History Our newly discovered wedding car photo

My best Man recently found this picture among his late mothers photos. It shows my Bride and Myself leaving for FL on our Honeymoon and my post at Tyndall AFB on May 2 1959. My 48 was my pride and joy a nearly rustfree Club coupe mostly stock on the outside excepting the wire wheelcovers [probably Lyon brand as I think back on it now] The engine however was what we called 3/4 race,it had offy heads and 2 pot manifold with 97s,an Isky 400 or 404 cant recall which, and mallory ignition, Dressed up with chrome air cleaners, acorn nut covers,chrome water pipes and a polished copper top to the radiator.The engine block was also painted White with red tips on the head fins. Lest you think I built it I did not, I bought it from a Airman stationed nearby. It carried us to Fl without fault except I removed the thermostats in GA as it was starting to overheat.That solved the problem and we finished OK.Drove around FL as our D/D. The 2nd Lt in my squadron wanted my engine bad for his 37 sedan an I sold it to him . My buddy from SC and I installed a 58 2bbl 283 from a local wrecking yard in it using a adapter from Honest charlie to connect to the ford three on the tree, I later installed a 4bbl manifold with a Carter on it. The salt air took its toll on the sheetmetal and major body repairs comenced in the auto hobby shop on base and I repainted it Black again. Brought the car home in late 61 and repainted it Honduran Maroon a color I loved from the 'little books' Again drove the car as D/D until 66 when I sold it to my BIL He resold it and it dissapered until I saw it in the rear of a gas station in Chicopee MA with the roof caved in and stripped of anything usable, a sad end to my 2nd car. I'm on the hunt for a coupe body so I can try and clone it.. Thanks for listening. Ralphie

 

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

Cool pic, post it on this thread. Vintage shots from days gone by!

 

Very Kool story Good luck on the next one

 

very cool!

 

Heres some inspiration to help you in your hunt.

 

That photo is great and it's amazing you never saw it until now,,,congratulations. HRP

 

Very cool

 

Great story !
Sound s like a cool car good luck.
When you clone it is it gonna be flathead powered?
Andy

 

Thanks to all and 60 belair if I clone it I'll go Chevy again as Flattys dressed like I remember that one are out of reach $$ wise. Hey I'm 75 years young and still married to the same girl that was in that car with me so I'm not sure I got enough time left for another ambitious build anyway. Ralphie

 

im digging that and the story behind it also ....