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History Holman-moody the history

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by frank spittle, Mar 18, 2011.

  1. econolineherb
    Joined: Apr 12, 2010
    Posts: 121

    econolineherb
    Member

    Let's see pics of the vans . Still looking for some pics of my dads blue '63 Ford pickup with the H/M 427 at the indoor drags in Chicago . It had HERBO on the doors .
     
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  2. ecode ragtop
    Joined: Apr 28, 2009
    Posts: 125

    ecode ragtop
    Member
    from illinois

    If I may ask a question. H&M formed in mid 57. Did any of the 57 Fords have H&M on the cars or did that start in 58. I have seen a lot of pictures of 57 Ford Stock cars, but none with Holman Moody on the fenders. Thanks Tom
     
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  3. farnold3
    Joined: Apr 17, 2014
    Posts: 1

    farnold3
    Member
    from Hytop,AL

    When did Red Vogt leave the Dpaulo operation? I recall a young Alabama Engineering student,Bill Hamner, being assigned to the engine room with Vogt as his mentor. He was no doubt a quick study. when he returned home after his first tour of duty at FOMOCO's Depaulo operation he began building some killer Y block engines for Ford racer's in and around Alabama. He competed in a '54 ford "C" Gasser himself that soon put the Chevy guys on the hunt for 1/2 & 5/8 stroker kits.
     
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  4. I recall reading that Red Vogt left Depaolo Engineering when he found out John Holman was being hired to replace him in the Charlotte operation. This was sometime in early 1956.

    Dave
     
  5. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    Just returned from Holman & Moody. The boys are very busy. Jimmy Tucker is rebuilding a Boss 429 for a customer. His health has improved enough that he is building a newly purchased '31 Model A sedan for himself. He has finished chopping the top and is doing other metal work. He has been employed at H-M for 50 years.
     
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  6. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Good deal adding an update.
     
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  7. dusterdave173
    Joined: Dec 30, 2010
    Posts: 226

    dusterdave173
    Member

    One day I went to instal a new dishwasher at Ralph Moodys home--he was a talker and we chatted the afternoon away--I asked him how he started hotrodding--his tale was amazing--
    He said he and his brother ( or maybe a pal) bought an old T model for a couple of dollars--well to make it faster they stripped everything they could off of it--faster , faster, until they got to thinking she needed more compression--the answer was remove the pistons--they cut an old coffee can and made a "form" around the piston then poured molten lead in the form thus making "dome pistons". Back in the T they went...I asked him how that worked--he sort of grinned and shook his head--well...he said---it turned the inside of the exhaust white as cotton!!!
    That is a first hand account!
    I can also tell you his UNIVERSAL answer to engine performance was to "STROKE IT!" said with that strong NY accent it was priceless!!
    We grew up near there, and all my Dads friends worked there--many migrated from the heavy equipment/earthmover business that was so strong back then as the US Interstates were being expanded all over--my Dad always said when another guy left--They will be back in a few weeks--This is a business--that racing junk will not last. Boy was he wrong--but...he had a new growing family and was damned determined to take care of us so for that I give him eternal credit.
     
  8. 64 galaxie hm
    Joined: May 7, 2015
    Posts: 3

    64 galaxie hm

    Does anybody know if the Holman Moody (Lincoln) brake drums came with 5x5 bolt pattern or was the original 5 x 5.5 bolt pattern redrilled to 5x5.
     
  9. All of my Holman Moody drum brake stuff is 5x5 only, not 5x5.5 redrilled to 5x5. The only drilling done is to open up the holes for 5/8" wheel studs from the original 1/2" studs. Also gotten Lincoln drums out of the junkyard, those are 5x5 as well. Hope this helps.

    Dave
     
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  10. I found this article I cut out of the Charlotte Observer when I was eleven years old. The Starlifter was mentioned last week on the thread about Galaxies.
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. Was wondering if anyone out there has seen any Holman Moody catalogs from the 1961-66 time frame? I have collected what I believe to be most of the catalogs/brochures from 1967-78 (or at least I have a really good cross section of them), and I've seen a few from 1959-60, maybe into 1961 for some of the Thunderbird/Starliner stock car parts and Falcon hop up stuff (like the pages Frank posted at the beginning of this thread). But I have seen nothing from 1962-66 (save for the Holman Moody pages that would go into a Ford dealers master parts catalog, for Oct 1965 (includes A/FX Mustang parts)). I've scoured Ebay, the internet and swap meets for a long time, with no sightings..

    Dave
     
  12. powrshftr
    Joined: Mar 29, 2013
    Posts: 4,543

    powrshftr
    Member

    And if you ever decide to send em down the road,could you please call me first?
    It would make my day to have the doors off the Goldfinger car.
    Those A/FX Mustangs were magic:)

    Scott
     
  13. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Lets Bring this back to life

    From the 1963 Golden State 400


    Holman Moody sponsored car pit crew at work. Car also has a HM sticker on the hood and trunk.
    Looks like they need to straighten the roof just a tad.


    Capture17.JPG


    Another crew


    Capture21.JPG
     
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  14. pigfluxer
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 207

    pigfluxer
    Member

    Cotton Owens hauler in the background.
     
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  15. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    Stopped by H-M yesterday and was surprised to find out Jimmy Tucker has finally retired. He worked there full time for 51 years. I talked to Larry Wallace who has worked there 50 years too. Jimmy is in pretty good health and finishing his chopped '29 Model A sedan.
    Larry told me they have suspended building engines. Tucker is one of the last men standing who are experts and was there when the 427 SOHC and Boss 429 engines were new. He was still the main engine builder at H-M and could do ANYTHING else that needed to be done. It won't be the same without him.
     
  16. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    Look what came in the mail the other day:

    IMG_2255.JPG IMG_2254.JPG
    It's going in my son's '63 Galaxie.

    Kevin
     
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  17. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    This one:

    IMG_2001.JPG

    Kevin
     
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  18. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    Word is out there is a new documentary about the first GT-40 program in the mid '60s and Lee Holman is interviewed in it.
     
  19. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    It is for real! It is called "The 24 Hour War". It is on Amazon for $15.00 dvd or $18.00 bluray or if you are a prime member you can watch it on TV free. That's what I did.
    It is a very well put together documentary about the Ford GT-40 program with original footage and interviews with a lot of 70+ year old guys who were there. I believe most every car guy knows the story about the GT40 program and the wins at Lemans 4 straight years from '66-'69 but this really gets into the guts of it. It is almost 2 hours long and no commercials on Amazon Prime and I found myself wanting to take a food and beverage break but didn't. I thought it was THAT good.
     
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  20. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    It had been almost a year when I stopped by Holman & Moody yesterday. It looks the same but there was not much activity. Larry Wallace, the main cam grinder for 50 years, was the only employee there and he is about to turn 80. I talked with Lee Holman about the documentary "The 24 Hour War" which he is in. I have known Lee forever (we are both 73) but it is obvious to me that things are winding down there. Maybe you should stop by if in the area. It saddens me to know this great organization will one day be no more. Nothing lasts forever.
     
  21. Ray C's son
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 410

    Ray C's son
    Member

    That will be a sad day, indeed.

    Kevin
     
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  22. Putting together a 57 T-Bird at work with a SOHC 427 engine.
    The owner brought some NOS gaskets and this was on the box.

    427 SOHC Holman Moody address label.JPG
     
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  23. terryr
    Joined: Feb 8, 2007
    Posts: 285

    terryr
    Member
    from earth

  24. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

  25. powrshftr
    Joined: Mar 29, 2013
    Posts: 4,543

    powrshftr
    Member

    Thanks for posting those Terryr!


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
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  26. doc's
    Joined: Mar 5, 2006
    Posts: 201

    doc's
    Member

    Thanks terryr!!
     
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  27. powrshftr
    Joined: Mar 29, 2013
    Posts: 4,543

    powrshftr
    Member

    Was lucky enough to visit H/M shop on our way to Florida a few months back.
    They had a real goldmine of cool stuff.
    About a billion sets of FE headers for almost as many applications,about a dozen GT-40’s in various stages of completion,a customer’s Dan Gurney clone stock car,and a legit 63 Galaxie Fireball Roberts car.
    Lee also keeps a trophy case full of cool items like one of Joe Weatherly’s old helmets,and the wooden pattern that the original 427 SOHC valve covers were made from.
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    That last one is of a 20yr old Lee Holman fuelling a Cobra Daytona coupe in Riems France.Here’s a picture of Lee displaying the “safety equipment “ they gave him to protect him from harm as the fuel man:
    [​IMG]
    The man was the greatest host ever,and my Wife,who is not really a race car,or history person,was having the time of her life once he started telling stories and making her laugh.
    If you get the chance to stop by there,you need to do it while you still can.

    Scott


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
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  28. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,751

    Deuces

    Very cool pictures.... Thank you!... :)
     
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  29. powrshftr
    Joined: Mar 29, 2013
    Posts: 4,543

    powrshftr
    Member

    My pleasure Deuces.Just wish I could get back there and pick Lee’s brain for a few weeks!lol

    Scott


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
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  30. davecj
    Joined: Oct 5, 2018
    Posts: 1

    davecj

    What ever happened to this car that was sold out from under you ? any idea ?
     
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