Hot Rods A bit of personal Aussie history

My hot rodding experience started very young and at 13 I sold my push bike and bought a 1938 Ford Club Roadster for $15.We lived on a hill and
there was a large water tower across the road and that is where I was allowed to leave the car under cover.We spent weekends tooling around in the car on the vacant block on top of the hill.I wish I had that car now!!!

Even after selling the car my interest in rodding didn't cease.Of course I had no money at 13-18 years old so my dreams came via the hot rod magazines that we could get here in Australia in the early 60's.There was a local service station that had a bunch of guys that were building cars and some of these are still around today.(John Andersons 32 roadster,and
the Tarantula T from memory).At 14 I had the chance to buy a 32 roadster that was being built but unfinished for $100!!!No cash no deal.

With employment came the chance to buy a finished car which was a Model A roadster,channelled with a Y block,3 speed 39 trans and late Ford diff.I joined the Lively Set Hot rod Club and spent many a weekend at the house that was the "unofficial clubhouse" with a bunch of equally crazy hot rodders.

Within a couple of years I decided to rebuild the roadster and make it more mine.Repairs the chassis,box the front section,paint it midnight blue and generally tidy the car up.This was eventually sold and after that I have had several rods including a 32 4 door sedan,a 29 Tourer,a 26 Essex,
built a pro street 29 Tudor and then crossed 49th St to do the 48 Hudson.


I was never a camera guy so had no photographic record.I have been chasing old photos of my roadster and have been lucky to get the help of Peter Crain who used to shoot features for the local Hot Rod magazines.
now another friend,KB has come up with more photos of the roadster when we did that shoot back in 1970/71.In that photo is a good friends 32 roadster and I think it was his brothers 37 Coupe.The owner of the 32 roadster is now deceased unfortunately.

So where is all this going.I always loved the 29 roadster and thought why not build another channelled car.So I opted for a 32 which has more legroom and the body from Show Me Rod & Custom(near Branson MO) had one with 2 inch longer doors and cabin.So that is built and was the subject of another thread on the build.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615030

The last photo is of the "new" 32 roadster.

 

Y' done more roddin' on one fingernail than I done with my whole body! Old car was obviously a labour of love- new car is slick & fine- cool body mods for us tall dudes.
Some more 'Lively Set' shots & yarns would be good to see one day.

p.s; the Linc 'caps are cool as. I'm lookin' fer something cool to fit the FJ Holden wide-5 pattern & hub.

 

for those not in the know, "push-bike" is a pedal bike

good story

 

When I was about 9-10 yrs old, my pushbike was stolen from outside the cinema while I was watching the saturday matinee.......The Ten Commandments.........kinda ironic eh?

Nice roadster you've got there Mr Hudson.

 

Nice ride you have Paul, sorry you cannot make the Deuces 80th Anniversary Run this Saturday. Lil32

 

I would be there except I have my local event this Sunday.Here is another plug for it.Sunday 9th,Memorial Park Nundah.Entry via Chapel St Nundah.
Follow the signs.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=726600

 

About halfway through redoing the Essex interior Paul.