The last Grasp Special '34 3 window build

So happy for you my friend.

Well deserved I think.

Some great photos too I might add.

Glad to see you've come to you senses and are now sitting on the correct side. A true hotrod has three pedals....

I keep looking or a 56 cab. Everytime I see one I think of you and how I would get it to you.

Enough rambles, back to the show!

 

Hey Brant. your always make me smile with the stuff you say.
It's funny how stuff works out. You wait until I tell about the history of the 3W I just bought. It's crazy, but hey very neat. But that can wait.
Yeah sitting on he right side ( left ) and a lot of people would say a real hot rod should have 3 pedals as well. So I guess I am starting to cover most of the bases!
Something I didn't tell you, I scored a '56 cab here in Australia a while back and it is actually from the US. But I will convert the dash to the right hand side.
Anyhow I need to finish my posts about last weekend.
Take it easy mate.
Geoff aka whodaky

PS I had to eventually start taking some great photos. Goodness knows I take enough of them.
Seriously though it is hard not to take great photos when the subject matter and environments are so good. The hard part is writing all these damned words and submitting it all. But reading it all. I think I have the hang of stringing words together. Even though I go into way more detail other than about the hots rods, but I know there is a number of people who read this who enjoy that aspect of this thread and my posts also. It's all part of one big hot rod story/ adventure.
That's my story and I am sticking to it!

 

Sunday morning I arose, had a shower and then went for a walk along the beach. My mind just totally relaxes when I have these walks on the beach. There is just so much visual stimulation that is constantly changing when I am actually walking there or even from when I last walked there.
Of course my thoughts are always different each time in so manys ways when I do take these walks.
I think at this point in my life my mind is in a really good place. Life has been good to me in so many ways. Living in such a great country like Australia. Having met and made great friends with so many wonderful people. Having a pretty awesome collection of cars. Along with all the other stuff that compliments all that is me. As well, I have a great family who are everything to me. My mother and father are no longer with us. But they are why I am the person I am and to them I owe so much. I hope they can still see how my life is going.
I just read all that back and maybe it isn't something the whole world needs or wants to hear, but I just felt I needed to write it here for those who know and understand me. Maybe I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve a bit at times. But hey that is who I am.
Geoff aka whodaky

 

Hey Geoff,The 3 window looks right at home in Tonys garage cant wait to check them all out including the progress on "the last Grasp special,Good luck with the planning of the new coupe Im sure its all worked out in your head ,Cheers Jeff

 

It has come a long way from Pete Nash,s Bakersfield shop

 

Hey Jeff. It's just crazy to now own Nashy's other coupe. I do have a lot of plans for the 'new' 3W. But like my 5W when I got it off Nashy, it already had all the basic hot rod character . I just refined it. I think the 3W is the same. But yes I have got a lot I want to do to it. But it won't be for a while.
Yeah it is kind of neat that it has ended up in Tony's garage, even though it won't be there permanently. Actually I think Tony was more excited about my purchase of it than I was .
I think you will like the work we have been doing on the chop of our 3W when you see it in person.
Take it easy mate.
Geoff aka whodaky

 

Wiredspider, yeah a world away really and quite a few years down the track. But it is all linked together in a strange way!.
You will be amazed when I get around to writing about the history of my own 5W.
I messaged Nashy the other night and got a reply this morning. I know a bit of the history of the 3W, but he is going to fill me on a bit more of it, when I start to ask some questions. I will also convey some of the stuff I know about it since it has been here in Australia.
So stay tuned!

Geoff aka whodaky

 

Funny that you ended up with both of Pete,s cars

 

When I got back from my walk I had a coffee whilst Tony ate breakfast. Around 10.30 we went out into the garage. I had brought with me some mesh I had at home. I thought maybe it would work as the basis for our grille insert.



So we laid it up against the grille shell. It has the feel we may be after. We then marked and trimmed it with a cut off wheel in the grinder. We shaped it a bit. I made some clips from aluminium to temporarily hold it in place.

Geoff aka whodaky

 

We liked what we were seeing. Next we started playing with trim designs to make the insert a bit more interesting and to get that 'factory' feel we are looking for.



It is still very much in it's early stages, but we are happy with the direction the grille shell and it's insert are starting to take.

Geoff aka whodaky

 

Late in the morning Peter dropped around in the phaeton, it looks great out of the garage. He had written a receipt for me for the purchase of the 3W.
As it was lunch time Peter had lunch with us. After lunch we went out into the garage,we talked about and looked at an amazing collection of hot rods and stuff in Tony's garage.
Late in the afternoon Peter said goodbye and went home.
I went upstairs to get my gear together to put in the pickup. By the time we had a coffee it was 4.30. p.m., a 1/2 hour later than my usual departure time. So I said my goodbyes to Rita and Tony, glanced to my right for one last look at my latest aquisition,; jumped in the pickup and headed for home. Pulling into our driveway at around 9.15. p.m. after another great time spent in Port Fairy

Geoff aka whodaky

 

I for one would love to hear the history of all of your rides......some I know and wouldn't mind if I heard it again.

 

Geoff aka whodaky

[/QUOTE]
Photo on the left looks familiar

 

This is a great thread Geoff, its good to have a local thread going to follow and i even know a few blokes that are in it ,,,,and a few of the cars ,,,

 

Congrats sir on the purchase, over the years I've admired that coupe, and stoke to hear that it continued to be in good hands.

Cheers,

Drewfus

 

Great work on updating everyone. This is very inspiring and has inspired me to get of my bum and do something about my dreams make them become a reality as well. Thank you.

 

Welcome garyd.
I am glad that this thread is of inspiration to you.
Not only is this basically a diary about our 3W, and all that is associated with it in so many ways. But it is also a great motivator for Tony and myself. Knowing that others are enjoying seeing what we are doing and the way we go about things. That in itself is also inspirational to us.
Geoff aka whodaky

 

Thanks Geoff, I made contact with Tony yesterday and was wrapped to speak with him and it really got me thinking of all the good things and what hot rods and the people are all about, I'm hooked again and this is just great and it gets me thinking positive about life and family. I hope to catch up with Tony again sometime soon and would love to meet you again as well, the last time I saw you was on my way to Tony's when my flat head broke a distributor and you stopped to help out. Never forget that and loved your coupe and style ever since. Take care...

 

Insert looks good!

 

Geoff, I have never met yourself or Tony but I am aware of you guys, you're cars and you're art. But through this journal I feel like I am part of the build. Thanks, good luck with the Last Grasp Special and congrats on you're new 3 window, I've admired it more than once.

 

Gary, it was good to catch up with you the other day, talking to you brought a lot of good memories from early times. I remember the day you came to my house with your dad and asked if I had any model a parts as you wanted to build a hot rod, within a few mins talking to you and your dad I knew that your dream and the help from your dad that you will build your traditional ride. All I wanted to do in hot rodding is help young blokes get their rides on the road and hand the torch to them so they can keep hot rodding alive. And Wardog I hope to meet you sometime soon and I like your ute, I saw it at chopped a few years ago looks cool.

 

WOW! What a read! Geoff, we all benefit, immensely, from your editorial efforts. Having added the 3W to the stable will extend your life, due to your dedication to your art.
BTW , are we going to see a different colour scheme on the Effy, as we drive past work, one of these days?
Davo,

 

Damn I have been bit stuck for words ( that makes a change I hear you guys say ) this last few days.
Maybe I have been a bit overwhelmed by garyd's and wardog's responses. It is a bit humbling to think that what I am doing ( no, what we are all doing ) with this thread is having such a profound affect on people. At the end of the day I guess subconsciously that is the affect I am hoping for. But when I see that it is actually having an affect, I am a bit taken aback.
As Tony said so well in his last response. It is great to be able to pass on one's experience ( passing the torch as he suggested ). Whether it be in the building of a hot rod or just the experience of life. Those experiences can be passed onto young and old alike. I know that when Rita, Tony and I may be talking around the kitchen table we are sharing life experience and the conveying of those experiences are important in everyones life.
There I go again conveying experience the way I see it. Enough of all that deep stuff.

Geoff aka whodaky

 

Davo, good that you are still reading and enjoying. I saw my sister the other day and she said you say hi whenever you see her.
Life is a funny journey. I never saw the 3W window coming my way. But I do know my involvement in hot rods and customs is my life and it all makes me happy for the most part. It keeps my mind active, the building/hands on stuff is good for me phsically. And yes I think it is what keeps me young ( at 56 ).
I can't commit to a color change or even a repaint on my trusty F100. Doing to much other stuff.

Geoff aka whodaky

ps this will have to do for now Davo

 

Hey Geoff, it was a great experience working with you and Tony on my five window chop.The car has come a long way since we started on it and I'm glad I had the hot rod masters working on it. Geoff, great write up really enjoy looking at the cd you gave me with all the pictures of the chop. I feel like I have done my apprenticeship with you guys and can't wait to do some work on your cars. I can't thank you both enough for all the help and hope one day we will cruise do the highway together with both coupes.
Regards Frank.

 

Thankyou for the compliments Frank. But as I have said before, I think Tony and I enjoyed working on chopping your 5W as much as you did.
The bonus for me is I got to know you and your family better. As well as giving your coupe the attitude adjustment a real hot rod needs.
The fact we ended up with a chassis for our 3W was a real plus. So we thank you once again for that. Although I think we really earnt it in the end.
Glad you liked the CD, it is a great record of what we did.

Geoff aka whodaky

 

Tony, I hope we do get a chance to meet some time. Thanks for you're kind words about my ute, it's a bitter sweet memory for me. I sold it and I some times miss it but then I look at my A coupe I replaced it with and cheer up again.

 

Here is another pic for you, took this at the Nat's in Canberra 85' (I think it was the 7th ASRF Nat's in 85'?)




Doc.

 

Damn Doc. Your making me feel old and when I look over at the coupe behind me here in the garage, it looks old also.
That shot at the Canberra nationals wasn't long after I had got my 5W on the road.
It still amazes me the reaction the coupe got from people, at that event. It was completely unexpected. Even more so when my coupe was voted second coupe behind Gary Pring's hi-tech '32 3W.
Anyhow Doc, thanks for the memories. I seldom think of the past these days. To much to think about, in the here and now; than to take the time to dwell on the long ago past!
Geoff aka whodaky

 

Hope you don't mind , but here's one from the Melbourne Hot Rod Show .Late 80's ??


plus a couple for Tony
Remember that weekend in Albury ???






I'm enjoying the thread greatly. Must say I've never met you Geoff , but I've
heard a great deal about you from mutual friends. Tony is another story , we've probably known each other for close to 30 years but now only see each other at the "Fridge" each year. Keep up the great work guys.