The above photograph came to me by email a number of years ago. It was part of a large batch of photographs that I got along with the Bob Roddick Collection. Since that time, I've pondered the 1937 Ford. From this single photo, it's pretty easy to as... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
I have first seen this photo on the AHRF site as part of the Tom Davis Collection. But as you can see below it does not provide you with any info on the car or where it was photographed. Somebody once told me he had seen this car (possibly same photo showing the complete car in one of the Tex Smith books - possibly "the History of Hot Rodding part I". But I only have issue II so I have no way to check this. Perhaps somebody else with the first issue can check for this car and see if there is more info about it.... I really would love to see more as well.
I've seen it in a book, can't think which one off the top of my head... my guess would be Al Drake or Montgomery's....or the history book Rik mentions...
I admit it sure is an odd duck. Wonder if it was the result of piecemeal modifications with no forethought about the overall result. The work appears to be l above entry level but the design is really lacking. Frank
It reminds me of a car in Al Drakes book that I have ...I think he parted it out or something along those lines , I will try and find the book when I get home tonight.
That look would work if the trunk lid carried the same line as the top right down to the bumper, like a sedanette.
I think the roof line is kinda swoopy. I wonder what the car looked like in the rear portion that we can't see and how well the roof line blended into the back end of the car.
I've second or third the Al Drake connection. He did a story about that or a very similar car in one of his columns in Rod Action in the late eighties or early nineties. My day today is kinda messed up, so I don't know that I will have time to dig today, but I will this evening. Can't be too many with that roof line. You gotta remember too that until the mid seventies or so, the '37 and '38 Ford offerings were not held in high esteem. For the most part, they were just looked at fodder for stock car jalopy racing. My point being, back in the forties when this was done, it would have been no big deal, and maybe even done as a joke!
I to recall seening a picture of this car and definetly recall its odd top shape. I have wondered if its odd styling was due to the fact the car is a rebirth of a car destroyed by a fallen tree or a roll-over, a common of-the-day accident. Isn't it funny what a little time can do for the looks of something.... good or bad.
Well I checked through both of Tom medley's books, Hot Rod History 1 and 2, and it's not in either. As I said earlier, I know I have it a Rod Action mag somewhere, so I'll check when I can.
The roof line doesn't look bad to me ... not from that photo. The way it meets the trunk could make or break it.
Drake book, the 1950's rodder one. I think the same one...roof carried all the way back, kinda almost worked visually and could probably have been made into an interesting design with development by someone more talented than whoever did it.
No I dont think that, at least it is not the car in Albert Drake's book "Street was fun in 51". The car in that book, it was named "the Beast", is a 35 coupe with a 37 front. That car is sectioned but the roof is less chopped and it have driprails.
Did anybody search for the book this car was in, and perhaps found it? I would love to see the complete car.
The posted photo sure does hint towards an awkward side profile but that side window is interesting. I love the shape and cant help but wonder what little of the roof you can see would look like on a sectioned car with the fenders raised.