Thom Taylor's "Americruiser"

Back in '93 when Rod & Custom kicked off their first Americruise, Thom Taylor and Pete Eastwood built a '35 Delivery with a '36 nose, left it in primer with a few comforts and drove to the event. Whatever became of this beater?

 

What I liked about the build was that the modifications were supposed to have been all bolt-on. If I remember right, they left us hangin' on the completed car...

 

I have a bunch of pics of it from 93 Americruise, but I too have not seen it since. I was one of my favo***e cars then. I hope it has not changed much!!

 

Can ya post 'em?

 

Anyone know how to get a hold of Taylor or Eastwood? They would be a good place to start.

 

Timely thread! At least for me! Lately, I've been jones-ing for those stories and can only find a couple of them, seems like there were at least 4 articles. The weekend build turned into quite a while longer but, that's how it goes....

 

Here's Thom's email:
hotrodthom@cox.net

 

Those guys cracked me up that weekend. They were about 3/4 blasted and were cruising around the Springfield fairgrounds in that 35 delivery. Jangleguy and I were cruising the grounds in my gray primer 49 ford coupe. Everytime we'd p*** each other Thom Taylor'd hang out the window and yell out.' Hey, you oughta get a 49 ford coupe, primer it, lower it down and put polished americans on it! Hahahahaha"
Wierd. Those 2 were having just a little too much fun. I'll bet they both sported giant hangovers the next day...
Good guys tho. P-wood told me some great stories about his family and his early years... I never saw the delivery again.

 

Thom sold it a little over a year or two ago to a guy in Central California that has finished it.

 

It's alive and well, although it's no longer a "beater". A good friend of mine has owned it for several years now, and recently completed it the way Thom was going to do. I've watched him meticulously rebuild this car, keeping as much of it's original character intact, and I can tell you it's beautiful! It now has the Rod&Custom logo on both sides and is finished in the color Thom intended - British Racing Green. Blackie Gegeian invited him to show it at the last Fresno Autorama. Alot of people saw it and probably didn't realize it was the same car. I've got pictures of it, but my buddy's kind of a private guy, so I should ask him before I post 'em.

 

I took these super-secret spy photos in Sept. of '05. 2 years ago. Click and see.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12708346@N04/sets/72157601960992157/show/

 

Here's pics of a good friend's 36, started in 1988.

 

Any recent Pic"s of this mystery car...

 

No one remembers this car?...

 

Thoms original concept

 

I remember it as well , I often wondered what became of it, and would love to see some current pics of it...

 

I seem to remember that the dash got painted in a really different kind of "confetti" pattern... wonder if it still looks like that? Some current pics would be cool to see.

-Dave

 

And still no picture...........

 

If I am not mistaken last year I believe an issue came out with the finished version. It still has the original Rod and Custom logo on it.

 

Who"s got that issue........Please...

 

went digging last night
June 93 R&C part 1
August 93 part 2 (first monthly issue)
September 93 part 3
October 93 the finishing touches sorry im unable to scan

 

Back from the dead.

 

Interesting that @Pete Eastwood did not join the forum until after this thread originally appeared.

 

That was a cool car. I'd like to see it again.

 

I am going to be viewing and taking pictures of the panel for the owner so it can be listed for sale.
I talked to @Pete Eastwood on the phone last night he was giving me tech info on the build and some fun stories about him and Thom Taylor traveling the Americruise in the panel.

 

@Moriarity Pete was telling about the dash and explaining how it looked like Good & Plenty candy box. lol

 

I should buy it and do the the Americruise route how many years later, it would be a blast.