One more thought. If you run a late thirties generator converted to 12 volts you can put a fake cutout on top to give it that "original" look. Charlie Stephens
I traded a '54 Corvette straight across for a '34 roadster in '59. Roadster had a Buick in it, ('54, 4bbl. Century engine) '34 trans lasted a week, (old straight cut gears) so I refitted it with a '39 box. No rust roadster got dagoed, juice brakes, chopped windshield, body was Earl Schieb white! Red V8 wire wheels made it look like the circus was in town... I sold it to a collector, who chastised me for the Buick engine and 'wrong' ******, and Hydraulic Brakes??? Boy, what was I thinking...according to him, I had graffittied the Mona Lisa. I needed to finish my '32. Man...if only I could have buried the '34 in a vault below Grandma's garage... But it was 'ruined', anyway. The collector said so.
Big Plan Dan I didn't read one word you wrote,could not get past the woman sitting on the ground in your avatar!! Pete
Hi Mike: Great find. That 34 is a beauty. Your plans sound spot on. The original design is so well executed it just needs to be made fun and safe to drive. You can't restore the patina. Enjoy. Thanks. TEB Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
A great car that can only get better... Which way would you drive it the most? As is or with the changes you propose? I like to drive my rides and it sounds like you have hit on how to make it more drivable. I'd rather not hang around the restorer bunch and hear...' there are two many exposed threads above the nuts on your head studs' Just saying
First of all, I love your roadster and the answer to your question is make it yours. As far as resale and the age problem with old cars, here is an example that refutes that scenario. My friend (75) restored his 33 roadster with an Ardun equipped flathead, dropped axle and 40 Ford rear axle. He sold it the first time for $125K about 10 years ago and it just sold again for $250K. Making traditional cars will always be popular with collectors and deep pocket investors. Worrying about destroying a nice car is certainly a moot point when you only do what you have suggested. Just Do It!
The 40's Period Correct thread is waiting. You only live once. That is a beautiful canvas for a masterpiece...
Guys over on the fordbarn will say you are ruining it....we here say do what you gotta do to make it cool.
Do you plan on keeping it? or Is it a flip? If keeping.....it's whatever you want to do with it. If flipping........what will bring the most money.....stock or hop'd up?
Man I wish I had your problems, and aparently, your pockets! I can only give you my perspective, and you already have tons of opinions, but if it was mine, I would want to be the teenager that got the car in the late '40s or early '50's and had a few bucks to spend on goodies, and knew something about Hot Rods. I would be driving it as much as I could. I would get into his head as much as I could, and start thinking and living like he would have. Look for what was available at the time. Think of how going fast and looking cool would have been for him and what he would have changed and even in what order. Then go ahead and make the changes and take it out for a drive every time you change something. Show the buddies how cool your car is. Live in the moment, while you do what it is that he would have done. Do it this way and you really can't go wrong. And if you stay in a "Period", there is always somebody out there that would want to buy your car and pick up where you leave off, plenty more than will want a stocker! Good luck!
Sounds like you have a plan, I can't wait to see the "after" pictures........ aerocolor, your car is spot on I think that is the perfect look.
Why is it so many of us think that it has to be exactly as Ford had his people produce it off the ***embly line? Henry did not care about what happened to his m*** produced contraptions - he was an industrialist and the wealthiest man in the world at that time! And, who do you think we're saving our cars for anyway - rodded or stock? Choose your mods carefully - you really don't want to be without your car because of extended downtime - too many of us know what that's all about!
Responses are overwhelmingly yes and I would have to agree. Put the same thread up on the FordBarn and see what you get. Back in the 70's a guy in my hometown bought a cool hotrodded full fendered 34 five window. He pulled the aluminum heads, dropped axle, and proceeded to restore the car to original condition...... Whenever I saw that car it just bummed me out!
That's funny. I have a friend who had a hot rodded 34 roadster since the 60's and sold it to a guy about 10 years ago. That guy restored the roadster.
Soooooooooooooooo ...... then what happens ?? 3 pages of us chirping is fingernails on a chalkboard. Nice car !!
Here is the discussion on this thread on fordbarn: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182586&highlight=ruining it runs very close to what s being said here (in my opinion). Charlie Stephens
Yeah I agree with Charlie,the Barn isn't as old fashioned restorer as some people think. In the model A section they openly talk of 35 wires, hydraulic brakes, F100 steering boxes, lowering ect.. If you are in to old type hot rods it can be a very good source of info.There is a thread there right now on dual 94's on a banger that would be right at home on here.
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