Tom bought my 32 coupe back in 58 when he was stationed in Tucson. We've run across each other through thr years but i haven't heard about or from him in the past few years. Anybody know how he's doing?
I talked to him about a year ago, he lives in Texas, I asked him if he had any projects going, he said you are not going to believe this, I am working on an early 60's Ford Econoline PU. I met him when he along with Brian Burnett were promoting the "Nostalgia Nationals" at Fremont in the 80's, they always treated us very well, he is a good Guy.
Here's a short video of Tom Prufer's (one 'f') "Power King Too" Cacklecar ... NOTE: Fellow HAMBer Rod Powell (@RodP) punched the louvers in the tins of this FED (see his August 2008 Louvers / Working with an old friend. thread) ... Rod also gets credit for most (if not all) of the bitchin' flame-jobs on Tom's iconic Hot Rods!
The Kerrville/Fredericksburg area of TX is filled with retired hotrodders from many points of the country.
THANK YOU! great way to start my day. I remember the Rod and Custom story on the nose being formed. that car looks so right. Bob
I think Baskerville wrote the article about the nose and the car in general "The Pruf is in his project" back '73 or so. Reading and re reading that article on the nose and the belly pans I think might be what really put me over the edge as far as really wanting to build cars. Just seeing flat aluminum turn into shapely noses and belly pans got me going and fired up to learn. Didn't Covell do all that aluminum?
Tom Prufer's '29 Hiboy Roadster @ Andy's Picnic (1972) Tom Prufer's '29 Hiboy Roadster @ GNRS (1973)
I always thought Prufer had a keen eye for proportion. His cars were always proportionally correct. The right chop, the right stance, the right color, and the right wheel/tire combo. Glad to hear he's doing OK. His style had a big influence on me.
he did a red one early in the Ninties that was a three window, but not channeled or flamed. It was a neat "traditional" styled car (for the time) that was in American Rodder about '93 or so.
Yeah but I was leaving his name out of it I had the two red 32s mixed up. Always liked the flamed one best. Even with the red wheels.
Yes, Ron Covell did all the aluminum on that car. I told Ron he should give seminars in 1978. He just laughed. Anyone remember the red full-fendered '34 Coupe Tom Prufer built and sold in '79 or thereabouts? A guy named Chuck Olsen (I think) bought it, ran it some at Baylands.
The last time I talked to Chuck Olsen, probably 10 years ago, he was living in Bend, Or. He still had Tom's 34 coupe. That was quite a car, chuck raced it at Fremont all through the 80's and drove the wheels off of it.
The Jalopy Journal
