This is not me in the car driving. It is Eirik Berg, who now owns it and is its current caretaker. He took possession of it, from me, Saturday May 31st, driving it home to Sammamish, Washington. The seventh owner since new in '34, Eirik, is the son of Jerry Berg who bought it in 1955, rodded it into the "Northern Star" in 1955 having it featured in all the magazines of that era. Many Hambers know the story, love what this three window was back in '55, (don't much care for my hi-boy version BTW), but the complete history if you're interested is online by Googling Kustomrama, search for Jerry Bergs 34 Ford coupe. If you do that you will find I knew of this fine, fine example of American ingenuity through the pages of Hot Rod in Nov. of '59, only to find it in horrible shape in West Seattle in 1995. I Bought it not knowing its history until some months later. Now all of that to say all of this. On a scale from 0 to 1000 my admiration for what I created is off any one's scale. I am into HOT HODS. And have been most of my adult life. What I had bought WAS NOT the Nothern Star any more, not even close, and many cars from that time were close to being less than man, manly with angle hair and velvet interiors, I called them *****ville rods. The N.S. was getting close at times, except at the strip. Look at that picture above................................IF that A;int a MAN'S Hot Rod what IS???!!!!! Do I miss it?? EVERY MINIUET OF EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAMED DAY Who Wouldn't Over 20 years in the making. Slow yes, but it IS right and it was bought when I was still engineering at Boeing and call back out of retirement five times. My apologies to those I offended with this. Most everyone here are pretty dammed good souls and I respected all here for your support of me at times. Oh and you may not know This if your recent new HAMBER A Stroke put me down, May 9th, ,24. now no can drive says the state of Washington. So I Sold this Gem back into the hands of the original Northern Star family............at 1/2 its value, ($20,000)
Well Larry another chapter for the car, and you as well. Built in 55, five years before I was born , you got it in 95 and now on to another care taker. In 2055 maybe the present care taker will be p***ing it along. The story will go “bought in 25 from 34Larry ….” To be continued, Stay in touch my friend! Dan
Once again, a wonderful heartwarming story Larry. There are some things that are more important than money, and we all can learn a lesson from the selflessness you have shown. Stay healthy my friend, and pop in once in a while. Jack Murphy.
You're OK in my book Larry, as was your 34. You sold her wicked cheap IMO. I hope the new owner takes the same pride in her that you did. I regret never meeting up with you and your car so I could check it out in person. BB
This story breaks my heart but makes me glad every time I hear it. Just know you did the right and honorable thing.
48 rf this will get you the complete history. Kustomrama - The Traditional Rod & Kustom Encyclopedia You may have have to searh for "Jerry Bergs 1934 Ford Coupe", good luck my friend.
So how do I say this without sounding like I'm really something special? (because I'M NOT. As it p***ed through 5 -1/2 modifying hands (recall Russ Meeks/ Jag IFS/IRS), & (6) owners three of us contributed our own ideas to its styling. Most of that can be seen just by simply observing the car. What cannot be seen is my contribution, the foundation, (communally known as the frame. Any one of us that that has engineered a hot rod from the ground up, know that "stance"/, "Wheelstyle" &" Tire Size" ARE of PRIME IMPORTANCE!! The coupes body had never been off the frame. I'm a bit of a maverick when it comes to wires so that part was easy and I knew it would be "Bigs and littles" for sure. Now I spent many years,(20), in a steel fabricating shop as their top fabricator, (no brag, just fact ((I was told)), so I knew what I was doing is my point here. This was before returning to Boeing and gaining the , Manufacturing Enginering & Industrial Enginering positions. So what follows is my contribution to this seemingly timeless 1934 3 Window Ford Coupe I once so proudly help build and OWNED for THIRTY YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!
View attachment 6450332 View attachment 6450335 View attachment 6450332 View attachment 6450335 So how do I say this without sounding like I'm really something special? (because I'M NOT. As it p***ed through 5 -1/2 modifying hands (recall Russ Meeks/ Jag IFS/IRS), & (6) owners three of us contributed our own ideas to its styling. Most of that can be seen just by simply observing the car. What cannot be seen is my contribution, the foundation, (communally known as the frame. Any one of us that that has engineered a hot rod from the ground up, know that "stance"/, "Wheelstyle" &" Tire Size" ARE of PRIME IMPORTANCE!! The coupes body had never been off the frame. I'm a bit of a maverick when it comes to wires so that part was easy and I knew it would be "Bigs and littles" for sure. Now I spent many years,(20), in a steel fabricating shop as their top fabricator, (no brag, just fact ((I was told)), so I knew what I was doing is my point here. This was before returning to Boeing and gaining the , Manufacturing Enginering & Industrial Enginering positions. So what follows is my contribution to this seemingly timeless 1934 3 Window Ford Coupe I once so proudly help build and OWNED for THIRTY YEARS!!!!!!!!!!! View attachment 6450332 View attachment 6450332 View attachment 6450335
Most excellent, almost a shame to cover that frame with a body! Dan yeah, you should do a thread here about the Riviera!! Will do that if and when I can find the lost files of the Riv. I have some stills of course. Just need some youngster like my youngest daughter to show the "old man" how that is done
The Jalopy Journal
