I was looking through the February 1952 issue of "Auto Sport Review", a long defunct car magazine, and found an article titled "Hollywood Roundup": pictures of people like Clark Gable and Gary Cooper with their cars. To my surprise, I found this picture of Alan Young (a Brit-born actor, probably best known for his role in "Mr. Ed") with his customized Ford. Appears to be a '39 convert, chopped, channeled with the fenders raised and the hood sectioned, plus custom tweaks to the grille, bumpers, and so on. Certainly not a unique car for the era, but a nice one, and it's the earliest instance I can recall of an showbiz person driving a customized Ford. Rikster, have you seen this before?
Great photo... Thank for showing it I had never seen that photo. This might be the same car.... but there where a lot of 39-40 Fords that where built along the same style in the 40's. The one below is built by the Art & Lellis Olive Hill Garage The grille cover is an aftermarket part offered from Eastern Auto Supply. And if it is the same car... there is good news. The car is still around today. A little different, but still with the same nice early 40's look. It now sports a 1940 front end after the original front end was damaged in a crash...
Hey 50 Fraud, Prior to Gable's commission/ ownership of this Ford, he ordered Jensen Motors Ltd., of West Bromwich England, to build him a custom bodied Jensen. '37-'38 Ford power train and frame, with a Jensen body. There is some question as to whether Gable ever took delivery of said custom, as he was said to be more taken by the Packards and Duessies he had also comissioned at this time. The Packards and Duessies were not built by Jensen Motors Ltd. Swankey devils c.C.
That is one cool car, I always liked Alan Young in the movies. GEEEE! I didn't know he was such a cool guy.
The bumper is nicer on the restored car. Pretty neat! Thanks for posting the pics. Looks like the same car to me too. Amazing.
Here is a page of the 1949 Eastern Auto Supply Company catalog that shows the aftermarket grille cover for the 1939-40 Ford grilles.
wow that is a great looking car. awesome aftermarket grill, too. Funny that the 120 mph speed is a selling point of the day. Today's typical econo-box can do a 120 with the a/c on....but not in nearly as much style!!
Tony (50Fraud) just emailed me a larger scan of the magazine "article" and I though I share the larger scan so everybody can enjoy this great photo of this fantastic looking early custom car. Art Lellis 1939 Ford was built in 1948 and was featured in Hot Rod magazine twice. Once together with his partner in the Olive Hill Garage, Jerry Moffett with his near identical 1939 Ford convertible in the September 1948 Issue of Hot Rod Magazine and for the second time in the May 1950 Issue of Hot Rod magazine. If any of you guys have the September 1948 or the May 1950 Issues of Hot Rod magazine and are willing to scan those article for me... please pm me. I would really love to have those articles to put on my site. All I have now is a poor reproduction of the 1948 article. The Art Lellis 39 Ford in on the left of this photo (with the padded top on) and Jerry Moffett's 39 is on the right. Arts car was originally painted metallic green. Amazingly both cars are still around today. Art's Ford has been modified as mentioned above, but Jerry's 39 Ford is restored pretty much back to its original Art & Jerry condition. And Jerry's car how it looks today
Great post! Rik, I have the May '50 issue and can scan the article for you. Both those Converts were featured in R&C, the one with the '40 front was in the Dec. '95 R&C & the maroon one was in the June '97 issue (This was the first issue of R&C I ever bought).
Thanks Jimmy. I have the R&C articles with both cars in it.I dont have scans of teh Jerry Moffett Ford on ine but here is the one on Art Lellis his 39 Convertible. But I would really love the May 1950 article.
Another name Was Tyrone Power,seen here with carson Topped Convert. What is not well known is that he also had an English Jowett Car powered with a Hot 'B' Ford engine.
Many thanks to Squirrel and JimmyB for scanning the two articles on the Art Lellis 1939 Ford convertible. Slightly different angle from the AHRF site (I did not realise untill I saw the 1952 article that this was the Art Lellis Ford)
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