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History signed ardun blueprints

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by GEBHARD, Jan 26, 2009.

  1. GEBHARD
    Joined: Nov 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,159

    GEBHARD
    Member
    from TX...

    i stumbled across this on ebay late the other night on ebay so i bought it and thought some of you guys might like to see the guy has some more left and i think hes still putting them up.
    its a 1/2 scale print of the ardun blueprints limited edition of 100 signed by George Kudasch
    i was a little skeptical about authanticity but there was only a few hours
    left no bids and it was 40 bucks so i got it anyways, but he did have pictures of him signing the prints.
    afterwords i e-mailed the guy and asked how he came about getting him to sign all the prints this is what he said,


    Adam, if you read the Rodders Journal #25 by Jay Fitzhugh he calls me the anonymous Gm Archive employee that gave him the tip that Zora did not design the Ardun. My job at GM was a "Product Expert" in the archives, I identified antique cars and power trains 8 hours a day at a cubicle at the Gm world headquarters, (Ren-Cen Detroit) one day GM bought the Zora collection from his widow (Elfie) , I had the access to it and brought the collection section by section over 6-8 months and reviewed it at my desk for a distraction, about 2 months into the collection I came across a Christmas postcard from George Kudasch written in Russian but it had a rubber stamped return address with his phone # so I called it, introduced myself to George and found out the entire story of Zora dating his older sister and that they both went to the same mechanical college and that Zora gave him his first job when he came to America, designing the Ardun, Zora was also the only person that could speak Russian that George knew in the USA. George was in shock that I new about the Ardun conversion and said "NO NO you must be confused, this was something I did in 1947 and it was the only thing I did for Zora" I told him how famous the design was and that they still reproduce it today and I asked if he did anything else automotive, he said no, that in 1948 he went to work for Igor Sykorsky designing the hydraulics for the helicopter rotors until he retired in the 1970s.
    Sorry about the long answer but this is the real story, George was a great man and invited me to his home in Connecticut, so I purposed a partnership with the blueprints, had them made and drove them to his home and had them all signed. I found out someone else has copied one and is selling them for $20.00 . The first ones I sold brought $150-$175.00 and they have been going down since. I have less then 20 left and I send Georges half to his widow Rita. So now you know the whole story (almost) enjoy your print, it is going to be Rare!!

    i do not know this guy not involved in his auction i didnt put his name or anything in this post just cause he seems like a really nice guy i think he put another one up already it pops up if you just search ardun he said he only has like 20 left heres the pics he had up
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Hugh's_Hornet
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 59

    Hugh's_Hornet
    Member

    Gebhard- I think that's a cool snag. I had read about George Kudasch not long ago and how he had no idea of the fame of Ardun heads until a few years ago.

    That's a neat piece of automotive engineering history you've got there.
     
  3. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,724

    banjorear
    Member

    Now that is some cool stuff. Very neat. Thanks for sharing.
     
  4. 60srailjob
    Joined: Nov 14, 2008
    Posts: 1,218

    60srailjob
    Member
    from nowhere

    very cool that a nice piece of auto history.................
     
  5. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,305

    alchemy
    Member

    I bought one years ago. I forget what number I have, but I think it's in the 30's. Thanks for the back-story.
     
  6. GEBHARD
    Joined: Nov 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,159

    GEBHARD
    Member
    from TX...

    i think i got #80
     
  7. I think I am going to get one! That is cool!
     
  8. Harms Way
    Joined: Nov 27, 2005
    Posts: 6,935

    Harms Way
    Member

    This is all the real deal, I have known Clyde for 35 years (one of my best friends and a fellow member in our car club), and I remember when this all took place, it's a amazing story that could have been lost to time, but Clyde's curiosity actually set Hot Rodding history straight. even though I am a really big fan of Rodders Journal,.. they don't always give the credit they tell you they will when collecting information for a article.

    When they did a article on the 50'th Detroit Autorama I provided several pictures that they used and told me they would give me the photo credit,..
    I told them to give it to my club "The Road Knights" Detroit, didn't happen,
    they told Clyde they would give him credit on the ARDUN story, and he was refered to as a "anonymous Gm Archive employee",..... not a big deal I guess, but if you say your going to do it,... do it.

    Clyde also is very good friends with E.J. Potter, owns and is restoring the only "Bloody Mary" version of E.J. bike in existence ( there are some of the later "Widowmaker" version around, but only 1 Bloody Mary)

    Anyway I hope this clears up any question if this is the real deal or not, cause it most certainly is the real deal !

    Here are the links to the Bloody Mary story on the HAMB and some pictures on the Hub


    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284679&highlight=bloody+mary

    http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/clydescooltoys/vehicles/10365
     
  9. GEBHARD
    Joined: Nov 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,159

    GEBHARD
    Member
    from TX...

    i did'nt post his name cause i did'nt know if he would want that,
    i dont know the guy just exchanged a few messages with him through the sale.
    he did seem like a very nice, and cool guy though.
    i just got it in the mail yesterday its pretty damn cool, i might post up some close up detail pictures soon
     
  10. I bought #55 on an E-Bay auction about 6 months ago but paid a lot more than forty bucks. Makes a great addition to the collection at any price.
     
  11. old4dlvr
    Joined: Oct 15, 2006
    Posts: 239

    old4dlvr
    Member

    A good friend of mine bought me #16. I think that would have been about 4 years ago now.
     
  12. moefuzz
    Joined: Jul 16, 2005
    Posts: 4,951

    moefuzz
    Member

    Thanks for the Heads Up, I asked the seller if he had any lower #'s than number 86? (current auction) and he said he had one last set left in the lower end of the scale.

    With all the attention this thread and the HAMB brought, the last set sold for 50 or 60 bucks so I waited until he posted the lower number set up and waited til the auction ended to bid in the last minute.

    I thought there would still have been some action from HAMB members but I was one of 2 people to bid and got signed print number 8 for $41 :D

    Now I need to get a copy of Roddders Digest #25 to help fill in the rest of the story.

    Having a set of Ardun Prints is about as close as I will ever get to owning anything named Ardun. :eek:
    Thanks again GEBHARD for the heads up. :cool:

    I can't wait to see the blueprint, not sure how I'm gonna frame it up being that it is 32 inches wide. Should be a neat piece of history.

    .
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2009
  13. The other person was a HAMB member trying to get it on the cheap. One who actually has an engine to match. ;)
     
  14. GEBHARD
    Joined: Nov 10, 2007
    Posts: 1,159

    GEBHARD
    Member
    from TX...

    (Having a set of Ardun Prints is about as close as I will ever get to owning anything named Ardun)

    .........same here
     

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