As I await my new shop to be done so I can finish my previously started projects, I decided to buy another. Makes sense right? I will get it home next weekend weather permitting. As I sit in my camper watching it snow, I have way too much time on my hands. Idle hands are the devils playground so I had better get them moving to muster up the game plan to start parts collection for this project. It will be a couple years more than likely before it is in the shop for a full effort but I need a plan for parts collection. I am aiming for a stretched look like on the original literature. I am contemplating a Mercury chassis swap to gain the wheelbase Maybe even a 42-48 Merc for 6" longer wheelbase. My plan is to keep everything as pre war as possible to would likely try to find an earlier Merc chassis with 116" wheelbase and stretch the nose. Possibly Duvall windshield or 2" chopped stocker so I can run a top. I have a 36 Cad Flathead with a dual carb intake or a Merc flathead. This will be an extremely slow process since I just moved and still waiting on my shop to be built so likely won't be back to building cars until spring at best. Has anyone ever swapped a 36 Ford on to a 39-40 Merc chassis? Interested to see how many times this has already been done as there are very few original ideas left in this world. The Pics are for reference. The one I am picking up is R-O-U-G-H.
Is it an actual Ute or are you custom building it yourself? Either way, I think you have the metal working skills!
It is 1 of the 267 of the 304 well type roadster Utes made in 1936. I plan to retain the RHD as well. I imagine a fella who played gangster on the weekend but had a real job during the week. A Zoot Ute if you will. Plan is to replace the wood with teak like a fancy wooden boat, leather interior, most likely a dark blue.
Sooooooooooo those were FoMoCo built, huh?! I thought the pics you showed were 'home-made' Ute's! 6sally6
Holy crap...those ARE rare. You're one lucky bastard But I gotta ask, why would you want to take a chance and possibly mess up '36 Fords near perfect (in my opinion) proportions? Seems like if you lower it and chop it, it gets to be pretty elegant and longer looking all by itself 1935 FORD UTE ROADSTER PICKUP - (barrett-jackson.com)
I feel as that is a little stumpy up front and got a bit too much out back. If I find a Merc frame I will have another 4" to work with to even things out. If you look at the Eric Black designed 36 Hollywood Hot Rods is building they lengthened and widened the body. They also are on a 124" wheelbase, I am thinking 116" of the 39/40 Merc. I am thinking something way more subtle. So subtle you should have to walk around a few times to figure out what is really different. Mine is a Ute but still a roadster.
Just a note: the AU roadsters and roadster utes use 5 window length doors, so are a bit short. Longer doors a-la US roadster doors might help the longer swoopier thing.
If I recall it is around an inch different. Do you know if that is true? I plan on doing away with the spare tire mount, lengthening the hood, adding a couple inches in the cowl area, shortening the box area, lengthening the fenders, skirts, you know, all simple things...
I would just stretch the 36 frame, the so- cal plating special had a 12” stretched chassis along with the ambulance conversions. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I absolutly love he proportions of my '36 Cabriolet (long rear deck & short hood) and wouldn't change a thing. But, I gotta tell ya, I ain't hating this "extended" version...you may be on to something here.
I am thinking something in between. The Eric Black design looks more Packard. Elegant but not utilitarian. I need to maintain the appearance of at least being useful, it is a Ute after all.
Rough? Rough is when they are rusted so bad that you can't see the reveal lines on the bottoms of the doors. That actually looks very solid.
I gotta agree. By Upstate NY (rustland) standards, that's ready for a scuff & prime. I'm guessing the floors are gone, but the sheetmetal looks pretty damn good.
It’s amazing what happens when you don’t clean things before you powder coat everything. Powder coating on the rest of the trailer is fabulous the fenders not so much. And then someone hitting them with the forklift didn’t help. It’s time for new fenders indeed.
If you look at the vintage ads Beater shared you can see where Eric's inspiration was drawn from...them Artists twisting reality...Oh Yeah! They were cutting coils and blocking springs long before we were...
It will be awhile. Still living in a camper, waiting on my new building to be built, and them my wife says my 63 F100, 27 T RPU. and the Justabeater 37 Chevy sedan that started this mayhem again in my life need to get finished first along with a couple other OT odds and ends. I am aiming to have this and my model A 3 window in the shop in the next 2 years. I have a 29 A roadster to finish up in there somewhere as well. I hope this is the last time we move. It will be beautiful when its done, but it has been months since I have worked on anything I only bought this because, well, when would I ever find another?
I'll be 62...Where were you at 62?......right here enjoying Beaters build......something to look forward to...truly every time I log on here there's something to look forward to so win, win...and a Model A 3w...golden...
The Jalopy Journal
