The Ford Barn

Steve Plucker · 09-23-2015, 03:02 AM

Of all of the original and unrestored Model A/AA's that you have seen over the years at various events or what ever...which one has most cought your eye?

Mine is a 1928 (1929?) Fordor which was owned by the late David Lopes. Saw it in Portland, Oregon at the MAFCA National in 2004.

Pluck

Tom Wesenberg · 09-23-2015, 07:23 AM

You're very lucky to have Dave's Fordor, if that's the same one I saw at one of the national meets. That was a very nice original Model A, and one like I'd want to own sometime. I've seen about a dozen or so really nicely preserved Model A's at the national meets.

Hoogah · 09-23-2015, 08:17 AM

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictur...ictureid=27945

I thought this one was pretty neat, so I bought it! Not quite pristine, but a survivor all the same. Apparently was a daily driver until the early/mid '70s. I'm the fourth "collector" owner.

Gary Karr · 09-23-2015, 10:08 AM

Dave Lopes' 1929 Standard Fordor is still owned by his widow Lisa. It is a remarkable car and runs like a top.

John Duden · 09-23-2015, 11:11 AM

does anybody have a picture of the Dave lopes car? i have heard alot about it, but have never seen it
john

FL&WVMIKE · 09-23-2015, 12:04 PM

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I took these photos at a Car Meet in West Virginia, in 1962.
The car was amazingly original ! Grady Whitlock owned the Ford Dealership in Beckley, West Virginia and, supposedly, traded a hog for it, years earlier.
It was in his dealership for years.
I don't know what became of it. Perhaps it is Dave Lopez's car. ??????
MIKE (mikeburch)

Tom Wesenberg · 09-23-2015, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Karr

Dave Lopes' 1929 Standard Fordor is still owned by his widow Lisa. It is a remarkable car and runs like a top.

That's what I thought, and wonder which Fordor Pluck bought.

At the Madison national meet there was a really nice 1929 Coupe with trunk for sale in the 30K range. I wonder where that is now?

dean from bozeman · 09-23-2015, 12:37 PM

One year, Dave Lopes brought his 4,000 original miles '29 Fordor to the San Diego swap meet. A bit after 5:00pm Dave announced, 'Well, boys let's go for a ride'. Soon there were five of us in that Fordor riding around the meet grounds. I have never been in a better riding Model A. It was an exceptionally smooth riding vehicle. It showed us how these A's were suppose to operate when new. Though I thoroughly enjoyed that ride I kept thinking that I hope the original upholstery doesn't split with all this weight on it.

When Dave was getting weaker from the effects of the cancer and the treatments, he contacted me about another low original miles '29 Fordor that he had seen on eBay. He said that it reminded him of his Fordor and that it had real potential. He made an offer, 'You get this vehicle to me and I will work on it as time, my family and my health permit'. I had just sold an "A" so I had the funds. Our mutual friend, Steve Ciccalone, had an empty trailer going west so he took it from Illinois to Dave in California. After months Dave painstakingly had cleaned and adjusted everything. Towards the end Dave was running out of energy. Gary Karr and Mark Williamson made a couple trips to help Dave complete the project.

Then against doctors orders, Dave drove with a friend to Las Vegas where I drove from Montana to meet them. We had lunch together and then went out to the trailer. Though you could see the tiredness on Dave's face, the sparkle in his eyes as he opened the trailer showed his love of life and love for the Model A.

One of the last times I talked to Dave on the phone I was sitting in the parking lot after the awards banquet at the MARC Merrillville national meet. I was blown away by the 442 point score. Dave said that it was about the score that he thought it would get. His voice was weak but his joy came through loud and clear.

This is Dave and Lisa's beautiful '29 Fordor.

This is the '29 Fordor that Dave cleaned and went over with a fine toothed comb. At this point it had about 32,000 miles. The engine and drivetrain have never been out of the chassis.

Though you can't see Dave's face you can see his smile of satisfaction from the side.

dean from bozeman · 09-23-2015, 12:41 PM

I forgot how to get the photos to open on Fordbarn. Here are links to the photos.

This is Dave and Lisa's beautiful '29 Fordor.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/54ftefsk0t...ordor.jpg?dl=0

This is the '29 Fordor that Dave cleaned and went over with a fine toothed comb. At this point it had about 32,000 miles. The engine and drivetrain have never been out of the chassis.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t79ehzmbu5...60626.JPG?dl=0

Though you can't see Dave's face you can see his smile of satisfaction from the side.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a57avaazk1...nder_.jpg?dl=0

Can someone post these?

Steve Wastler · 09-23-2015, 12:47 PM

I don't believe Pluck bought the fordor, just referenced Daves. The one that stands out for me is local club member Gerald Dewitt's Taxi with less than 4K original miles. I think the late Steve Ciccalone's 29 business coupe was a low mile original.

And of course I'm partial to my 14k mile fordor, albeit it has had a repaint......

Steve Wastler · 09-23-2015, 12:58 PM

Gerald's 3300 original miles Taxi

mhsprecher · 09-23-2015, 02:37 PM

Great story, Dean. Thanks for posting the pics. I am sure many guys love their particular marques, but it seems to this biased person that the Model A community is a few cuts above others. Of course, we all know a guy who has 15 AMCs stashed around, but I do think ours is a little unique in that way.

Keith True · 09-23-2015, 02:49 PM

The nicest original car I've seen in person was a 31 Victoria or a 400A.It had 1500 miles,and belonged to Fred Page from Pages Model A garage in Haverhill N.H.It was in the mid-70's,and the reason I can't remember which car had the low miles was because they were parked side by side.He called it his encylopedia for restoring other cars.Seems I've read rumors,(here maybe??) that the car was still in the family.

msmaron · 09-23-2015, 03:24 PM

as per deans request...here is the posting

Brentwood Bob · 09-23-2015, 04:44 PM

Marco's 4 door, and bill miller's eyebrow 30 fordor.
The doors close like an ice box on marco's car, the clunk.

Tom Wesenberg · 09-23-2015, 06:29 PM

Thanks Don, after rereading Plucks statement I can now see what he said, and I mistook it to be his car now. Yes, and looking at the picture just posted, the paint is even nicer than I had remembered it.

mshmodela · 09-23-2015, 06:37 PM

WOW! What a time traveling car... Thanks for the post...

Arcieri · 09-23-2015, 07:10 PM

And now, the rest of the story.

Here is a photo taken on the day that Dean was talking about. Certainly shows the enthusiasm of both men.

Ray

dean from bozeman · 09-23-2015, 09:02 PM

Ray, thanks for posting this picture. Not that I ever like to see a photo of me but to see Dave smiling so makes my heart feel good. I do miss him. What a quality man. Also, to think that he did most of the restoration work on his vehicles himself. His Henry Award winning Phaeton was used as a pattern when A495 was reassembled from a pile of sheet metal pieces after it had been totally disassembled.

Dave would often talk about his son, Mitchell. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in engineering, Mitchell is now fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a fighter pilot. I don't know how that is going. I haven't seen him since he was a judge at the MARC National meet in Lexington, Kentucky. I have no doubt that in the future Mitchell will restore an award winning "A" or two.

Gary Karr · 09-23-2015, 11:22 PM

Great picture Ray. Thank you for posting. We all miss our good friend Dave. Dean, I can't wait to see you next week in Hershey!!!

09-23-2015, 03:02 AM	#1
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Of all of the original and unrestored Model A/AA's that you have seen over the years at various events or what ever...which one has most cought your eye? Mine is a 1928 (1929?) Fordor which was owned by the late David Lopes. Saw it in Portland, Oregon at the MAFCA National in 2004. Pluck

09-23-2015, 07:23 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... You're very lucky to have Dave's Fordor, if that's the same one I saw at one of the national meets. That was a very nice original Model A, and one like I'd want to own sometime. I've seen about a dozen or so really nicely preserved Model A's at the national meets.

09-23-2015, 08:17 AM	#3
Hoogah Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia Posts: 800	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictur...ictureid=27945 I thought this one was pretty neat, so I bought it! Not quite pristine, but a survivor all the same. Apparently was a daily driver until the early/mid '70s. I'm the fourth "collector" owner.

09-23-2015, 10:08 AM	#4
Gary Karr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,484	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Dave Lopes' 1929 Standard Fordor is still owned by his widow Lisa. It is a remarkable car and runs like a top.

09-23-2015, 11:11 AM	#5
John Duden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,854	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... does anybody have a picture of the Dave lopes car? i have heard alot about it, but have never seen it john

09-23-2015, 12:37 PM	#8
dean from bozeman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 997	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... One year, Dave Lopes brought his 4,000 original miles '29 Fordor to the San Diego swap meet. A bit after 5:00pm Dave announced, 'Well, boys let's go for a ride'. Soon there were five of us in that Fordor riding around the meet grounds. I have never been in a better riding Model A. It was an exceptionally smooth riding vehicle. It showed us how these A's were suppose to operate when new. Though I thoroughly enjoyed that ride I kept thinking that I hope the original upholstery doesn't split with all this weight on it. When Dave was getting weaker from the effects of the cancer and the treatments, he contacted me about another low original miles '29 Fordor that he had seen on eBay. He said that it reminded him of his Fordor and that it had real potential. He made an offer, 'You get this vehicle to me and I will work on it as time, my family and my health permit'. I had just sold an "A" so I had the funds. Our mutual friend, Steve Ciccalone, had an empty trailer going west so he took it from Illinois to Dave in California. After months Dave painstakingly had cleaned and adjusted everything. Towards the end Dave was running out of energy. Gary Karr and Mark Williamson made a couple trips to help Dave complete the project. Then against doctors orders, Dave drove with a friend to Las Vegas where I drove from Montana to meet them. We had lunch together and then went out to the trailer. Though you could see the tiredness on Dave's face, the sparkle in his eyes as he opened the trailer showed his love of life and love for the Model A. One of the last times I talked to Dave on the phone I was sitting in the parking lot after the awards banquet at the MARC Merrillville national meet. I was blown away by the 442 point score. Dave said that it was about the score that he thought it would get. His voice was weak but his joy came through loud and clear. This is Dave and Lisa's beautiful '29 Fordor. This is the '29 Fordor that Dave cleaned and went over with a fine toothed comb. At this point it had about 32,000 miles. The engine and drivetrain have never been out of the chassis. Though you can't see Dave's face you can see his smile of satisfaction from the side. Last edited by dean from bozeman; 09-23-2015 at 12:48 PM.

09-23-2015, 12:41 PM	#9
dean from bozeman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 997	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... I forgot how to get the photos to open on Fordbarn. Here are links to the photos. This is Dave and Lisa's beautiful '29 Fordor. https://www.dropbox.com/s/54ftefsk0t...ordor.jpg?dl=0 This is the '29 Fordor that Dave cleaned and went over with a fine toothed comb. At this point it had about 32,000 miles. The engine and drivetrain have never been out of the chassis. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t79ehzmbu5...60626.JPG?dl=0 Though you can't see Dave's face you can see his smile of satisfaction from the side. https://www.dropbox.com/s/a57avaazk1...nder_.jpg?dl=0 Can someone post these? Last edited by dean from bozeman; 09-23-2015 at 12:48 PM.

09-23-2015, 12:47 PM	#10
Steve Wastler Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,987	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... I don't believe Pluck bought the fordor, just referenced Daves. The one that stands out for me is local club member Gerald Dewitt's Taxi with less than 4K original miles. I think the late Steve Ciccalone's 29 business coupe was a low mile original. And of course I'm partial to my 14k mile fordor, albeit it has had a repaint......

09-23-2015, 02:37 PM	#12
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2,817	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Great story, Dean. Thanks for posting the pics. I am sure many guys love their particular marques, but it seems to this biased person that the Model A community is a few cuts above others. Of course, we all know a guy who has 15 AMCs stashed around, but I do think ours is a little unique in that way.

09-23-2015, 02:49 PM	#13
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,983	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... The nicest original car I've seen in person was a 31 Victoria or a 400A.It had 1500 miles,and belonged to Fred Page from Pages Model A garage in Haverhill N.H.It was in the mid-70's,and the reason I can't remember which car had the low miles was because they were parked side by side.He called it his encylopedia for restoring other cars.Seems I've read rumors,(here maybe??) that the car was still in the family.

09-23-2015, 04:44 PM	#15
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,233	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Marco's 4 door, and bill miller's eyebrow 30 fordor. The doors close like an ice box on marco's car, the clunk.

09-23-2015, 06:29 PM	#16
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Thanks Don, after rereading Plucks statement I can now see what he said, and I mistook it to be his car now. Yes, and looking at the picture just posted, the paint is even nicer than I had remembered it.

09-23-2015, 06:37 PM	#17
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... WOW! What a time traveling car... Thanks for the post... __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

09-23-2015, 09:02 PM	#19
dean from bozeman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 997	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Ray, thanks for posting this picture. Not that I ever like to see a photo of me but to see Dave smiling so makes my heart feel good. I do miss him. What a quality man. Also, to think that he did most of the restoration work on his vehicles himself. His Henry Award winning Phaeton was used as a pattern when A495 was reassembled from a pile of sheet metal pieces after it had been totally disassembled. Dave would often talk about his son, Mitchell. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in engineering, Mitchell is now fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a fighter pilot. I don't know how that is going. I haven't seen him since he was a judge at the MARC National meet in Lexington, Kentucky. I have no doubt that in the future Mitchell will restore an award winning "A" or two.

09-23-2015, 11:22 PM	#20
Gary Karr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,484	Re: Original and unrestored Model A/AA Fords that you have seen... Great picture Ray. Thank you for posting. We all miss our good friend Dave. Dean, I can't wait to see you next week in Hershey!!!