Bill Lund spent a lot of time drawing hot rods in his notebooks as a kid. In 1957, while in high school, he found a steel 1922 Ford in the riverbed on the Panhandle. He had a vision right away. His friends helped him drag it to the road and then back to his house. He combed the junkyards for all of the good hot rod stuff he’d seen in the magazines. A 1931 Ford Model A frame, then a steel 32 Ford grill, a 1950 Oldsmobile rearend, 1040 Ford hydraulic brakes, a 1950 Packard 3 speed that would be mounted with an adapter from the high school hot rodder bible, the beloved JC Whitney catalog, to the best prize of the junkyard, a 1955 265 small block Chevy with valve covers and dual quads from a brand new 1957 Corvette that had already been totaled. The Texas body was still in good shape and with a little work, it was ready for a few coats of 1956 Ford Pine Ridge Green metallic. Bills mother made the custom gold tuck and roll interior right on the kitchen table while Bill made his own headers, roll cage, and wind up key for the rear end. By 1958, Bill was a regular on the local Texas drag strips. As Bill continued school on his was to becoming a nuclear engineer, life got busier and busier. Soon he was working full time, married, and having kids. By 1964, Bill’s racing days were over and the T sat in his Arlington Texas garage, completely untouched, until his passing at 80 years old. When his estate was being settled last month, his son agreed to let me be the next curator as I informed him that I’d like to preserve the legacy of the car and the man who built it. So other than getting it running again, nothing will change while it’s in my care. Bill’s helmet, drag brochures, and even some of his drawings came with the car. The style may not be for everyone but this is, to me, a time capsule of the greatest era in hot rod and drag racing history, when a high school kid could afford to build his dream car if he was willing to work and acquire the skills to make his dreams a reality. And then he could race, without sponsors, with the best in the country. It doesn’t get cooler than that for me. I hope ya like it too.
Cool car, I would recognize that 50 Olds rearend anywhere. I had the same thing in mine, only bolted to the top of the model A frame. An early Ford wishbone would be a more appropriate tow bar. A real time capsule !
Well, unclescooby you just made my day. Thanks. I know your day was made getting it to your home. Enjoy the ride, in Pine Ridge Green. Will watch for updates, when you can.
I like the square roll bar. It truly dates the car. It is nice that the family has entrusted you to be the caretaker. Do well by them.
It’s funny. Most people hate the roll bar annd the wind up key. And it does unbolt. But I’m with you, and think it’s part of the home built 1958 charm.
I agree with those that hate the roll bar and wind up key along with the deuce grille she'll and hood that goes uphill. Neat ideas but the style and workmanship should go up a notch.
The roll bar is a bit clumsy but it was a race car, so it fits I guess. The rest is perfect. I like the wind-up key.
Goldmountain, that is how cars were built back then. You worked with what you had or could scrounge. He wasn't trying to make a show car but a go-fast car, and he succeeded. What more would you do in that time frame, while still going to school ?
...and the WAIT WHAT??!?! I just looked at the photos again. That is hilarious! Congratulations to you!
My point is that in that time frame, we all aspired to build something like the Tommy Ivo T that we saw in the magazines. Just because what we had available at the time wasn't that great we made do with what we could. This has the basis for a great build. Why not take it there? Our building skills are way better now than when we were kids.z
Got it home today. Took the hood off immediately. It wasn’t on in any of the old pictures anyway. The roll cage unbolts easily so I suspect he only put it in at the track. It’s cleaning up very nicely and lots of good drag racing provenance inside like his helmet, a class record plaque, and several magazines.
how many people whine and sing the blues when somebody takes a car and restores it to todays standards. leave it alone. it's perfect the way it is.
Love it, like any time capsule Rod! They're just special. Bless his Mom's heart for hand crafting an interior for the kid = pure love. Looks like you're the right caretaker for it!
As fugly as that hood is you might hang it on the wall as I've seen near identical run on period drag cars...part of that purpose over perfection that was common in the late 50s to early 60s...keep the updates coming Scooby...
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