I thought some people might enjoy looking at what I have been trying to save for the last year. The guy in the photo was the last owner. He bought the one on the ground in 1962. I was laying by a radio station in Emporia Ks. The top was chopped. He hauled it home and it sat in the trees for 50 years. Everyone tried to buy his stuff to save it, but he would never sell anything. Last spring a fire came through and burned up the place. It took down a barn that was in front of these two Model A's. (or more accurately what is left of two Model A's). I saw them and spent about a month talking to him about them. Got them bought.
I decided to try to save the worst one. That chopped top just really got to me. And I figured, it was not ever going to be anything but gone, so off I went into this early ford adventure. I had never turned a wrench on anything built before 1956.
Some one had cut out the back of the car and made it into a pickup truck at some point. They cut the drip rail out around the trunk opening. The quarter panels were just flopping in the breeze trailering it home. Not much left.
Good Karma for you for saving those poor little cars. When you get it running, you have to take him for a ride. -Abone.
I dig it. Like the chopped car. Good on you for bringing it back. I’m following along. Cliff Ramsdell
glad your saving the cars , im glad im not the only one who drags things home that look like that or worse
The chop actually looks good from here. Nothing like bringing a old ride back to life. I’m subscribed
Lookin sharpe . I see you wear a Tuxedo ( overalls) , same as me while workin also . I started at 19 and haven’t stopped , best damn thing in the world to work in and keep around . Easy to jump into and cover up when wearing short pants in the summer when welding , keeps my clothes clean on dirty jobs too .
Thanks for all the nice comments. Ya, I just could not see any down side to trying to save it. After a year of working on it now I am pretty confident I will be able to save it. I guess that is when I decided I should post some pictures of it. I have always been turning wrenches, but fabrication have never been something I am good at. I have gotten a lot better over the last year. I am trying to built it just like what would have been done by a bunch of teenagers in the 50's. Which is good because my fabrication skills are about right there.
All it takes is common sense, fairly simple skills and vision. You’re doing great so far. I’ve saved more than one or two A coupes that some committed great harm. Often the hardest part is determining where the good ends and the bad starts.
My hat is off to you( exposing my bald head) You are saving what a lot of guys would scrap. Don't put yourself down on your skills, looks like you know what you are doing to me. I wish I could do as good. Keep up the good work
Who ever made it into a truck built a wood box for it that had 2 x 6 wood planks on the outside lower sides of the box. That is why their are torch cut holes in the back side of the quarter panels. Yes perhaps the round holes in the top of the quarters had something to do with the wood box also. The other thing I cant figure out is why someone cut out the firewall and them came back and torch cut right through the middle of the gas tank and cowl panels? We will never know.
The drivers side side cowl and "foot" at the bottom of the door frame were pretty gone and I was lucky enough to find some donor parts all ready cut out so I replaced them. I "fixed" the passenger side cowl. I was also fortunate to find a good original firewall. This picture is me channeling in 4".
I dug this frame out of the mud. Didn't even know it was there until I started removing the cars. The frame rail with the vin number on it was good. Got a passenger side frame rail from a friend and started "Z" ing it. I kicked it up 6" in back and 4" in front because my "47 front end is 2" lower than a Model A, as I understand it. So it should set 6" lower on the suspension side and it is channeled 4" and chopped 4". I got a 46-48" Banjo from a guy.
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