helicopter pilots in the Marines, Dad went to work in the die casting business in Los Angeles. In the mid 1970’s he started Vintique Inc. as a side business with his friend Harold Looney of Vintage Auto Parts in Orange, California. Their first product? The most accurate reproduction of the 1936 Ford V8 hood ornament. My Uncle Ralph stayed close to automobiles as well owning a Rambler/AMC dealership before opening Thorson GMC Buick in Pasadena, California.
The Jalopy Journal
