The Ford Barn

Krylon32 · 04-30-2021, 01:48 PM

It may have been posted but I see where Mark Kirby of Motor City Flathead's has passed away.

wga · 04-30-2021, 01:57 PM

Nice guy. He made some good looking heads, and put a ton of work into the aluminum block.

KiWinUS · 04-30-2021, 08:50 PM

Very sorry to lose such a great guy. I had met Mark & worked with his nephew yeas back. Truly a great guy. RIP FRIEND.

petehoovie · 04-30-2021, 09:09 PM

Jon Scobel of Kearney Pattern Works and Foundry passed this month - April 14th. He was instrumental in the reproduction of the Lincoln Zephyr V-12 and Ford V8 aluminum cylinder heads....RIP Jon

V8 Bob · 05-01-2021, 06:50 AM

Really sad to learn this. I first met Mark over 20 years when I purchased one of his engines, enjoyed a couple of visits over the years, rode in his "new" '53 on it's first run with his aluminum flathead, and last spent quality time with Mark and Phil Goller at the '19 Kalamazoo Nat's North. RIP Mark.

Tim Ayers · 05-01-2021, 06:56 AM

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This is sad news and my condolences to his family.

Mark Kirby was truly an innovator and Motor City Flathead may have come along a few years too soon.

If Mark was doing MCF today, I could only imagine he'd be bigger than some of current large engine rebuilding operations. He really built a strong running motor. My friend has one of his 296's in a '39 Fordor convertible.

Motor starts instantly and runs so strong.

sidevalve8ba · 05-01-2021, 07:59 AM

I had dealings with Mark a number years ago. He was truly a man of his word. You cannot ask for more than that from a person. RIP

Bored&Stroked · 05-01-2021, 08:18 AM

I've only met Mark a few times at various shows - when he was actively showing his aluminum flathead. Seemed like a real nice guy and he always had a good reputation as a stand-up guy. I agree with Tim - if MCF was active in the last 10 years, he'd be one of the biggest (and probably best) guys building engines. Though I've never actually seen his work (the internals of his builds), have heard nothing but good things about his work and the way he ran his business. RIP Mark - see you in Flathead Heaven some day!

19Fordy · 05-01-2021, 10:26 AM

Gosh, that terrible news. Mark Kirby was a very good man. God Bless him and his family.
I hope Phil Goller will keep MCF alive.

flathead4rd · 05-01-2021, 01:30 PM

Dealt with Mark several times when he was still in Dundee, Michigan. Built me a 286 Cu In. engine. Still running strong today. After he closed up shop he when to Shadow Rods where he developed the Flathead Aluminum Block. Was a great guy to deal with. Sorry to hear of his passing.

Henry Floored · 05-02-2021, 09:29 PM

I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. I knew Mark from doing business with him. He was a stand up guy. Very intelligent. The hobby of Flathead Fording has lost a giant. May he rest in God’s everlasting peace.

hotrodcbx · 05-03-2021, 08:00 AM

Sad to hear.. I got to know Mark quite well in the mid 90's when he built me a blown 286 inch 8BA which is still running strong today. Nice guy, he will be missed at Kalamazoo..

04-30-2021, 01:48 PM	#1
Krylon32 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,470	Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's It may have been posted but I see where Mark Kirby of Motor City Flathead's has passed away. Last edited by Krylon32; 04-30-2021 at 07:31 PM.

04-30-2021, 01:57 PM	#2
wga Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 897	Re: Mark Kirby Nice guy. He made some good looking heads, and put a ton of work into the aluminum block. __________________ Henry Ford designed the flathead without the aid of a computer.

04-30-2021, 08:50 PM	#3
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 2,954	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's Very sorry to lose such a great guy. I had met Mark & worked with his nephew yeas back. Truly a great guy. RIP FRIEND.

04-30-2021, 09:09 PM	#4
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,076	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's Jon Scobel of Kearney Pattern Works and Foundry passed this month - April 14th. He was instrumental in the reproduction of the Lincoln Zephyr V-12 and Ford V8 aluminum cylinder heads....RIP Jon __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

05-01-2021, 06:50 AM	#5
V8 Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana Posts: 1,520	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's Really sad to learn this. I first met Mark over 20 years when I purchased one of his engines, enjoyed a couple of visits over the years, rode in his "new" '53 on it's first run with his aluminum flathead, and last spent quality time with Mark and Phil Goller at the '19 Kalamazoo Nat's North. RIP Mark.

05-01-2021, 06:56 AM	#6
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) This is sad news and my condolences to his family. Mark Kirby was truly an innovator and Motor City Flathead may have come along a few years too soon. If Mark was doing MCF today, I could only imagine he'd be bigger than some of current large engine rebuilding operations. He really built a strong running motor. My friend has one of his 296's in a '39 Fordor convertible. Motor starts instantly and runs so strong.

05-01-2021, 07:59 AM	#7
sidevalve8ba Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 841	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's I had dealings with Mark a number years ago. He was truly a man of his word. You cannot ask for more than that from a person. RIP

05-01-2021, 08:18 AM	#8
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,062	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's I've only met Mark a few times at various shows - when he was actively showing his aluminum flathead. Seemed like a real nice guy and he always had a good reputation as a stand-up guy. I agree with Tim - if MCF was active in the last 10 years, he'd be one of the biggest (and probably best) guys building engines. Though I've never actually seen his work (the internals of his builds), have heard nothing but good things about his work and the way he ran his business. RIP Mark - see you in Flathead Heaven some day!

05-01-2021, 01:30 PM	#10
flathead4rd Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 505	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's Dealt with Mark several times when he was still in Dundee, Michigan. Built me a 286 Cu In. engine. Still running strong today. After he closed up shop he when to Shadow Rods where he developed the Flathead Aluminum Block. Was a great guy to deal with. Sorry to hear of his passing.

05-02-2021, 09:29 PM	#11
Henry Floored Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 583	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. I knew Mark from doing business with him. He was a stand up guy. Very intelligent. The hobby of Flathead Fording has lost a giant. May he rest in God’s everlasting peace.

05-03-2021, 08:00 AM	#12
hotrodcbx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 136	Re: Mark Kirby/MotorCity Flathead's Sad to hear.. I got to know Mark quite well in the mid 90's when he built me a blown 286 inch 8BA which is still running strong today. Nice guy, he will be missed at Kalamazoo..