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Features The Black Dahlia

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by J.Ukrop, Nov 14, 2025 at 8:37 AM.

  1. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,602

    J.Ukrop
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    J.Ukrop submitted a new blog post:

    The Black Dahlia

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
  2. That thing probably sounds like an ocarina driving down the road with all of those holes in it. I had a bullet hole in the cab corner above the driver door for a long time, when I painted the truck I cut it out and saved it since I needed to fill in the area with new metal anyway.
     
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  3. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,945

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    Before it was painted black.

    red.jpg
     
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  4. alanp561
    Joined: Oct 1, 2017
    Posts: 5,525

    alanp561
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Big haired chick's okay, dude's hair leaves a lot to be desired, and it's a shame that a car as nice as that got turned into a sieve.
     
  5. That’s AI. No one built fordor hot rods back then…

    I love both versions!
     
  6. Dan Hay
    Joined: Mar 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,451

    Dan Hay
    Member

    I love that it’s a 4 door!
     
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  7. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,945

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    Fresno Cover Car.
    Rod-and-Custom-1964-03-March-01.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2025 at 12:37 PM
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  8. Dan Hay
    Joined: Mar 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,451

    Dan Hay
    Member

    I would restore it back to the R&C Cover version
     
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  9. Surfcityrocker
    Joined: Aug 30, 2012
    Posts: 726

    Surfcityrocker
    Member
    from Austria

    Me too. First I thought "Cool!" but compared to the original version it is looking rather sad today.
    I wonder if the chromed firewall is still there.
     
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  10. Bdamfino
    Joined: Jan 27, 2006
    Posts: 766

    Bdamfino
    Member
    from Hamlet, NC

    Gotta wonder if the movie, "Bonnie and Clyde" inspired shooting it up!!! Hey, 1967!
     
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  11. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,945

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    @Surfcityrocker highly polished aluminum panels are still in the car but very weathered.
     
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  12. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,133

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Anyone have any proof that it’s the same car. Because from here it looks like someone just posted another 4 door hot rod 34
     
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  13. HEMI32
    Joined: Sep 6, 2006
    Posts: 8,563

    HEMI32
    Member

    I tend to agree . . . both are Fresno based '34 Ford Fordor (circa '60s) Hot Rods . . . but have different 1963 California plates:

    JHZ 404.jpg
    JNK 385.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2025 at 2:17 AM
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  14. richard noble
    Joined: Dec 30, 2024
    Posts: 94

    richard noble

    I could see these two 34’s being the same…. IMG_0226.jpeg IMG_0225.jpeg
     
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  15. earlyride
    Joined: Oct 22, 2007
    Posts: 30

    earlyride
    Member
    from california

    Could you share more about this 34's history that you know of?
     
  16. HEMI32
    Joined: Sep 6, 2006
    Posts: 8,563

    HEMI32
    Member

    Last edited: Nov 16, 2025 at 2:06 AM
  17. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,133

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    That’s information on the red car. None of which makes any ties to this black car.

    so far the similarities are it’s a 34 4 door that was black in the 60’s and it has similar headlights/stands. And they are built in the same
    Time period.

    based on the kustorama timeline this car with black with flames was parked possibly before the red car got painted black and olds swapped. The interiors are totaly different colors and designs. I’ve still seen nothing to connect the two
     
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  18. HEMI32
    Joined: Sep 6, 2006
    Posts: 8,563

    HEMI32
    Member

    @Tim -

    As I stated above, I’m convinced they are NOT the same ‘34 Fordor (from Fresno) … I only posted the link to the Wiki article on the KUSTOMRAMA site (which includes dozens of photos of the “Clean Gene” ‘34 Fordor) to further illustrate that they are different cars.

    Perhaps Kevan @Sledge will chime in with some more history of The Black Dahlia ‘34 Fordor.
    - Todd @HEMI32
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2025 at 2:05 AM
    Tim likes this.
  19. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,945

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    How about remnants of red carpet and chrome garnish moldings.
    Kevan Sledge received the car from Jim Crowder whom found the car both are my long time friends Jim is my school mate.
    34red.jpg 34red2.jpg
     
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  20. richard noble
    Joined: Dec 30, 2024
    Posts: 94

    richard noble

    The chrome molding is what I was waiting to see. It also has hanging peddles, so it could very well be the same car. You can always ask Sondre over at Kustomrama, he is a friend of Gene and has been to his house in Fresno. The only red fIag I see is the inside door handle on Gene’s car is in the middle, indicating a deluxe model. Whereas the black car has the handle at the front of the door ( standard model). The door may have been replaced at one time. The molding is deluxe.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
  21. proartguy
    Joined: Apr 13, 2009
    Posts: 808

    proartguy
    Member
    from Sparks, NV

    Not too likely the black flamed car is the same as either.
    The inner door latches on the Stockman car are in the center - a later ‘34. On the black car at the front - a early ‘34.
    Sandoian’s ‘34 had more custom stuff - ‘39 tail lights, custom grille with no filler, custom hood and was a deluxe.
    Of course few of these remain the same.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2025 at 4:27 PM
  22. Kevin Lee
    Joined: Nov 12, 2001
    Posts: 7,673

    Kevin Lee
    Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    The black version was driven straight out of a Robert Williams panting.
     
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  23. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,133

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Anyone have photos of the engine/under hood?

    I guess if it was done in this black and yellow version in the last 30 years after the corpse of the red car was found with barely anything remaining it could in theory be the same car. Jist seems like a huge stretch to****ume based on some red carpet and garnish moldings.

    If it continued being changed and updated after it got the olds engine. Got a name, got a different interior, and then was left for dead it could explain the wrong door and interior . Are they the same on both sides maybe they were trashed and it needed replaced?

    with the old paint being obviously painted right over I would****ume
    We’d see some rusty remains of the chromed fire wall and lots of motor mount scars. Someone who sprays black right over everything isn’t going to put a ton of effort into cleaning up the clues I would imagine.

    I think sometimes we forget that very very nice cars ended up left for dead and rotten more often than not. So I’ll allow that it could be. I just don’t see enough to connect any dots.
     
  24. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,945

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    Man I love this kind of historical archeology even if I am wrong so great keeping dialog of traditional Hot Rodding.
    Only my opinion, the Olds engine car is not the Phil Stockman's a totally different car.
    The black car I have seen in person before Kevan owned it.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2025 at 12:58 PM
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  25. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,133

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Me too! That might be a good start point how long ago can you recall this car looking like it does? Any idea if it’s change at all since he owned it? I’d love an under hood shot if we can find one of the current car
     
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  26. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,133

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Zooming in on the interior photos looking for clues I thought “I wish too tall was still here he’d know!”

    when it pings my brain. This feels like maybe it was in one of his lost hot rod books? I’ll have to look.
     
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  27. richard noble
    Joined: Dec 30, 2024
    Posts: 94

    richard noble

    Okay, if you want more clues, take a look at the right front door inside handle location. If it’s located at the front of the door, it’s a standard vehicle. Then look inside the cowl for cowl light holes that have been welded up. Also look in the inside header to see if it had a right hand wiper, also hole welded. If the car is standard it won’t have these holes filled, Gene’s car was without a doubt a deluxe Ford.
     
  28. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,945

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    That is all I got guys been fun while it lasted thank you Joey for the thread.
    34 1.jpg 34 2.jpg
     
    Tim likes this.
  29. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 20,133

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    I mean lets be honest someone could have built that last week and it would still be pretty dang cool.
     

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