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Projects The Riverbed 1932 Ford 2 Door Sedan

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Matlack, Sep 20, 2019.

  1. Matlack
    Joined: Jul 3, 2010
    Posts: 49

    Matlack
    Member

    I just recently purchased a new project. I guess I am a glutton for punishment. She is a little rough around the edges, but I have seen worse.

    The story on the car is that right after WWII the railroad decided to build a line across a farmers field in rural Kansas. To help with erosion on a bridge across a small river, they added 100+ cars using only horses, blocks and tackle and wired the cars with heavy duty cable. They sat there untouched for 30+ years.

    In the 1970's, the railroad decided to close the line and tore down the bridge. Some guys had found out about the hoard of cars and was looking to see who owned the land. After they located the owner, luckily he said please come get the cars. They were injuring his cattle and it would be a win-win situation. They had found the mother load.

    Over the years, these guys drove from Texas to Kansas and started to cut out the salvageable cars. Before you get all excited, all the cars are gone now. This car was the last of the parts. Each side is from a separate car. The dirt had totally rusted out the bottom parts but the tops were fine. All the dents had come from the dragging and mounding up the cars. It is rough but will make a cool hot rod someday. I will try and keep adding pics as I progress.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. 1-SHOT
    Joined: Sep 23, 2014
    Posts: 2,693

    1-SHOT
    Member
    from Denton

    There was a place up in Allen Texas that WBRW32 and I dug cars out of years ago. They were put there in a large Creek to stop soil erosion and we did not have to drive to Kansas. There was a old wrecking yard up there that was full of late 20 to late 40 cars and trucks.
     
  3. Hdonlybob
    Joined: Feb 1, 2005
    Posts: 4,115

    Hdonlybob
    Member

    Nice Start !!
    Good luck....
     
    loudbang likes this.
  4. @1-SHOT. Hey Frank, you think there's anything still there ? I know Allen is a far cry, from what it was ... but there is a HAMB'r living in Allen ... me !! :) Let's go get some ... you point, I'll dig !
     

  5. MO54Frank
    Joined: Apr 1, 2019
    Posts: 440

    MO54Frank
    Member

    I've seen lots of pictures of creek/river/pond bank cars. Trouble is, it really doesn't work very well. Water flows downhill.

    Old cars/trucks are everywhere: fields, woods, creeks, swamps, backyards, barns and garages... trouble is, in many states, you can never get a title for an "abandoned" car...
     
    loudbang and chryslerfan55 like this.
  6. .....damn Frank,I;d damn near forgot that...years ago was more like 50 years ago......Kid Campbell it was at the corner of old hwy 5 and Stacy Rd..An old fellow,nice as hell,named Mr Hooper owned it Probably all houses by now..when Mr Hooper died,next owner was a Bill Alexander...who had a gas sta on hwy 75 one Rd so of Stacy rd I did get a tall T coupe and a running 47 Angelia from Mr Hooper...
     
  7. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Man... It's really a '32. Tudor! Great find.

    My bud Willy Pettitt went with Jim Pillsbury up North by Paradise, Ca. in 1962. He found a '32 roadster, fenders straight, whole car, no engine. $100, car was in a lean-to, the farmer had towed it from a field adjacent to his home.
    It had bullet holes in left quarter panel, 6 of 'em, .45 cal. I acetylene welded them up.
    No rust, the roadster had me green with envy.
    Willy built a Highboy, SBC. Beyond 'nice'.
     
  8. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,174

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    "if it was easy everybody would be doing it" have fun
     
    loudbang likes this.
  9. captainjunk#2
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,420

    captainjunk#2
    Member

    ive seen a lot worse , post some build pictures when you get to it
     
    loudbang likes this.
  10. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Oh-Oh! Lef is a DeLuxe, Right a standard!
     
  11. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,086

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Man that’s awesome
     
    kidcampbell71 and loudbang like this.
  12. spanners
    Joined: Feb 24, 2009
    Posts: 2,073

    spanners
    Member

    Doesn't matter. you can't look at both sides at the same time.
     
    seb fontana, rpm56, 49ratfink and 3 others like this.
  13. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

  14. ramblin dan
    Joined: Apr 16, 2018
    Posts: 3,609

    ramblin dan

    That is great. Love hearing stories like that. I've seen cars in a lot worse shape come together let alone coming from a creek bed.
     
    loudbang and chryslerfan55 like this.
  15. E.C.
    Joined: Apr 7, 2007
    Posts: 608

    E.C.
    Member
    from Tx

    Good score on that 32
     
    loudbang and Stogy like this.
  16. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,913

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Not being a '32 guy, I have to ask : "How can you tell?
     
    49ratfink and kidcampbell71 like this.
  17. Ha. I didn't want to be the dummy to ask. Guess there's two us, here!
    Love, the other "dummy". :)

    Does the keyhole make it a Deluxe, then ? If so ... spare no expense, and give me a Deluxe, please. I'll take two ...
     
    loudbang and chryslerfan55 like this.
  18. My guess is that it is a standard. The deluxe came with cowl lights. The dealer could install cowl lights as an option on a standard and it looks like somebody started making the holes for the cowl lights on the left and gave up before they got to the right.

    Charlie Stephens
     
  19. Cool 33
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 108

    Cool 33
    Member

    I met Mr. Hooper in the late 60's. I bought a 34 grille from him after I wrecked my coupe. There was a 28 or 29 roadster pick up setting out behind the main building and a large field with lots of 20's and 30's cars farther out . Went back after he passed away and they were in the process of burning the cars with a lot of wood in them to scrap them out. Before this many still had glass and original interiors, etc. It made me sick to see what they were doing!
     
  20. KKrod
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 1,454

    KKrod
    Member

    I heard .a lot of people went up to near Vernon, Tx for vintage tin back in the day
     
  21. Matlack
    Joined: Jul 3, 2010
    Posts: 49

    Matlack
    Member

    Body on the chassis. Found a windshield, all garnish molding, dash, etc.
     

    Attached Files:

  22. sliceddeuce
    Joined: Aug 15, 2017
    Posts: 2,981

    sliceddeuce
    Member

    The story would be much better had a hippo boat been involved......
     
  23. 61gasser
    Joined: Dec 23, 2010
    Posts: 83

    61gasser
    Member

    Cool car, neat story! Can wait to see this unfold!
     
  24. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    I wouldn't want to be behind him after a he has a big lunch. :D Sorry, back to your regularly scheduled thread. Lippy
     
    VANDENPLAS likes this.
  25. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Man that is nuts! I have to work with those things from time to time..When they are pissed off they massively defecate and the tail acts like a propeller ! that shit goes everywhere! Plus they are mean as hell...BTW dig the river duece:D
     
    VANDENPLAS likes this.
  26. sliceddeuce
    Joined: Aug 15, 2017
    Posts: 2,981

    sliceddeuce
    Member

    Close enough for me..
     
    VANDENPLAS likes this.
  27. Nailhead A-V8
    Joined: Jun 11, 2012
    Posts: 1,343

    Nailhead A-V8
    Member

    Did you ask those dudes if they took any pictures of their adventures or the cars in place before they were dug out?...
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2020
  28. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    That's pretty cool, has a neat story and glad to see both halves saved into one car.
     
  29. Garpo
    Joined: Jul 16, 2016
    Posts: 292

    Garpo

  30. Matlack
    Joined: Jul 3, 2010
    Posts: 49

    Matlack
    Member

    I have been busy rounding up enough parts to make it a roller. I also bought a pair of rockers. The passenger side is missing and the driver side is bent.
     

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