Hot damn! That's the mother of all Austins right there. Mine's got extra doors...guess its the grandmother
Please restore it to exactly how John had it that would be awesome. Also when you are done you should try and talk to the Rodders Journal and have it featured in there.
To Jeff for painstakingly taking on the challenge of recreating a chassis that had been missing under the Austin's skin since the late 60's and to Fritz who has his work cut out in laying in "some" mud, especially around those quarter windows and eventually spraying on numerous coats of candy, I say thanks for seeing this project through. My dream from the moment I picked up this body shell back in 1989 was to see that this car was given its proper due, sadly I couldn't completely pull if off. Tho over the course of 14 years I acquired many period correct parts that will help enhance this beautiful restoration. Thanks again to Mike,Ralph,Jeff and Fritz Tom Willford
so where's the Opel with the original frame? seems there was a Candy Red Opel at Bakersfield. was that it maybe?
Opel GT body was last seen on the East Coast in the early 70's when S&S along with Stone Woods & Cooke name on the side.
Thanks to Tom Willford for the kind words. I know how much that car meant to you. As to the whereabouts of the missing Opel GT I have studied alot of pics to come to a possible conclusion. Austin sold to K.S. Pittman, he cuts down cage and adds Opel GT body. After he sells itI am pretty sure it briefly became an East coast match race car for Stone,Woods,&Cooke. I think it was then sold to Jim Oddy (if anyone knows him he could clarify) and then I think it was sold to Frank Mazi. If so that is the 'God of Hellfire" Opel wrapped around the concrete base of the tree at Bowling Green in 1976. I have looked closely at that pic and the and there are strong similarities in the front axle. Then again I may be wrong. Wont be the first time. p.s. the photo is on the Mzi website ant it wont copy to put on here.
Fritz & Jeff, A little bit of irony in this for me.....I remember the football running at our strip (Muncie Dragway) in the 60's....always a crowd favorite and the thing hauled ass. Right in your backyard, Jeff!!! The Opel...WOW! Congrats to both of you and THANKS to both of you from guys like me who truly appreciate the hard work in getting these icons back in front of others!!!! Go get 'em guys and keep us posted!!!! Thanks! Eric
Thought I would add Jeg's Austin at Muncie for shits and giggles....thanks to Jay Lamka and Gasser Madness!
Yep. I thought about it more than once.... Another great piece of Drag Racing History. Looks like it is going to get a 1st class restoration.
Looks like a new rear housing, any chance the other one will be available? It would be nice to once again have it reattached to its former chassis. A flipping Austin body would be the hint.
I love Austins I own one but the "football" one it the most ugly Austin I have ever seen. Let the flaming start.......
Obviously, everyone is entitled to their opinions. But the "football" Austin is a big part of the Gasser Wars from the sixties...those of us who saw it liked it for many reasons...it kicked ass, it was of great quality and the "boys" were trying to push the envelope with speed, aero, etc. Plus, it was Big John's car to begin with...again, another icon. No flames, brother! E
Vic> yup all my "Queensboro farms" milk crates came with me, piece of scrap wood and bundles of old newsday newspaper for the next Ed Roth build! I agree with Jeff this will be the Big John Austin thread! I got the drivers door to fit way better, I'll post pics tomorrow. FRITZ
Hey Tom,(vintagegasser) Glad to see you on here old pal. How you holding up? I really should give you a call and catch up. I was going to mention that you owned that baby for many years but it's already been said. Just so everyone knows that reads this. Tom is the fellow(and good friend) that restored the blue Bizio 33 Willys pickup that resides back east now. PM me Tom. Do you still have the same phone number? Dale
Same phone number, as for the valve covers, they (the original chromed plated Big John) stayed with the car as you can see in the photo's. There was only one set that was first used on the Willys, Austin and their first Funny car until they switched over to the 426. They were found on a hemi powered boat in the Long Beach area mid 90's by a good friend of mine who happened to advertise for early hemi parts in the local buy and sell paper. A trade was made to the boat owner for "unscripted" M/T covers. You might say we were lucky in finding such a prized piece. To the few nay sayers about the ugly body mods, you had to have lived in those days to fully appreciate seeing that car in person (mine was at OCIR in '67) and the noise those nasty 8 pipes made resonancing off the underside, reminded me so much of the first time I heard Jack Chrisman's blown 427 '64 Comet.
As promised Update pics of the drivers side door I have been working on trying to get it to actually line up and have a door gap. Seems a few HAMB'ers have owned this car over the years and I hope can attest to how crappy the drivers door fit. This is what I have so far. Also have been cutting into the flip nose trying to get it to fit to the cowl better. It wont be ISCA show points perfect 'cause, hey Its a FREAKING RACE CAR!! LOL FRITZ
Yeah, I wouldn't sweat the "door gaps" too much. I sat in the most popular drag car of all time last weekend as voted by the people: The Stone Woods and Cook Swindler A 41 Willys. The passenger door fit so bad, when you sat in the car you could see daylight around the whole door!
Keep up the great work and pictures.I used to own a local chopped Austin named Greenhorn that ran d/g.I sure wish i would have kept that car but the body was also very ruff.It takes a true love to restore one of these old race cars.I never thought this car would get done.
Puddin55> Yah I'm only going to go so far, Just trying to make it better then it was when it was built. Trying to put our Heros Just that! "HEROS" ISTWSH> Its a rough body to be working on, But Like I said, I'll work on and fix anything i can get my mitts on! Fritz
The Opel at B-field was a Kadette, the K.S one was a GT or mini Vette as we called them in the day...I have a great pic of the GT, if only I had one of those slide scanners things.
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