How Many Know The History Of their V8 Since New ?

[FL&WVMIKE]

I would like to start a thread, that was the original idea of "al's28/33", from Redwood City, Ca., in The Model "A" Forum.

.....HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF YOUR V8, SINCE NEW ? .....
MIKE

[charles in east texas]

I have a 53 Ford I bought from the original owner. She lives in Colrain, NC.
I also have a 36 Ford 5W coupe that one lady bought new and her niece inherited the car in 1996 and I purchased the car from the niece last year.
Charles

[40cpe]

This is going to be a short thread

[SUHRsc]

My 39 Sedan Delivery was bought new by a company in Sunbury PA called "Real French Cleaners".
During the war it was sold to the Stahl family and used to deliver produce from their farm.
In 1948 Mr Stahl got married. His new wife had enough of farm living so the '39 was parked in a shed on the farm and they bought a house in near by Northumberland, PA.
at some point it was moved from the farm to a small garage in Northumberland.
A year or so ago they moved it out of the shed and parked it in the back yard of a 2nd house in order to sell the first place.
Eventually they came to the realization that it was deteriorating outside... so they listed it for sale.
I bought it in september of last year.... and plan to keep it!

Zach

[Vic Piano]

Not a V8 but our '39 Lincoln Zephyr V-12. When we bought the Zephyr I contacted the LZOC and provided the VIN and Body#'s, the club published the information in their monthly magazine and as a result, I subsequently received a phone call from the cars second owner. He bought the Zephyr from the original owner, a Doctor that lived on the East end of Long Island (where he purchased the car new, from a local Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealer) The second owner got the car in 1948 and drove it from Long Island to Lakeland, Florida where he went to college. He told me that he worked at the Tampa Lincoln Agency as a mechanic and in '52 he rebuilt the '40 Zephyr V-12 that is in the car. The transmission is original to the car with the VIN# stamped into the top of the transmission. He told me that the original owner had served as an Air Raid Warden during the war (under the rear seat I found a windshield plaque that says Civil Defense Suffolk County, NY, with instructions on the back stating what to do in the event of an air raid... I also contacted the "Henry Ford", provided the VIN and Body #'s and they sent me the "Build Sheet" on our '39 LZ Convertible Club Coupe. The car left the factory on April 22, 1939 to be delivered to the dealership on Long Island. The cars build sheet list only two options, a black convertible top and red leather interior. I found this odd because the car was also equipped with a hot air heater (not a dealer installation on the Zephyr). Right now we've got the rear and transmission out of the car to repair the transmission and install the Columbia rear. Hopefully she'll be back on the road in time for the "Barner's Bash", March 16th to 18th. Vic

[blucar]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have owned my '36 Ford Deluxe 5 win cpe since September, 1952. For all practical purposes I am the second owner, however, two friends of mine briefly owned car..
The whole story:
My High School Wood Shop, Mr Blondel, purchased the car new in Idaho Falls, ID. When I was in the 9th grade my friends and I would admire the car, it was always parked in the same spot, adjacent to the vocational shops at our school. The car was black with an apple green pin stripe.
At the time I did not harbor many thoughts about owning the car. My father always had Chevy's, so Fords were not a big thing around our house. Actually Fords were generally shunned in Eastern Idaho because they were very hard to start at 30 below zero where-as the Chevy stove bolt six would start every time.
In early 1952 a friend of mine was working in a Conogo gas station across the street from the school.. Mr. Blondel came into the station driving a brand new '52 Ford, Dean asked Mr. Blondel what he had done with the '36 Ford, Mr. Blondel responded that he was going to sell the car... Dean quickly made a deal to buy the '36.
Dean only had the car for a few short months when he decided to sell it.. He had fallen love with a girl, quitting school to get married... The new wife did not like the '36.
Dean sold the car to another classmate of mine.. Bob took the car home, not telling his father what he had done.. When Bob's dad found out what Bob had done, he had a fit, refusing to place insurance on the car which meant Bob could not drive the Ford.
Bob's dad bought Bob a new Chevy to drive, he felt the '36 Ford was unsafe with it's mechanical brakes.
A couple of months passed, summer was over and it was getting close to the start of school.. I had been driving a '42 Chevy which blew a rod. My uncle gave me a '41 Ford to use until I could get the Chevy going, the Ford got hot and cracked the block so I was a foot. A friend of mine had a '41 Ford conv. that had lost the rear end, he said I could have the car if I wanted it.. In a few short hours I had the trans/diff out of my '41 and into the '41 conv... I had wheels again.
It was now late September and staring to get frosty in Idaho... Not a good place to have a convertible.. My friend Bob had been gone for the summer, for some unknown reason I stopped by his house to see if he had come home yet. He had not.
While talking to Bob's dad I noted that the '36 was sitting in the back yard with weeds up to the door handles. I inquired about the car, Bob's dad said that he had been meaning to call the local wrecking yard to come and pick the car up..
In short order I made a deal to buy the car for $125. I went after a battery and some gas.. In short order the car was running... I drove it home, cleaned it up and hit the streets... The car had a little over 51k on the clock... A fifty-nine year love affair with the car had started.

[jim1932]

I have fragments. I know my Uncle owned it from !961 till I got it. I know who he bought it from..... and I know who owned it in th emid 40's (found thier license in the car. Other than that.....no clue.

[Mart]

Enjoying the stories guys.

Mart.

[Dave D]

My 35 Cabriolet was given to the original owner as a high school graduation present. He kept it until he was 83 yrs old and sold it to the guy I bought it from. I have the original sales receipt and a copy of the first "pink slip".

[jdl]

My Avatar...

[wga]

'49 Station Wagon - original owner from Great Falls, Mt. She left it to the C.M. Russell Museum also in Great Falls. After several years, the museum decided to sell it, and I got involved. Ended sold to a gentlemen in Jupiter, Fla. After a few years of ownership, he wanted to sell it and over 6 months we talked about it, and I brought it out here to the west coast, northern California. A few changes, overall original.

[al's28/33]

Good thinking Mike, I forgot to post my question here too since I have a '33 pickup. I got it in 2004 from Dixon, Illinois and it was supposedly changed out from a Model "B" 4 cylinder by Rich Bickle of NASCAR fame.

It has a beafy "helper" spring over the rear axle and the previous owner told me it was used by the US Forest Service in Wisconsin.

[Kube]

I had bought my 40 coupe from the family of the original purchaser. Quite a long story but it has the sales slip, confirmation letter from Ford, etc. with it. Probably the best 40 I've ever started with.

[49r]

My 1949 F1 was built/assembled at the Ford Seaview plant, Wellington, New Zealand, 25 km from where I now live. I have the original ownership papers which indicate that it was first registered on 23 March 1950 to a gentleman in Manunui. It was registered to its second owner, a farmer in Taumaranui, on May 29 1951. He had moved to Kuku, 10 km south of my home town Levin, at the time I bought it in August 1973, aged 15.

[rotorwrench]

One of my 51 Mercs was owned by a little old lady that only drove it to the post office & store then to church on Sundays. It only had 26,000 miles on it when my pop bought it in 1954. My other 51 was owned by a lady from Clovis, NM whose father gave it to her sometime after he bought it new. She kept the records on it clear up into the early 70s when it likely was used by her children or grand children as a bumper car. The fellow I purchased it from bought it from her and never really did anything with it except store it. After I tryed to get it running I found out why. The bores are still standard after one re-ring & valve job done in 1963. The poor thing was plum run into the ground back in the early 90s. I've never seen rings worn as bad as these. It finally just got so low on compression that it would no longer run. The speedo was replaced back in the 60s so I have no idea how many miles are on it. I'd venture a guess at several hundred thousand from its condition. Pretty good shape though since NM is pretty dry and the Mercs are heavily built. My Kansas car has about the same rust as it does. The two came out of the Saint Louis, Mo. plant about 2-weeks apart.

[47COE]

My truck was purchased new by a local farm in 1947.

Since 1974 I've been its second owner.

The distance by road from the first owner to my place is 8.5 miles. Shorter as the crow flies.

It was a well used working farm truck when I got it and it is still working.


Tom

[donhunt]

I don't know who owned my 39 DeLuxe coupe before me but I've owned it for the past fifty.

[19Fordy]

My 40 Ford was bought new by Ira Relyea in Poughtkeepsie, NY where I lived. He had an accident an the insurance company totalled it. My friend Bobby Rose bought it, repaired it and drove it for a year or two and then sold it to me for $400. I still have it. Here's a photo of it after the accident.

[4t8v8]

My dad bought the engine in mine new in 1948. I learned to drive with it. Still drivin' it.

[ford38v8]

I bought my '38 Convertible Coupe from an oldster in Clayton, Ca, who had found it without engine at the back of a used car lot in Alameda California, in 1963. He did a restoration that included correct upholstery and paint color, and a great 59L block engine. At some point (he didn't remember), it had also recieved a differential transplant, having 4.44 parade gears, which of course have since been traded out for 3.78 gears. During my various rebuilds, I found a political card inside the passenger door dating from 1938 touting a candidate for Mayor in Alameda, which I believe confirms the car never left that city since new. That's as far as I was able to trace it.

[David J]

Mikey , The best I can do with my own cars is back to the mid 40's BUT . My dads oldest brother's best friend has a 32 dlx V-8 2d that he bought in the late 40's from the lady school teacher that bought it new .Many years ago when I was there driving a dusty-dirty old 33 he showed me the paperwork that came with the 32 & I'm pretty sure the original sales stuff was there . I was in his good graces right off the bat with the stock 33 . My uncle passed on a few years ago but the owner of the 32 is still alive but is not doing well in his mid 90's . His family doesn't want to sell it . Lotta years have gone by since 1932 !!!!!

[Don]

I found and bought my 35 roadster in Iowa,I liver in Ky so a pretty good haul. I traced it back to one of the Carolinas,It found it's way to Iowa in a divorce.The story I got in So Carolinay was that it was a Fire Chiefs car bought new for the fire department. Doing the body off restoration,I found red paint that could only have gotten there at theyyfactory,this is my story and am sticking to it.I have had the Roadster about 13yrs .Roughly 2 yrs to restore. If you ever bought any Birdseed,the guy I got the Roadster from probally made it,he makes and sells all over the world.

[GeoMaher]

I bought my 1934 Ford pickup from Vern Hanesalo who farmed northeast of Lakota, North Dakota. He bought it from the Ford dealer in Michigan, North Dakota when it was new. I bought the truck from Vern in 1974, when it was just sitting there in his scrap heap. I rented a flatbed trailer, dragged the truck onto the trailer and brought it to my mobile home in Lakota. Three years later, I pulled it to the house & garage I built in Lakota, North Dakota. Then I moved to Fargo, North Dakota and stored it in a rented garage in Fargo. Then I bought my house in Fargo and built a two-stall garage and stored the pick-up in the garage, where it sits today. I restored the truck gradually to the point it is today and it still needs some finishing. That's the history of my 1934 Ford Pickup Truck. George Maher, Fargo, ND.

[CC33]

I spoke to the original owners family on my 1933 Deluxe Fordor. They provided me with the original Bill of Sale. Purchased in the summer of '33 in New York for $735.75. I am the 4th owner of the car.

Would like to add a Potter trunk to it though.

[1952henry]

My 1952 R32 (Marmon Herrington converted F3) was purchased by the previous owner's father. It had resided on the ranch until I bought it.

[Cool Kat with Hot Car]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Fordor sitting in my garage was bought new seven days before Pearl Harbor by my father. Its a good old car. We joined the V-8 club the first year that the Sacto. Regional Group was formed. As this R.G. is number 4 we have been involved with the club almost from the beginning. When the battle to allow the 41-48 big V-8s into the club was raging my Dad was proud to vote against including them! By-the-way, sitting next to "Reddy" is "Chiefy", the 1941 Pontiac that my Grandfather bought new. Dad passed away about 3 years ago.

Cool Kat

[felix37]

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

Not a V8 but our '39 Lincoln Zephyr V-12. When we bought the Zephyr I contacted the LZOC and provided the VIN and Body#'s, the club published the information in their monthly magazine and as a result, I subsequently received a phone call from the cars second owner. He bought the Zephyr from the original owner, a Doctor that lived on the East end of Long Island (where he purchased the car new, from a local Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealer) The second owner got the car in 1948 and drove it from Long Island to Lakeland, Florida where he went to college. He told me that he worked at the Tampa Lincoln Agency as a mechanic and in '52 he rebuilt the '40 Zephyr V-12 that is in the car. The transmission is original to the car with the VIN# stamped into the top of the transmission. He told me that the original owner had served as an Air Raid Warden during the war (under the rear seat I found a windshield plaque that says Civil Defense Suffolk County, NY, with instructions on the back stating what to do in the event of an air raid... I also contacted the "Henry Ford", provided the VIN and Body #'s and they sent me the "Build Sheet" on our '39 LZ Convertible Club Coupe. The car left the factory on April 22, 1939 to be delivered to the dealership on Long Island. The cars build sheet list only two options, a black convertible top and red leather interior. I found this odd because the car was also equipped with a hot air heater (not a dealer installation on the Zephyr). Right now we've got the rear and transmission out of the car to repair the transmission and install the Columbia rear. Hopefully she'll be back on the road in time for the "Barner's Bash", March 16th to 18th. Vic

Vic, what is the process involved to get the original build sheet from the Henry Ford????

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by felix37

Vic, what is the process involved to get the original build sheet from the Henry Ford????

Send email to: research[email protected] They do not accept phone calls.

[41panelmark]

Well some of you already have seen this but for those who have not here goes.

My truck was purchased locally by a grocer (Horrace Davis) in early 41 and used to deliver goods to homes until they sold the business. The truck was also driven by a local news anchor (Bob Palmer) who at that time was their delivery boy. At some point he bumped into another car while eying some girls on the walk. Bob passed before I could show the truck to him. The truck then sat for a time until my friend decided to buy it somewhere around 1956. Fixing the damage allowed him to use it on his farm until 1959. For some reason he parked it in his barn and continued to work on other projects over the years leaving the truck to collect dust and wasp nests. My friend passed away last year in his 90's and I ended purchasing the truck then.
The truck was used purchased and used by the Horace Davis Grocery store in Lafayette Colorado until 1956. It was purchased by my friend and used on his farm until 1959. The tuck sat inside there until May of 2008 when I bought it and brought it home.

I was invited to the local museum and there was a large turnout of older long time residents who remembered the truck and shared their memories. I had a chance to speak with a large group of these older residents who came to the local museum just to see the truck. Many of these people were well into their 80’s or 90’s.
They tell me that the truck has significance to the community because it was the way in which most households and farms got their groceries on a regular basis. Saturdays were the busy days, the truck would run every hour on the hour according to the woman who was the switch board operator, she tells me that in those days you made a list and the grocer put it together for you at the store.
Back then people could ring up the Davis store via the switchboard operator to have Bob bring their groceries to them. The truck was a familiar site around town for many years. Other earlier trucks were used including a model T and some remember a flatbed truck with small stake sides but none survive to this day.

Great thread, thanks for sharing.

[40 Deluxe]

Starting at the beginnig: In the mid to late '30's Dad worked for a local farmer named John Livermore in southern Minnesota. Some time in the '40's Mr. Livermore married a woman who had a '40 Deluxe 2 dr. she had bought new in 1940. In 1989 a '40 2dr. was listed in the local paper. When Dad went to see the car, here it was ol' John Livermore. The car was last driven in 1966 and had sat in the same spot in a dirt floor garage for 23 years. It had 33,000 some miles on it. In 2009 Dad gave me the car with 36,200 some miles on it.
Car #2: In late '39 or early '40 a Ford salesman took a local former for a ride in a new '40 sedan. The ride ended at a local bar with the salesman getting the farmer drunk enough to buy the car on paymensts. Six months later the salesman had to repossess the car and sold it to Dad. It blew a head gasket in 1955 while an uncle had it. Dad got it back in the early '80's and restored it. My brother has it now.
Now way back. In 1923 a local farmer bought a new Model T roadster and took good care of it, putting it in a shed every night. In '39 he bought a new Chevrolet so now the 'T' sat outside. About 6 months later Dad moved onto the farm across the road and bought the 'T' for $1.50 (one dollar fifty cents) and gave it to his younger brother, who still has it today. Second owner after 89 years!

[expavr]

I'm the third caretaker of this 1940 Tonner. The attached photos tell its story. It was delivered to Otto Pfannekuchen at Ritzville Motors in Ritzville, WA. Otto farmed an 800+ acre wheat ranch and used the truck to haul seed into the fields. Ritzville Motors Work order 24174 shows the truck was brought in on Oct 5, 1940 showing 1735 miles for warranty service. The Gas Ration Card shows Otto's fuel allotment for 1943. The house is Otto's place. The Tonner was used around our place for all sorts of hauling, until it was put out to pasture and treated to a body off restoration. To be able to see where it was put into service, how it was used, and visit with the Otto's neighbors is the frosting on the cake. Visualizing the sideboarded bed filled with 100# sacks of seed being hauled into the fields gives new meaning to "Built Ford Tough!"

[tomkc1]

My 1934 Ford 4 door sedan was bought new by my grandfather in 1934. He lived in Lawrence, MA. My father told me that my grandfather had bought a 1933 and only drained one side of the engine for the winter. The block cracked and they traded the '33 for the '34.

The car was used by the family until 1951 when it was put into the family garage. It stayed there until 1970 when my aunt gave it to me.

The reason she kept it was because during the winter neighbors were looking for garage space to get their cars off the street because of a winter parking ban. She didn't want to rent her garage so inorder to keep anyone from bugging her, she kept the Ford in it. I was the beneficiary of her logic.

The car was originally the Tacoma cream color. Some time in the 1940s my father and his brothers decided it needed a paint job so they painted it black using a brush. In 1970 when I got it I had it repainted back close to the original color and that paint is still on it.

Besides the paint and a few other minor details the car is pretty much in original condition.

[FL&WVMIKE]

I have a general knowledge of the life of my 1935 Cabriolet, but am missing many details.

1935 - 1950 - Car was, supposedly bought new by a lady school teacher from New Hampshire. But the dealer sticker is from a Ford Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. ???????? (See Photo).

1950 - 1959 - Car was inherited from the lady school teacher, his aunt, by Ed Underhill, an insurance man from Charleston, WV. I remember noticing this car, on the streets, as a high-schooler.

1959 - 1967 - Car was owned by David Giltinan, a wholesale grocery business owner and old car enthuisist, in Charleston, WV.

1967 - 2012 - Car is owned by me. It is now in Daytona Beach, Fl. It is still unrestored.
MIKE

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE - Twice

[paleot]

I bought my 53 customline 2door sedan from the original family who owned it, the title had been transfered once when the original lady who owned it died.It sat in a barn for 28 years. Two ford garage overhauls in its history then a factory rebuilt long block. I stay in touch with original owners to let them know the progress of the complete restoration. The only modification to the car will be paint color all other restoration will be stock.
Tony

[Byron Warwick]

My 1934 Pickup has only had three owners. This Windsor Ontario built truck was originally bought by Duke and Ternan Auto parts in Leamington Ontario. The engine was rebuilt in the forties. It was sold to a Mr Raimer Edsel,year unknown and driven around town. He traded it on a 1954 Ford Station Wagon, at the Supertest station on the corner of Seacliffe Drive and Erie St. I saw it there one morning as I rode to work at the HJ Heinz plant in Leamington. I had to have it, and purchased it for $200.00 in July 1957. I drove it to a local body shop and had the green paint changed to red with a very detailed pin striping in cream to match the grill shell and wheels for $50.00. It then became mt daily driver. Note lots of salt on the roads in the 50's. I added a White tonneau cover to jazz it up. I was driving it in 1959 when I went to Sarnia to work in Canada's Chemical Valley. In 1964, I finally replaced the engine, with a 1954 Meteor engine. I had experienced lots of oil burning and trouble with keeping water pumps leak free. I also changed to 1940 hydraulic brakes. The truck went into long term barn storage in 1971, and emerged in 1986 awaiting a rebuild. The restoration began in 1999 and was completed in 2009. We drive it often in the good weather. I think I'll give "Merlot" to my son so he can enjoy him too, but not yet. Byron.

[Shadetree]

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

I have a general knowledge of the life of my 1935 Cabriolet, but am missing many details.

1935 - 1950 - Car was, supposedly bought new by a lady school teacher from New Hampshire. But the dealer sticker is from a Ford Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. (See Photo).

1950 - 1959 - Car was inherited from the lady school teacher, his aunt, by Ed Underhill, an insurance man from Charleston, WV. I remember noticing this car, on the streets, as a high-schooler.

1959 - 1967 - Car was owned by David Giltinan, a wholesale grocery business owner and old car enthuisist, in Charleston, WV.

1967 - 2012 - Car is owned by me. It is now in Daytona Beach, Fl.
MIKE

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE - Twice

Mike,
This is great! But I bet your `34 has a short owner history as well. You did everything right in your car collection. When you got busy raising your sons or making a living, you let the cars sit instead of parting with them. I had some fine old cars too, but when my interest waned I sold them and moved on to another hobby, like airplanes.

I was just looking thru Hemmings and thinking I should advertise my `35 Cabriolet for a `39 Coupe. But then I think about the old `35. I have had it apart. I know what it is. It does everything I ask of it. I should be more like you...

Bud

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by Shadetree

Mike,
This is great! But I bet your `34 has a short owner history as well. You did everything right in your car collection. When you got busy raising your sons or making a living, you let the cars sit instead of parting with them. I had some fine old cars too, but when my interest waned I sold them and moved on to another hobby, like airplanes.

I was just looking thru Hemmings and thinking I should advertise my `35 Cabriolet for a `39 Coupe. But then I think about the old `35. I have had it apart. I know what it is. It does everything I ask of it. I should be more like you...

Bud

SHADETREE (BUD) ......................
No, I should be more like you. I have never had my cars all apart. But I do know every nut and bolt. Neither one has totally let me down yet.
I am planning to do a history of my '34 Phaeton. I know most of it, but am missing details, just like the '35 Cabriolet.
Thanks,
MIKE

[mike in las vegas]

My father and I bought my coupe from the original owner Bill in Van Nuys CA in 04. Dad and Bill were friends. It was a real treat for him to ride in the car again 65 years later. I have the Retail Buyer's Order and other records such as gas mileage logs up until Bill got drafted. When we got the car from Bill's garage, backyard and storage room, he thought I asked too many questions, After all I was going to have to put the car together from many pieces. Old Bill could make a sailor blush from his cussing and near as I could figure the car came off the road in the mid 50's . I got a couple of unused 56 CA license plates in the deal too. Unfortunately the 47 pink slip got taken in favor of the new title. Bill sure drove the car hard. Upon rebuilding, a trashed cluster and 2nd gear were found, Also a very sloppy u-joint and a lifter de-adjusted in the .080 over 4 inch reworked crank in the original enginewa found. I think old Bill's lifter collapsed, then he crossed spark plug wires in attempt to repair.(that I found ) Then got pissed off and tried to “clean the carbon out of it” presto no second gear and there she sat. At least that is the story I concocted in my head. Anyway the car is in good care for lots of TLC and enjoyment.
See the pics in my profile album.

[FL&WVMIKE]

I have a general knowledge of the complete history of my 1934 Ford Phaeton, but I wish I knew all the details.

1934 - 1956 - Car was used, on an unknown estate in Conneticut, to pull a boat back and forth, to the ocean. In the later years, it was used by the kids, through high school.
It was originally bought at the J. J. Hart Ford Agency in Brooklyn, NY. (See Photos)

1956 - 1959 - Car was bought for $90.00 by a man in Connecticut, who just stored it for two years.

1959 - 1963 - Was bought by Robert Harrington of Charleston, WV, through "Hemmings", for $200.00.

1963 - 2012 - Was bought by me. Still own it. Still unrestored.
MIKE

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE - Twice

[PeterC]

For my 35 Coupe - I was cleaning the glove box and found the original registration for the state of Massachusetts dated April 11, 1935 with the original owners name and address clearly marked.

[Ross in East Texas]

I purchased my '39 Standard Coupe from the original owner when she entered a nursing home in 1965. I have owned this car since. The original V8 carried the same serial number that appears on the frame and transmission and has been overhauled 3 times and has been bored .020" over.

[denverslim]

I bought my '49 F-2 a little over seven years ago from the 86 year old man that bought it new. He worked as a "water master" most of his life, driving up and down the back roads of the rural county opening, closing, and monitoring water flow in the irrigation ditches. This old Ford was his "baby" until they both gave it up--him in his late seventys, the truck with 65,000 miles on the odometer. He remembered ordering the truck with the factory radio back in the day--"they thought I was crazy wanting a radio in a work truck", causing a delay of another week in him taking possession.
I've pretty much had to go through all the mechanicals--engine, trannie, brakes, etc, leaving the body with it's 60 years of wrinkles. Should be good for another 65 and 60...slim

[Rand]

I bought my 50 Mercury in 1981 from an old guy who inherited it from his uncle who bought it new when he stuck oil on his farm in Illinois
Randy

[48-710]

1963 was the year, when I was 11 yo lad, that dad and I picked up my '35 Roadster from Mrs Ethel Black. The Blacks farm was about 90 miles south of us.She brought the car new and it was first registered on the 30th of October 1935. You can imagine the excitement for me travelling down in the ute,with dad, to pick MY first car. Dad didn't say what the body style was just that" we were going to pick up an 'ol Henry". I really, really wanted a coupe so it was a bit of a "let down" when the shed door was opened and there sat a Roadster.
It was 100% complete down to the jack and tool kit. I was told that the rego ran out so they used it around the farm to tow wheat bins, amongst other things,around the paddocks. The reason that it sat in the shed was with all the abuse the clutch cried enough and it was retired. It was little wonder the clutch fell out of it because the hitch that was welded to every part of the frame and rear bumper that was possible. Man that hitch could have pulled a Mack truck it was that big. Being young I had to hot rod it didn't I ? but I didn't cut anything,I must have known something. I'm now in the process of a body off restoration,which is of course,is taking way longer and costing a lot more than I thought.
Through a chance phone call at work,last year, I have been able to get in contact with the Blacks only child,Jean. I phoned her she told me that she learnt to drive in the Ford,as she calls it,and that I should do something with the brakes and steering. Jean also told me that the original rego papers were in a box in her garage. I had a pleasant suprise in the mail several days later. She had sent me the original papers plus a photo of her and her proud father standing next to a black 1935 Ford roadster circa 1938.

[Mountaindoc]

My 49 F1 was bought new by a World War I (one) veteran. He was a farmer in Tennessee. He passed on and his nephew inherited it and drove it for years. He found out he was sick in 91, parked it, and died in 92. It was parked in a barn across a small road from his house. His widow didn't allow anybody to touch it until she died about 4 years ago. She liked looking at it from her kitchen window. Their daughter sold it to me 2 summers ago. She had tears in her eyes. I honestly tried to talk her out of it. But she was satisfied when I told her that I was just gonna get it running and enjoy it without changing anything.

[cuzncletus]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My 39 DeLuxe tudor came from North Georgia where it was supposedly a moonshine car, as supposedly was every other black 39-40 Ford I've ever seen from the Appalachians. It was sold sometime in the early 60's to a man in North Alabama who hotrodded it. When I got it the car still had the white tuck and roll from the era. It also came with a spare trans as evidently the trans suffered at the hands of the hotrodder. Certainly the engine did, as it was blown and removed. A man in South Georgia bought the car in the mid-70's, almost immediately sold it to a man around Hilliard, Fla. who built a 46 engine for it and drove it around for a couple of years. The South Georgia man bought it back, then soon thereafter sold it to another man in the same town. Then the car sat, undriven since 1978 and with the same trans in the trunk as when found in North Alabama. I bought it two years ago. It's in the paint shop now and the car is coming along nicely as a resto-rod; dropped axle, built 50 engine, 5 speed, all original paint and trim.

In the past I had an original 427 1964 Mercury, a very rare car. I had the original title in the owner's name, plus mileage. It has appeared in a couple of magazines and the high dollar auctions since leaving my hands. Surprisingly, the origin of the car has changed, as has the story of it's original owners. Better yet, the mileage has dropped to half what it had when I used to drive it. And someone thinks they're buying a car with provenance when they bid on this car.........

[Bruno]

I do since it was my wife's family purchased it new - a '52 Ford F1 - black - mostly sat on the farm all week and was used to take eggs into town on Sat. and do the shopping. I got it in 1998 when I retired - it had been sitting in a barn on their farm property - only 61K actual miles - no rust. They started it up "occasionally" and ran it up and down the country roads. Barn critters had eaten up the upholstery, headliner, wiring insultation, etc. I trailered it over to Little Rock since it had no brakes (brake fluid had jellied) and went to work on it - a GREAT old pickup!!!

[JP58854]

I wish I did !

[Cecil/WV]

I have 3 stories. The first '50 Custom tudor was built in Norfolk on Aug. 23 and was sold to a Mr. Gains in Martinsburg, WV by Lamar Sloan Ford in Winchester, Va. He bought a new '64 Fairlane and sold it to Calvin Bayer who gave it to his 3 sons to drive to high school and I got it in 1966 with a rod through the block. I gave it to my son in 1980 when he graduated from High school, thus it still sits in my garage.

I got the second '50 from George Messenger in Takoma Park, Md. It was built in Dearborn on Aug 3 and sold by the local dealer to a lady who in turn sold it to her brother, a Mr Holton, who was a ministerial student who in turn, sold it to George in 1955 when he finished college. I bought the car from George in 1998 with 64000 miles after it had set since 1972 with a tooth off the cluster. I have driven it to 10 EFV8 Nat meets since 2004, receiving a Rouge at each meet and losing a piston in Oct. 2010 in Abilene, Ks on the way home from St George, Ut.

I have a '59 Custom 300 that I purchased 1980. I got it from a "little old lady", Neva McCauly, who only drove it one mile each way to work until she retired. She got it from her brother in 1963. It now shows 27000 miles.

[APDAVE]

I bought my 50 Mercury in 1977 from the original owner this lady on Detroits east side still own it today!

[Vic Piano]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

Send email to: research[email protected] They do not accept phone calls.

When I contacted the Henry Ford (several years ago) they did accept phone calls, don't know what their policy is now. Vic

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Old Henry

Send email to: research[email protected] They do not accept phone calls.

As any of you who have tried to get build sheets may know, in 1970 there was a fire that destroyed a lot of archives, including the build sheet for my '47 Ford. Here is the list of what they still have and instructions how to get it:

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

When I contacted the Henry Ford (several years ago) they did accept phone calls, don't know what their policy is now. Vic

I called recently and got a recording that gave the email address and that they don't accept phone calls.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by 48-710

1963 was the year, when I was 11 yo lad, that dad and I picked up my '35 Roadster from Mrs Ethel Black. The Blacks farm was about 90 miles south of us.She brought the car new and it was first registered on the 30th of October 1935. You can imagine the excitement for me travelling down in the ute,with dad, to pick MY first car. Dad didn't say what the body style was just that" we were going to pick up an 'ol Henry". I really, really wanted a coupe so it was a bit of a "let down" when the shed door was opened and there sat a Roadster.
It was 100% complete down to the jack and tool kit. I was told that the rego ran out so they used it around the farm to tow wheat bins, amongst other things,around the paddocks. The reason that it sat in the shed was with all the abuse the clutch cried enough and it was retired. It was little wonder the clutch fell out of it because the hitch that was welded to every part of the frame and rear bumper that was possible. Man that hitch could have pulled a Mack truck it was that big. Being young I had to hot rod it didn't I ? but I didn't cut anything,I must have known something. I'm now in the process of a body off restoration,which is of course,is taking way longer and costing a lot more than I thought.
Through a chance phone call at work,last year, I have been able to get in contact with the Blacks only child,Jean. I phoned her she told me that she learnt to drive in the Ford,as she calls it,and that I should do something with the brakes and steering. Jean also told me that the original rego papers were in a box in her garage. I had a pleasant suprise in the mail several days later. She had sent me the original papers plus a photo of her and her proud father standing next to a black 1935 Ford roadster circa 1938.

48-710 .............................
How about posting that original photo of your car, from 1938. We all enjoy seeing these cars in their original state.
MIKE

[Tim Ayers]

Not a V8, but my '28 roadster was bought new in '28 from a Ford dealer in Cherry Hill, NJ. The original owner took it off the road in 1940. Completely disassembled it and stored it in a barn until the 2000. I bought it from the son of the original owner.

Came with the original '28 NJ title and the dealers envelope. It has the purchase price written in pencil on the back.

[Bruce Lancaster]

My Father ordered my '48 tudor for me in 1947...he paid for it with his back pay for serving as a lieutenant in the USMC 1943-1946, and ordered it via the car ordering service designed for State Department Foreign Service officers stationed abroad. His new job in the FS had him stationed in Nanking (and other places as the civil war progressed) towards the end of Chiang and the rise of Mao.
Car was built at Edgewater (Ford export headquarters, despite being on wrong coast for China delivery) with metric speedo and export tool kit 11-11-1947, eventually uncrated at Shanghai Ford.
I rode the backseat all over Europe and the Eastern US, now it is in my garage.
I came home from the Hospital in Nanking in that car and it figures in most of my childhood memories, me and the dog peering over the backseat and watching the world appear from the ruins of WWII.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Not a V8, but my '28 roadster was bought new in '28 from a Ford dealer in Cherry Hill, NJ. The original owner took it off the road in 1940. Completely disassembled it and stored it in a barn until the 2000. I bought it from the son of the original owner.

Came with the original '28 NJ title and the dealers envelope. It has the purchase price written in pencil on the back.

TIM AYERS ..........................
This same thread is running on the Model "A" Forum. I'm sure they would enjoy reading about your "A", over there too !
MIKE

[quickchange34]

I have owen my 34 roadster for alot of years. It was built at Long Beach Cal. A school teacher and she husband purchased the car new in the summer of 34. They had the dealer install a ash tray radio and a Columbia rear. They got the car from the dealer and drove it to their summer home in Wis. They only use it in the summers when she was not teaching school. It stayed in Wis untill their death in 1969. Their son did not want the car and sold it to a man that lived in North Carolina. He did not used the car and keep it stored untill I purchased it .

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

TIM AYERS ..........................
This same thread is running on the Model "A" Forum. I'm sure they would enjoy reading about your "A", over there too !
MIKE

Thanks. I'll post it up there as well. I rarely check those threads. I appreciate the heads up.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by quickchange34

I have owen my 34 roadster for alot of years. It was built at Long Beach Cal. A school teacher and she husband purchased the car new in the summer of 34. They had the dealer install a ash tray radio and a Columbia rear. They got the car from the dealer and drove it to their summer home in Wis. They only use it in the summers when she was not teaching school. It stayed in Wis untill their death in 1969. Their son did not want the car and sold it to a man that lived in North Carolina. He did not used the car and keep it stored untill I purchased it .

Man, that is a beauty! Is that the original paint?

[fordman]

My '37 ford was bought new in sweetwater, tx and the little old lady drove it till she got to be 90 something and past away. her son sold it to a friend in about '75 who had a stroke in about '76. I bought it in '77; had it ever since.

fordman

[quickchange34]

Yes that is the orginial paint. The body as never been off the frame. I put a new wiring harness in it. Clean the chassis and detailed the engine installed new tires years ago. It runs great. I have had loads of fun with the car.

[41 Fords ohio]

I bought my first 41 coupe in 66 from an older women. She was moving to Florida. It had 18 thousand rounds on it. Her husband had bought it new and when the war broke out,left it with her,and joined the Army. He ended up in the 8th Army Air Corp,and didn't make it back. She didn"t drive much and just wanted to get rid of it. I still have it today. and still love it as much as I did when I bought it.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by quickchange34

Yes that is the orginial paint. The body as never been off the frame. I put a new wiring harness in it. Clean the chassis and detailed the engine installed new tires years ago. It runs great. I have had loads of fun with the car.

Wow, that's awesome. Enjoy that car for it is something special!

[EdVS]

Our '34 Cabriolet was purchased new on Aug 16, 1934 from Plainfield Motor Co. in Plainfield NJ. I bought from the lady In 1957.
Her Grandson had removed the engine for what, I cant recall. I had to argue to get the radiator so I could install the hood and grille.
I subsequently discovered that the frame was bent from an accident. All these years later the car still sits in the garage.
I was told that the car was a "Roadster" and upon seeing it was a "Convertible" The lady said "Does that mean you don't want to buy it ?" I bought it because I didn't want to hurt her feelings.
My brother and I are working on the '32 Tudor Deluxe that I bought with my previous weeks pay, a total of $52.50. I paid the same for the Cabrio.
You can't make these stories up.
EdVS, somewhere in NJ.

[1952henry]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by 41 Fords ohio

I bought my first 41 coupe in 66 from an older women. She was moving to Florida. It had 18 thousand rounds on it. Her husband had bought it new and when the war broke out,left it with her,and joined the Army. He ended up in the 8th Army Air Corp,and didn't make it back. She didn"t drive much and just wanted to get rid of it. I still have it today. and still love it as much as I did when I bought it.

Neat, but sad, story.

[41 Fords ohio]

Originally Posted by 1952henry

Neat, but sad, story.

Yeah always kinda wished I had met the guy.

[TonyM]

I recently purchased this "Warehouse Find" 1937 Ford Fordor DeLuxe.

The vehicle was purchased new at Wright Motors (Ford/Lincoln), Evanston, Illinois. It was traded in by the original owner in 1939 and then purchased by J. Klecka, of Chicago, Illlinois. The car was driven until 1959 and then it went into storage. The auto was purchased in 1990 by B. Breese of Hobart, Indiana. The car was started and used in short rides on the owner's company property for a few months. The car then went back into storage. In late 2010 the car was brought out, tires put on and the engine was oiled up and turned. The car was then offered for sale.

The seller was about to sell to someone last year. The potential buyer let the cat out of the bag that he was going to customize the car and sell off original pieces. The owner pulled the plug on the sale.

The seller (who also owns a very beautiful 1940 Ford DeLuxe Coupe) sold it to me, fully confident that the car would remain unmolested and appreciated as the survivor that it is. Here is the car on Saturday February 18, 2012, while being stored at my friends garage.

TM

[BrianCT]

Originally Posted by EdVS

Our '34 Cabriolet was purchased new on Aug 16, 1934 from Plainfield Motor Co. in Plainfield NJ. I bought from the lady In 1957.
Her Grandson had removed the engine for what, I cant recall. I had to argue to get the radiator so I could install the hood and grille.
I subsequently discovered that the frame was bent from an accident. All these years later the car still sits in the garage.
I was told that the car was a "Roadster" and upon seeing it was a "Convertible" The lady said "Does that mean you don't want to buy it ?" I bought it because I didn't want to hurt her feelings.
My brother and I are working on the '32 Tudor Deluxe that I bought with my previous weeks pay, a total of $52.50. I paid the same for the Cabrio.
You can't make these stories up.
EdVS, somewhere in NJ.

Ed, does that mean that you haven't gotten around to the 34 yet?

[bobgrice]

My '40 5-Window Coupe was purchased from the original owner, a Winston-Salem farmer, in 1949. My granddad, looking for a daily driver, paid $75 for it. He and my dad (who was two at the time) got it started and drove it home. It was original and had some rotten floor metal in the trunk from the farmer's fertilizer.
When the original bumpers started looking rough, off to the junkyard to locate something that would work - '49 Plymouth bumpers. Not because they were 'cool', but because they were big and brawny and would fit over the original bumpers.
He drove it daily until my dad turned 16, at which time it was gifted to my dad. A couple of hottish flatheads and a 302 small block chevy later (and a few axles), my dad joined the Air Force and took it with him, along with my mom. I was born in 1971 and it was our family's car.
My dad was killed in a car accident in late 1973 (not in the '40), so the car returned to my granddad, who was driving a '41 at the time. He sold the '41 and began driving the '40 again and did daily until near his death in 2007. As the sole heir, I now have it. My granddad had installed the original flathead, which he had kept all those years, back around 2000 or 2001. It had so many miles on the chassis and body, that you couldn't call it original, but it had never been molested or changed in any way that couldn't be reversed.
I am currently restoring it, with the intent on putting my stamp on it. But, I will always keep the original motor for when I tire of it's current incarnation.
I grew up in this car. I used to sleep on the package shelf while we drove places (safety first!). I'm very much looking forward to getting it going again, hopefully before summer of 2013 if the cash is there to do it right! I won't be cutting any corners.

[rossodino34]

I bought my 40 deluxe station wagon from the original family. I have the original title dated June 1940!

[moms46]

My mom bought my 46 tudor in 1947 second owner. I learned to drive in this car. I have owned it since 1966. Original paint( black)Heads have never been off with 63000 miles. Always garage kept.