Unfinished Business

Deadlines can be tough to meet. Whether we’re talking about writing articles or building cars, big deadlines often result in bigger thrashes en route to the finish. Sometimes we make it. Other times we don’t. But, regardless of the outcome, all we can do is keep moving forward.

Today’s subject is somewhat of a rarity as far as 1960s magazine feature cars go. It’s clearly unfinished. Maybe their goal was just to make it to the track to dial it in? There’s no shiny paint, glistening chrome or brightwork to speak of. Instead, there’s black primer, bare aluminum, basic steelies and shoe polish lettering. It’s raw and very real. In a way, that’s why it’s worth discussing 50 years after the fact.

Back in the early 1960s, Eulaid Acerat of Ewa, Hawaii, decided to go drag racing with his Model A coupe. Judging by the button-tuft interior and geometric steering wheel, I have a hunch that this was a street/show car repurposed for A/Gas competition. Nonetheless, he gave it the full quarter-mile treatment.

It all started with the nose, which was outfitted with a custom tube axle. In the rear, he went with the ever-popular Olds differential complete with 5.12:1 gears. So, what was underneath the hood? In pure ’60s style, Eulaid went with a ’63 Corvette 327. Highlights included a sextuplet of Strombergs on an Edelbrock manifold, an Isky 505C Magnum cam and a Mallory distributor. For the finishing touch, he whipped up a set of handmade headers with massive collectors.

Finished or not, there’s no denying this coupe’s appeal. At the end of 1964, it caught the attention of the Popular Hot Rodding staff while it was making its first runs in California. Reported times were in the low 12s at over 115mph.

Then what? I’m not sure. Maybe the car was detailed and raced, or maybe it was returned to the street. Regardless of its state of completion, I’m glad PHR took a liking to it all those years ago.

—Joey Ukrop

Photos from Popular Hot Rodding, February 1965