Art Gerrick was old school... Even in 1951. That's the year his lakes modified was featured in Hot Rod Magazine along with one of Rex Burnett's first cut-away illustrations. Before the feature, Art had already set numerous records on the Muroc dry la... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Yep an amazing Hot Rod & true survivor. Its significance is even greater by the fact that it is one of the last of early modifieds that still exists today.
The innovations in this car are amazing, especially considering the time it was built. Art hill climb raced it into the '60s and ended up blowing up the motor and put in a "display" engine. Guffey bought it sight unseen and when it got picked up everything that was thought to go with the car was brought with it. he had the windows in the original block repaired and the short block built. the car and all the parts were delivered to me to put the engine together and get it runnung. I still dont know how he talked me into doing it, I had never worked in anything like that before but somehow he convinced me that I could do it. There were probably enough boxes of parts to put together 3 cars but somehow it got figured out what went where and it was time to fire it. in 1 of the boxes of parts was a cut down hand crank starter with a tag that said "shaft to start model t with drill motor" So I primed the carbs, static timed the dual distributors and attached a giand 3/4 inch drill and that thing sprang to life so fast it scared the crap out of me! I guess i am pretty lucky to have been able to mess with that thing. pretty amazing little car.
What a neat car ... that frame and front-end setup has got me thinking crazy thoughts. That's awesome that you (Moriarty) got a chance to lay hands on that car in a more than friendly manner.
That thing has magical stance, rubber proportion, and overall wedge. Perfect. Wonder what it's like to crank that 17:1 motor. Yikes!
The best example of a "Hand-Crafted Hot-Rod" that I've seen in a long time !! That thing is THE SHIZZ !! >>>>.
Here's hoping some buck up goon does't buy it , and have it "restored" for pebble beach. Looks perfect.
I've always thought that car was special ever since I first saw it in Hot Rod. That steering box is a 1920's Franklin the steering of choise for most dirt track cars in the Pre WWII days.
Each and every one of these archetypal true hot rods deserves a thorough and well illustrated thread. We are fortunate the car is still in existence and in such original condition. With all of the different opinions and perspectives expressed here on the HAMB, a car like this helps define the term "traditional hot rod".
On the way home from Speedweek last year Jim Miller, AHRF, and I stopped in Winnemuca to see the cars. Art's roadster was Miller's favorite followed by the Tom Beatty roadster. I favored Al Teague's cars, especially the digger with the Wayne 12 port which I remembered from my dad's shop. It is a shame that this fine collection is being broken up. DW
It was kinda like chicken wire and kinda like real coarse steel wool, the thing was quieter than I thought it would be
I can dig it. and I would imagine that much compression would prevent wanting to mess with it too much outside of the basics. what does it run for fuel?
Mariarity, how did they get the crank to hold up to the high compression? Working towards a similar engine for my T... not that high of compression though!!
It had a model A crank, and a pressurized oil system for the crank. but the crank or something failed and windowed the block at some point
Thanks! Do you know if the mains were cut to T size? or the block modified to A size?(if thats possible) I'm hoping for 10:1 or less on mine...but still going to need something more then a stock T crank I think?...
I dont know exactly how they did it but If I remember correctly (this was 5 yrs ago!) there was evidence of welding in the block like maybe the main web from an A welded to the T block
The Jalopy Journal
