Projects Mike DePalma's Passion

Spent another day with my good friend Mike DePalma (Sonny DePalma’s brother) at his shop Village Customs in Westmoreland NY. I spend MANY a day there with Mike working on whatever project happens to be the center of attention. Right now it is Mike’s coupe. The last time he had it together and running was about 15 years ago. Sonny would always tell Mike to drop what he was doing and get the coupe finished. But as we all know running a business is not all about doing your own stuff. Other work needs to be done to pay the bills. So the coupe had minor things done to it but remained for the most part on the back burner. Not anymore. Due to Sonny’s recent and unexpected p***ing, the coupe has now become not only a p***ion for Mike to complete, but a mission. A mission to finish the car as soon and as well as he can do. Something for Sonny to look down on and beam with pride over. As Mike has said many times…”Sonny loved that coupe”. AND……..there is a special feature that will be the LAST part attached to the car. And that piece is courtesy of Sonny. That piece will not be seen until completion.<O</O
I told Mike I would post some pics from today and a synopsis of many of the cars options. So here go’s……..<O</O
Model “A” frame lengthened 12” and boxed, ground, and molded. The powertrain is a 49’ Merc flathead, 39’ gearbox, 48’ banjo rear shortened 24”. Torque tube drive. Homebuilt wishbones. <O</O
The body is a Model “A” cowl, sedan doors reversed to make suicide doors. Complete body structure is 2”x2” angle iron. Doors fit recessed in body. Rear half of body is 30’s Dodge rumble seat coupe, narrowed 9” out of the roof, tilted it forward. Roof was made from a 76’ Ford extended cab pickup. The body has leaded body lines to match those of a Model “A” body line, which are arched and sculptured to match the filled and molded wheel wells. Rolled pan. Molded and recessed tombstone taillights. Reversed and flattened firewall and much much more.<O</O
When we finish the coupe we get to work on my 54, Chevy coupe custom. Can't wait to see them both done.

 

Should be an outstanding tribute.

 

Cool