In The Beginning 1947 Ford Sportsman Convertible, we found this car in, what appeared to be good condition. The wood was obviously not correct for the car, but otherwise mechanically everything was complete. It still retained the factory motor and transmission, 6 Volt Electrical , and the car hadn't been cut or modified. At first glance we thought that with some small repairs being done to the wood, and a few paint repairs we could find a new home for the car in the U.S. and let someone else build the car. This Sportsman has also been mentioned in a H.A.M.B post Mexican Junk from July,2010. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/mexican-junk-what-i-found-pix.183098/page-45#post-5391466 The car spent about 20 years in a museum in Mexico, before being sold off. When we stumbled on the car, the beauty and rarity of the car made it impossible to pass up. Over the next 2 years, we searched for parts, to restore the car to its former glory, we tracked down as much info as we could to ensure we would be correct in the process. Along the way, we were always aware of some divine intervention, that was steering us in the path that we needed to follow. In a sign that our journey was being Divinely Inspired, we found Ed Hawirko, and anyone who knows of the Ford Sportsman, knows the Hawirko name. We were able to purchase original pattern wood, jigs, tooling, and the machinery his father and grandfather handcrafted and used to produce some of the most beautiful Sportsman's. After a long fought battle at the US to Mexico Boarder, and an extremely long quarantine for the wood, our tools and material were on the road heading south. Once in Mexico, we wasted no time in trying out the new toys.
Mexico, worried about bugs?? The only country in the world to have a song about cockroaches, "LaCocarocha".
Wow, that car is a ringer for Mister Miyagi's Ford convertible! ...except for the wood, of course... You started with a great car! Can't wait to see how it turns out.
. Car has been stripped of the old wood, interior, and the motor has been pulled to be rebuilt. Some rust along the floor at the rocker panels was found, we will need to replace the rocker panels. Will start plumbing the hydraulic lines for the windows and convertible top.
Getting started on wood, when we got the equipment from the Hawirko's he provided us with a wealth photos that have been a great resource especially while hooking up the Hydraulics. We also received a bunch of photos of cars that the had restored, showing the progression of wood at several different points.
Check out my other Thread on the wood construction http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...rtman-wood-construction.975276/#post-10987061
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