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History A Fuel Coupes - Don Montgomery '32 3w

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by KKrod, Mar 31, 2014.

  1. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

  2. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    Last edited: Mar 1, 2015
  3. Stovebolt
    Joined: May 2, 2001
    Posts: 3,531

    Stovebolt
    Member

  4. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    From the guy who owns the car, I have more pics but he is in them ,I am waiting for his permission to post them and his name...I know he won't want the whole world on his doorstep asking about the coupe.
    When last I talked to him
    the timing chain idler failed and it dropped the chain damaged pistons and valves. It's a really long chain... he had new pistons and valves and was making some new parts for the idler and timing system..Then he was going back to El Mirage....Maybe in May this year?
    However I haven't heard anything for a while. I am going to try calling him again tomorrow. Will ask for speeds etc.
     
  5. Stovebolt
    Joined: May 2, 2001
    Posts: 3,531

    Stovebolt
    Member

    Thanks for asking the owner of this fantastic coupe.

    The video sounds great.

    Way OT, but did you ever get those parts we spoke about on the phone some time ago?
     
  6. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,407

    alchemy
    Member

    That's a Pat Warren quickchange. Just like the one I got from you Karl.
     
  7. Fogger
    Joined: Aug 18, 2007
    Posts: 1,804

    Fogger
    Member

    The builder/owner of the Roto-Faze coupe is an old friend and I run one of his distributors in my '32 Roadster. The car is incredible with numerous one off parts which are a testament to his engineering and machining skills. Hope to see it back at El Mirage this year.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  8. Are the muffler looking things fuel tanks?
     
  9. I have the 1964 Popular Hot Rodding article on the Roto-Faze coupe if interested.

    Some coupe pics from mid 50s and one late fifties, mid 50s pics I believe were taken at Santa Ana.

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-008.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-009.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-014.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-005.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-020.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-021.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-022.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-023.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-019.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-027.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-028.jpg

    jpb-santa-ana-drags-029.jpg

    jpb-rakers-reath-003.jpg
     
  10. More of Joe Reath's updraft tank carbs on the sedan. Great pic's Jimmy.
     
  11. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Holy Shit Jimmy b!!!! Some of the coolest stuff I've seen in a long while! You are amassing quite the collection of original photos!!!!!!
     
  12. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    Well I guess it's obvious that the coupe belongs to none other than Joe Panek, owner of Roto-Faze Ignitions and Equipment .
    I got caught up with work today and couldn't call him, however I WILL call him for permission before I post pics of him with the car .
     
  13. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    Alchemy - You are right. Cool to see. It had a halibrand cover on it. Is there a different Pat Warren cover?
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2015
  14. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    Wow Jimmie. Great pictures.
     
  15. Austinrod
    Joined: Jun 14, 2012
    Posts: 2,331

    Austinrod
    Member
    from Austin

    Like JeffreyJames said great pictures you need too start a website like
    Kustomrama or something like that
     
  16. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

  17. PHR article
     

    Attached Files:

  18. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    Yeah , for instance, the front mounted crank driven blower offset so instead of direct drive
    he can overdrive the blower and change ratios if he wants . Way ahead of his time.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2015
  19. Dear gawd' ... this thread.
     
  20. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    I think this is my favorite picture of Larry Shinoda's Chopsticks Special. Those are Larry's annotations on the picture. All I have is a photocopy of the original picture. I think the picture would make a great painting (art print). Sorry for the distorted picture. I will try to get a scan of it and repost.





    IMG_6899.JPG
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2015
    Stovebolt and kidcampbell71 like this.
  21. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    ThreeQuarter700.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2015
    302GMC, LOU WELLS, Stovebolt and 2 others like this.
  22. HOLLYWOOD GRAHAM
    Joined: Apr 11, 2007
    Posts: 1,437

    HOLLYWOOD GRAHAM
    Member
    from Ojai,Ca

    Thanks for all the entries on this thread, many great stories, info and photos. If you ever run across Don Montgomery you will find that he is 100 percent gentleman and a world book of accurate knowledge. I feel privileged to know him and now I know even more about him.
     
  23. spiritof67
    Joined: Jun 29, 2012
    Posts: 66

    spiritof67
    Member

    I love the fact that, among gearheads, "554" is enough to I.D. that famous car. That, and "The Steel Eel"!
     
  24. Nes Synadinos
    Joined: May 6, 2011
    Posts: 28

    Nes Synadinos
    Member

    Its funny, but awhile back my son was looking for a BSA 441 Victor Motorcycle to restore and someone in Dana Point, CA had one for sale on Craigs List . He wanted me to check on it on my way back to San Diego from Whittier. I rang the bell and a fellow answered the door and we went down to the garage to check the bike. It wasn't exactly standard anymore so I told him I didn't think my kid would be interested. We started talking about the old days and he said he was still a member of the club that ran #554 at the drags. I said I was familiar with the car and told him I was a member of the Millwinders that ran the 36 coupe #96 in the 50's. He said he didn't remember it, so I told him to look at the front cover of the November 1954 Hot Rod magazine and the red coupe was the car we ran. Sorry, but I don't remember his name... Nes Synadinos Millwinders.
     
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  25. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    Nes - here is the cover from the small book.

    [​IMG]
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  26. Nes Synadinos
    Joined: May 6, 2011
    Posts: 28

    Nes Synadinos
    Member

    Hi... thanks for posting that picture.. It was taken the same time as the November 1954 Hot Rod magazine picture. That was just staged for the HR and DRP pictures. The starter made a good jump, but it was a fake one
    Nes... Millwinders..
     
    kidcampbell71 and loudbang like this.
  27. what kind of class designations did the cars have? what was put on them painted or shoe polish if anything at all. was it something like a/fc
     
  28. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,190

    bchctybob
    Member

    I was 14 when that PHR came out with the Roto-Faze coupe on the cover, it made an immediate impact on me. Three years later I had my own '33 Ford 5w that I was driving daily but with Chevy power, I just had to chop the top on mine too. About 10 years ago I dropped off a Model A flywheel with Joe to be lightened and he showed me the coupe. It appeared to have about a 3" hole in the side of the block. At the time he said he had no plans to make it run again; "Even if I could fix the engine, I would have to update the whole car to current safety rules". At the time, he was re-tooling his awesome tall 392 blower manifolds, among other projects.
    If 97 is correct, it would be great to see it brought it back to life after all these years, whether it races or not.
    And anyone on here who doesn't have all of Don Montgomery's books; get out those greenbacks and get 'em, they are the Encyclopedia Britannica of hot rodding!! Every time I open one I see something I didn't see before.
     
    loudbang, Stovebolt and kidcampbell71 like this.
  29. Nes Synadinos
    Joined: May 6, 2011
    Posts: 28

    Nes Synadinos
    Member

    Raver-x if you are referring to the Millwinders and Drifters coupes shown in the pictures above we were both running fuel and I believe the designation was Heavy Fuel Coupes. Before we were able to get Nitro, we ran in the Heavy Gas Coupe category. Those may not be the exact designations, but heck, I'm 86 and the brain cells in my head are exploding daily .In addition, when we checked in we had to go on the scales for a weight check.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2015
    loudbang and Stovebolt like this.
  30. nobuckets
    Joined: Jul 18, 2005
    Posts: 137

    nobuckets
    Member
    from austin, tx

    Do you have any other info on the "711" 3W coupe? Looks like it says Firepower on the hood and Chuck on the door...
     

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