Wes Copper and Bob Hayes' 1927 Ford Lakester is one of those cars you don't hear much about. I've seen in it in the background of many vintage Bonneville photographs and a picture or two of the bright red beauty might have appeared in Hot Rod Maga... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
I believe the article on the car in Hot-Rod has a side profile drawing? JimmyB had them scanned in on a site.... dont have a link handy right now though...
You mean September, 1949? Yeah, there is a drawing... A Rex Burnett piece that is pretty gorgeous actually. But from a photography standpoint, the article wasn't very well done at all. It's mostly just engine shots. Obviously, the engine was a pretty unique piece... BUT, I've heard from guys like Alex Xydias that the car was actually one of the nicer roadsters of the period - super detailed and clean. You would think that kind of craftsmanship would get a full feature somewhere...
Jim's news on AHRF, the current one has more shots of the car, no hood but sort of a profile shot? and one in COLOR! http://www.ahrf.com/news.php
Good find. I always forget about the AHRF. The color photo rules. Too bad the AHRF is so stingy with hot linking!
I'm glad you did that so I wouldn't have to. In my opinion, their protection of images goes against the very reasoning of preserving them - so people can SEE them!
I was going to pull them on my desktop and post them but I thought I might get hauled away in that paddy wagon. The car is even more stunning in color and I love me some Cut-A-Way drawings!!! Has there ever been a car that looked so well with a track nose then '26-'27 Roadsters? I think not and this is just further evidence.
And also here is further evidence of what Bass was talking about when he chromed his wheels on his coupe. They were definitely doing it and looking good also. Love the chrome work on this car, it's far from being over the top as far as purposeful race cars go. I think if fits quite well.
Ahhh, the Navarro car is my favorite all time Hot Rod I'm pretty sure. That car makes me weak. Both cars are based of non Ford frame. The Navarro being a Willys and the Copper & Hayes being built on a tube type frame. I guess that's the recipe.
The Dahm Bros. car is gorgeous... Pics here for those wondering. But, I don't like the proportions as much. EDIT: OR*****... maybe I agree after looking at more images... Whatever the case, I love all three cars.
It's bit longer and lower then the Navarro and the Copper/Hayes car. I always like shorter appearing wheel bases rather then longer ones. For all I know they could be all running the same length but it appears to be shorter in the first two. I actually like the Dahm car a great deal but never knew much about it. It's nice to put a name on the car. Is it the one on the SCTA logos?
Is there some sort of OHV conversion going on here or is my mind playing tricks on me? At first glance I would have said INLINE 6. Where is that Valve cover off of?
GREAT looking car, as well as Navarro's.... and 142 mph is damn respectable for a banger engine! I should probably quit referring to them as 'just tractor engines' Malcolm
214-inch ‘32 Ford Model B engine. A Fargo head fed by 4 carbs, Winfield cam, and Kong ignition (I don't think I've ever heard of a Fargo head...)
Ahhh, read right over the Fargo part. I Never heard of it, but then again, I do not know a thing about BANGER motors.....or really any motors for that matter. Carry on.
I just think that Navarro and the C/H cars are both sort of "up in the wind" compared to whats possible with a 27. The reason most guys went to a 27 was to gain the lower profile, but then to set it so high and add a big belly pan seemed to defeat the purpose. A 28-9 model-A could be just as sleak, but not so much compared to the Dahm's.
Comparing the C/H to the Dahm is like comparing a greyhound to a bulldog in a way... I am impressed with the short nose of the C/H.... I think that goes a long way to making it appear taller than it really is... and I would****ume the extra height may have been needed to fir the OHV conversion in there?... of course... lowering the engine in the frame would have solved that as well... I also really enjoy the passenger compartment exhaust... a good detail that really belongs in a purpose built car such as this... perhaps that is what strikes me most about this car compared to some other track-nosed from the period.. appears to be very purpose built for racing... not street... thanks Ryan!
Aw, Sweeeeeet! Thats just about my most favorite thing. A track nose '27 roadster Bonneville car with a pumped OHV 4 banger. MMMMMMMM I want to build one of those when I grow up. I'm already grown up, guess I'd better get goin. From some of the things that I've read, like on the Navarro car, He left off the cowl and the new bodywork starts from there. That gives these cars a little different look. The C/H car is done a little differently, but the cowl seems modified as well. I read that once when Navarro blew his V8 he blocked off the cylinders on the blown side, took out the rods etc. and ran for a record just on 4 cyls. That guy's (was?) amazing.
Thats an awesome speed for wayback then, those guys new how to make em run I think the current record in V4 Modified roadster is only about 155 , tho you can't make a direct comparison cuz nowadays modified roadster has to be a 28 and up body, but its close.
Ryan ... great thread! ... I've always admired the Navarro & Dahm Brothers roadsters ... but honestly never knew much about the Cooper & Hayes '27 ... thanks for bringing it to our attention. SUHRsc ... glad to see that I'm not the only one ballsy enough to grab screen captures and upload them to my Photobucket account ... how good are you at making big rocks into little ones?
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