I've been colecting them for a couple of years, but it's tough - some of these older guys won't part with their pics long enough for me to get them copied and others will show me the pics, but don't want copies made. It's a shame because they'll disapear and no one will be able to enjoy their efforts. Fast Elvis has some pics of a great model T coupe that was my all time favourite, but I haven't been able to find pics of it before it was burned and turned into a typical 70's street rod - The car was in this area for quite a while but has disapeared now - It would be a great car to clone. I'll post pictures here from time to time with some great stories to go along with them. I'm glad you guys are enjoying them - it makes my efforts seem worthwhile.
This is Zorro ( the first version) Went well over 100 MPH at Cayauga and New Baltimore Mi. With the Packard Patrician V8 out of the roadster in the first picture (Golden Rod)on page 1. The guys used to swap the motor into the dragster every 2nd weekend and race the roadster on opposite weekends. This is the "Push Rods" membership: L to R: Gary Duffy (who I must thank for a great number of these pics) Bernie DesJardins, Paul Marion, Armond LaChance, Roy DesJardins, Dick Roy, Tony Soulierre, "Chief" Lesard, Mike Soulliere. Mike worked for me for a number of years before I got into this deal and I was never able to ask him much about those days or if he had pictures. Mike passed on a couple of years ago -- it's a shame because he was a great guy.
This is the second "Zorro" As you can see it was much more refined. What a wild ride these cars must have been. How do you spell Cahones?
2034!.....man! ...what a stash of kool pic's Mike,...how big is your collection?....looking forward to seeing more at your place....see ya this afternoon!!
Here it is guys - my all time favourite 50s Hot Rod! I've been looking for pics of this car for a couple of years and (Many) thanx to Fast Elvis, I now have some. This is the "T for Two", built by Roy DesJardins of the Tecumseh PushRods. This car had a little Red Ram Dodge Hemi and appeared in Rodding & Restyling magazine in 1964. Roy, his buddy and his dog were on their way to Florida from Windsor Ontario Canada, fighting snow storms etc. on the way and pulling a 12' travel trailer. Shortly after this article was photographed the 2 guys joined the US Air Force and were stationed for some time in California. The T and the trailer made the trip back and forth quite often when the guys were on leave. On one trip back to Ca. they stopped at a gas station to fill up and noticed a cop in a brand new Ford police intercepter patrol car watching them leave. When they thought they were well clear of the cop, they took off and drove at a very rapid pace until they needed to stop again for fuel. This time they filled up and went in for lunch. On the way out the same cop pulled in and stopped them wanting to know how fast they were going. Of course the guys refused to admit it so the cop told them he wouldn't ticket them if they 'fessed up since he saw the Air Force uniforms in the car. At this point Roy admitted to probably doing 140! The cop said that would be about right because he had been chasing them wide open for over two hours and hadn't been able to catch up.
Please excuse the cut and paste (actually cut and tape) I scanned this from the two page spread in the magazine Fast Elvis gave me.
More T 4 2. Sorry about the quality - the pictures lose some of their detail when the size is reduced, but you can see that this was a state of the art car back then. I'd be proud to own it today!
Ragtop thanks for a super time at your home and garage today!!! I could have hung out there all night....you've got some serious KOOL stuff brother! Made my weekend to beable to hook up with such a great HAMBer like yourself ....look forward to do'in it again soon!! Cheers, F.E.
I just talked to Roy DesJardins today - builder or mentor to the guys that built most of these cars and he says that 6 cylinder inline dragster was actually from the London Ontario area, but raced with them. It was owned by Bob Hayward who went on to race the Miss Supertest unlimited Hydroplanes and was killed in one of these races. Miss Supertest was always powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin V12. If you'd like to see more of these please mention it and we can keep the post on page 1 for a little longer.
This is a survivor from the late fifties - early sixties. Gold metalflake, purpleframe, 354 hemi w/pushbutton auto, white t & r...
I went Back to see my pops in New York a lil while back, We sat and talked about the good ol' days. When He and my Gramps ran and owned the Family Station. With ample storage and lots of cool cars to fix. My pops had this lil drag car. Love the shot.
Sweet photo's Cword.......and Buicknailhead, your Dad and grandpa had a real deal machine.....thanks for the shot.....keep'm coming!
I tend to like the stance of the "Pineapple Princes" maybe that's why I like this roadster built in Ca in the 1950's!!! http://www.butterfields.com/areas/motorcars/7458m/detail/7458m-552.htm Mark
That Ricky Nelson roadster is timeless in it's style and stance ......great shot.....big price tag!!!
Brian Heron's channeled 32 (early 70's)but the car was built earlier - now it's back on top of the frame and i'm gonna wire it on the weekend
Just found out the 6 cylinder dragster of Bob HAyward's had this written on the side "6 in a row - watch it go!" Bob went on to drive the Miss Supertest unlimited Hydroplane and was killed in the boat. Or did I already mention that? Old age!
Beauty 1/4 midget shot Mike!!....I would have died to have one of those as a kid.......would love to have one today!
Most of them are not from Magazines, they're shots taken by these hot rodders back in the day. The only magazine photos are the ones of the T coupe, that I got from Rodding and restyling 1964.
The Jalopy Journal
