Hot Rods Art Abuchon & The Death Wish

Art Abuchon was well known in the St. Louis, Missouri area in the 1950’s.

Art built this 1936 Ford Hot Rod & drove
it around during that time.

Then he committed murder & was sent to
prison for a long time.

Recently I was contacted thru FB by someone who knew Art & the car.

Meet “ The Death Wish “



Jim

 

Well, fill us in on the details. What happened to the car? What happened to Art? What happened?

 

I picked up the car from Dennis Slaymaker
about a year ago.

Jack Slaymaker had bought the car many years ago from Ed Fuch out of St. Louis.

Jack would buy old hot rods - restore them to their original running condition - but would usually go no further.

When I picked up The Death Wish - it was the only car Jack hadn’t worked on - the only car left as it was found.



Jim

 

Where’s Geraldo when you need him?! Interesting story and hot rod.

 

I was looking at the pic and thought "that Art guy looks like Denny Slaymaker".

 

Interesting story so far, and a cool car....I’m watching.

 

Ed Fuch had bought it from Gene Kelch.

Gene Kelch had bought it from Art Abuchon’s Mom - not sure if that was before or after Art’s death.

The dash had been chromed back in the 1950’s.

It didn’t appear any work had been done on the car since Art owned it by anyone.

The guy who contacted me on FB is also a HAMBer - he was inspired in his build by
The Death Wish.

Jim

 

Waiting on the rest of story
Cool car

 

I’m in.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Perhaps the HAMBer who bought
the car about a year ago can contribute.

I delivered it to the San Jose, California area.


Jim

 

Bad*** looking 36. Perfect chop/filled roof, solid hood sides.
I wanna see more of that hammered 33/34.

 

Tell us more about Art! What happened to him after the murder conviction?

 

If you are logged into Facebook - go to my user profile @ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005456325407




Click on “ Photos “




Click on “ Albums “

Click on “ Iowa Hot Rod Heaven “






Jim

 

Every vehicle I transport has a story - some are quite interesting.

The guy who contacted me thru FB thought Art was a pleasant enough fella - but I ran across this - I wouldn’t have wanted to piss Art off:

@ https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/supreme-court/1965/50619-0.html


Jim

 

Art was probably driving “ The Death Wish “
when he committed these murders:




Jim

 

I remember the name as he drove stock cars in the 50's. He raced at my home track, Springfield, IL.

 

So he had to reload. He shot her twice and him 6 times with a .38. Yeah, don’t make him mad.

 

Crazy ****.

 

I'd love to see a pic of the dash.

 

The dash was pitted and rusted but you could
tell it had been chromed.

Jim

 

This is Kool...
In a warped way... Keep the info. An pics coming.. car is just Bad ***...
That ID channel should do a history on this...

 

Same thing I was thinking. He drove away and down the street to reload.

 

If I owned the car now I don't think I would be making any changes to it...something about Karma!

 

If he built that car, Hell, I'd hang out with him. He could stay at my house.

 

A year ago today I dropped The Death Wish
off in San Jose, California,

Jim

 

i watched Art Aubuchon race at the old Walsh stadium in St.Louis
when i was a kid. He always had a 4 leaf clover on his car and was car number 4. He was always at the front of the pack and may have won championships back then. Always a crowd favorite, Sad ending though.

 

Art is the first name mentioned ....

@ https://www.stlracing.com/community/index.php?threads/st-louis-area-racing-in-early-50s.123772/


Jim

 

Halloween Bump …


Jim
Transporting To Travel
Traveling To Share
Stories From The Road

 

I wonder if he was still paying the rent for Mrs Mills home while she was with S***?

 

So what did he have against Mr. S*** and Mrs. Mills?
Did they scratch his car?