Hi, my name is Mark ***(aka Comet) I've been a lurker for close to a year (why does that sound like an AA intro?). I signed up a few months ago, but never posted until now. I'm coming out of the closet so to speak. Here's about me. This is gonna be long, so hit the back*****on now if you are short on patience. I guess this has been bottled up for so long; it was bound to be lengthy. I was born, raised and will probably die in Seattle. Dad was a hot rodder in the 50s (one of the early NW NHRA members, raced a little with Jim Green for you NW’ers that know of Jim). Unfortunately he has only one*****py pic of his '34 5W with a caddy mill and neither of us can find it. It wouldn't scan well at all anyway. So, I got the car bug from him I guess. I've been without a ride for awhile [actually not true, I've been building a Jeep-my other passion and a '71 Ford Highboy (the truck kind)]. My last car of any interest to all you HAMBers would be a '65 (I know, not pre-'65, but I'm telling my story!) Riv GS with a 425 Wildcat and Carter dual quads with a dual snorkle air cleaner the size of a NY sewer lid in glorious chrome-all from the factory. Best car I've ever owned. I sold it because I fixed it up to the point I didn't want to drive it in the rain. So that left about 60 days of the year I could take it out in the NW. I hated that. This whole thing made me lose interest in muscle cars, hot rods (actually, I only lost interest in hot rods because I only saw billet rods and gold chainer rides) and anything else that needed to be garaged. So I got into Jeeps and 4 wheeling, where body damage is a badge of honor, not something to be ashamed of. I was essentially lost and saw a car hobby get so obsessed with over restorations well beyond factory “new.” A buddy of mine talked me into going to the NW Mustang round up, and I remember being bored to tears with row after row of perfect, identical and absolutely un-interesting '65 Mustangs. I was at the wrong party folks! After a couple years of getting an education on what makes a 4wd rig capable, I got to talking to some of the cats I had met in that scene. Seems a few of them felt the same way and one of them mentions something about traditional rods and customs. It was as if time had stood still, my eyes glazed over, the clouds parted and I swear I heard angels singing! This was not discussed in Hot Rod magazine. Rod and Custom was all about billet valve covers and radiator caps (at the time anyway). Hearing that there were people still building traditional rods and customs sent me swooning. I was overcome with childhood memories of R.F. trading cards and stickers, Twin Mill Hotwheels, doodling dragsters and hot rods in the back of class while teacher faced the blackboard and a 5 window coupe model I made that Dad gave me. As a kid I knew what I liked. Somehow, as an adult when the road forked, I went right and should have gone left! So I started doing more research and came across this wonderful resource. What I like about the cars you cats build is that you drive them! I know, novel concept-but honestly I had no idea until a few years ago. That got me thinking I needed a project. Ever since I was a kid I've always liked customs, so I knew it was going to be of that ilk. I've always liked Shoebox Fords, so I started there. I looked at a few and even made an offer on one. But the money I had and the money I needed to get one within my capability seemed to be further apart than I had hoped. So I kept looking and saving. Then one day, completely by accident I stumbled across a '61 F100 unibody SWB. A truck I've always thought was cool. And at only $1,100 for a straight body and a T-Bird 390 I thought I better check it out. Well, you know what happened next. Here she is at the guys house I bought it from (note: grill is from a ’63). She’s not much now, but I’ve already done a lot of work to the engine, and I have a new hood. The good news is that at the price I paid, I have cash for the build now too. She's getting an early 60's inspired custom treatment and lowered about 4-5." No bags, billet or bling (or is underhood chrome considered bling?). After dropping the suspension, I plan on chrome reverse wheels, whitewalls, white t&r Naugahyde bench seat and matching tonneau. Eventually I want to paint it a traditional 60s style custom paint. Maybe candy apple green with a touch of flake to sweeten it up a bit. For now, the natural patina thing will have to do (although I’m going to clean it up in spots where a*****py repaint is peeling). So with this project, out goes the shoebox for now. Maybe I'll use the truck to finance a shoebox. We'll just have to wait and see. I’ve already had offers for twice what I paid. If you've read this far, it's nice to have company in the "I need a life club," and I thank you. I just want to add one more thing. I've taken special interest in the local guys and their projects and talent. I hope to someday meet some of them like Rolf, 60s Style (actually. I think I have met Paul once before), CGKid, Oldbeet, Feder, Fedsled, and many more. I've enjoyed Feder's and Fedsled's (and Oldbeet too!) Merc chop project, CGKids Dodge, Tones Bones new truck (T.B. we live real close, let me know if you ever need a hand with anything) and marshall's marvelous metal work. I've said enough for now, and I promise my posts in General Discussion won’t be as lengthy. So, after all this blathering, all I really wanted to say is: I GOTS ME A CUSTOM PROJECT! P.S. Oh, and Germ scares me (is that a good thing for a FNG?).
The Jalopy Journal
