Projects Have you ever built a car starting with just one body part?

I'm sure a lot of cars have be built starting with one part, be it a engine or a set of wheels, I have done that myself but how about one piece of a body?

About 20 years ago I saw a '32 Ford trunk lid at the Maggie Valley swap meet and since I am drawing to Deuce parts like a moth to a flame I stopped and looked it over, I knew it would fit a 5 window or a roadster but I really didn't have any use for it but it was in good condition and had the trunk lid handle, the price wasn't too far out in left field and I made a offer and brought it home.

Since that time I have actively sought out parts for the hypothetical 5 window or roadster but when parts make themselves available at a reasonable price I add to the inventory.

I found a mint firewall at Pigeon Forge and was able to swap a aftermarket firewall for it, I have a couple of nice grille shells and inserts, a extra hood, a dash and a cowl vent, granted I need a lot more to ever think about assembling a body but the collection continues to grow. HRP

 

A friend gave me a mint red & white glass gearshift ball. So i attached it to a string and hung it down from the rafters and built a 32 5 window around it.

 

This was all I had when I started. I never used it. Still have it.

 

The British rodders often find a lug nut and build up from there... restorers, too. I have a body tag and a title....

 

When I finally had a solid place to work on something (Wow, been 50 years already!) I got serious about doing a '27 Hiboy.
I found the cherriest cowl I ever saw, but the turtle deck was a tough one.
I found doors at 2 Turlock swap meets, kept looking. A friend had a '27 roadster body, so I bought it. Finished the car, long time build.
I find myself wishing I had collected '32 stuff... It's what I really want. (again; the last '32 I had was a 5 window I bought in 1960, sold it when 'hot rodding was dead', 1965)
Who knew it would come back???

 

How about a crankshaft?
I take that back I bought a set of rods first then spent over 10k on a motor. But I got a helluva deal on the rods.

 

Not yet But then I have a collection of sheet metal. I just do not think a pair of '32 Ford front fenders goes with '34 International hood and set of T rear fenders with a '40's exterior visor

 

I bought my '57 Chrysler in 2008. I worked on it at a glacial pace for years.

One day my dad took the decklid, finished the bodywork on it, and painted it flawless black. Then he said, "There, the first part is DONE. Now finish the car."

Thanks dad.

 

Had a customer years ago give me a 47 Olds grille, 6 years later it went in this full custom I built around that grille

 

I went from this . . .



to this . . .

 

Yes! My all Steel 1932 Ford Roadster Pickup Project. I started with Steel RPU Cowl $600. In 15 months, I was able to find & Purchase 95% of a Original Steel RPU Cab Body, 32 RPU Dash $400. , 3-Doors $600.Burbank, CA. , New Door Body Wood $1,000 Brad Brown’s Wood Shop, WA. , Windshield, Windshield Frame, Stanton’s, Metal Divider Panel W/Wood Between Cowl & Windshield, Steel Top Frame & Wood Bows, (Stock 32 Pickup Back Cab & Lower Body Steel Sub-frame. Mint Cab $600,Denver Car Show 10/09.) Regular Back Of Pickup Cab, Rear Metal RPU Back Of Cab Body Bead, Free. New 32 Frame Rails, 32 NOS Front Cross-member, 32 K-Member, Rear Model A Crossmember, Model A H-101a Halibrand Quick-Change Rear End. $700., 32 Ford Wishbone, 32 Heavy Chrome Dago Drop Axle, New Bendix Front by Brakes, Rear New Lockheed Rear Brakes W/32 Axle & Torque Tube. $500., 32 Ford RPU Bed (Yellow), Purchase Repo 32 Front Fenders, Drake’s New Running Boards, Pacific 32 Rear Pickup Fenders.$1,250., & 32 Pickup Grill Shell. $648., 1940 Ford Complete Rebuilt Flathead V/8 Engine $1,000., NOS 32 Ford V/8 Radiator $200., 39 Ford Rebuilt 3-Spd Trans, $400., 6-16” X 5.0” wide Ford Kelsey-Hayes Artillery Wheels, $600. + $150. To ship, (eBay), Nos Steering Column Parts, Nos Steered by Tube, Column Mask, 15-1 Ratio Gears, $500.Baxter Bros., Mint like Nos Glossy 32 Steering Wheel (oldindy) $260., New 32 25-Louver Rootlidge Hood From Friend $200, pair Blems Chrome Bumpers $300., need to build 32 Frame Rails, stock 32 Pickup 3-Piece Pickup Seats W/Covers,$400., only item I’m missing is the rear Side Cab Corners 32 RPU Die Stamped Body Bead. Need to assemble 32 RPU Body. (Only) 593 1932 Ford RPU’s Built In 32). Total of (1,470) 1932, 1933, 1934 Ford RPU Built for these Years. Most of these 32, 33, 34Ford ROADSTER ‘s Pickups were Built @ Edgewater,N.J., Ford Plant & were export Models. Dallas, Tx. & Houston, Tx. Built in 1932 RPU’s Of only 5 each. No 1933 or 1934 RPU’s for these years. This information was found in Ford Life Magazine Vol# 4, issue #3. There’s a 12 Pages Factory Production #’s @ Each Ford Assembly Plants Of 1928 to 1934 Ford RPU’s W/Pictures. Best Regards Respectfully
BigDTexasKid


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That car turned out to be stunning, beautiful work. you did a amazing job. HRP

 

...my buddy built this 48 Ford panel cuz he had the skirts,...guess that's 2 parts...

 

Maybe not built, but.......I found a headlight bezel in the junkyard for the car in my avatar. Brought it to the shop and hung it up many years ago. Told my helper there’s my dream car.....just missing a few parts! Was kinda joke for years.... my “ car” hanging on a nail in the shop.
Fast forward .......now have the “ car”.






Bones

 

The first part was 37 Desoto bumpers. Then the door handles, dual carb intake, then the body, the frame got scrapped. Little by little I am acquiring pieces. Motor, tranny,rear end and 34 Plymouth Deluxe headlights. last week I got the 2nd carb.

 

Do you have a picture of it mocked up?

 

<Started this with a swap meet lower front fender, $5 at the Chickasha swap meet. I have a little more than that in it now.

 

Not a body part, but I started with an oil pressure gauge.

 

I drove a total 22 hours to Niagara falls, from Kannapolis, NC and back to get my Model A body.

 

I had a nice 327 and a th350. Found a roller set up for a small block.
Does that count?

 

I was accused once of starting with a shift knob, I think they were right and it turned out pretty good.

 

I thought you’d like to see my Lincoln Zephyr project


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Next month will be the 9th anniversary of starting my '29 Steelback project. If things sell well I may treat myself to a pair of '32 rails, that may motivate things. Bob

 

Hey Gotgas,

Your right,,,that deck lid is flawless!!!
Looks like a black mirror in the lights.

Tommy

 

Our model A project started with a set of roached out stock front and back seats. Kinda snow balled from there

 

My '32 pickup was built around the idea of these fog lights. HRP

 

The Bugatti guys have been doing that for years as have the Benz Velo "restorers". Used be a healthy industry to break Velo's and other old stuff have 1? BAM. 4.

 

Hey Danny,
That pickup is totally cool,,,,,I like the fog lights too!!
What engine,,,,flathead?

Tommy

 

I have seen some cars I would give my left nut for. That's a body part.