Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

Yes! We won't be cutting any torque tubes just yet.

Man, you really lived it! The Havenscourt building is still there, believe it or not.

Thank you! Let me know if you have any recs on what brand to buy.

I completely agree. Knowledge is one of the best tools to have in your toolbox.

I'll be stick welding later this winter. I'll have to ask you for tips!

A nice set for sure. I'll have to inquire about them next time I'm up your way!

From what I can tell, they know their stuff!

Thank you! I figure I'll be building hot rods for the next 50 years or so—I might as well learn to do things the correct way now.

Haha look at that! Julian gets it, that's for sure. Thank you for making that connection. I wonder if he's still around?

 

This thread will always be about silly hats. Newsprint or not, we'll find them.

 

Things around here have been busy in the pre-Grand National Roadster Show rush. I'll be heading down there for work, but I won't be bringing my car this time around. That being said, I have been working on—and driving—it almost every day.

Premier parking.

Ambiance, like they say.

Lately, my biggest project has been paining the front axle. On Sunday, I borrowed an X-Acto knife, tuned into the Hot Rod Kid Podcast and taped off the dimples. The white piece of wood is a remnant of our homemade photo both from last month.

I have a little bit of touch up left to do, so I'll wait to post the finished product.

There are few things better than cruising through town on a warm night in your Model A roadster.

 

Hahah hey, I've experienced three in the past six years. That being said, it was somewhere near the low 60s at night over the weekend, which was pretty good for here. With it being clear, it made for some pretty spectacular sunsets.
The roadster is parked in the lot behind me in this shot. The Golden Gate Bridge is on the right of the frame.

 

I'll be back with full replies, but I just wanted to let you know that I have secured a gas pedal at GNRS from LA Roadsters member @tofords. When he handed it off, he said, "Out of the attic and on to the road." If that's not hot rodding, I don't know what is.
Let's just say I'm finding a whole lot of inspiration out here.
More later!

 

I'm so glad we happened to cross paths. I'm still on Cloud 9 from that show. Talk about early Iron overload!

'Twas a grand time. Beyond what I posted on Instagram, I still have some more coverage coming. I'll post some favorites on this thread tomorrow.

Great eye on the plane. There's actually a pretty funny store behind it. Back in the summer of 2019, my friend Mike and I saw an ad for an old motorcycle for sale in the Haight. The price? $20. There were two problems. One: it didn't have a rear wheel. Two: it was in a basement. The only way out? Take the stairs.

Down in the cellar, it was clear that nobody had lived there in decades. The building owner's sister, Robin, said that the tenant left all his belongings and never returned. In addition to motorcycles, he was an avid model builder. Covered in dust, the balsa and tissue paper Piper Cub hung from one of the ceiling beams by a piece of ribbon. I knew I needed it for my garage.

Alas, we weren't there for airplanes. Mike brought his own back wheel, and he and I pushed the motorcycle into the daylight for the first time in who-knows-how-long. Robin looked at us as if we had lost our minds. Maybe we had. That's her in the middle.

Once the bike was taken care of, she invited us to go back and search for extra parts. Mike and I both collected a box full of treasures. I mentioned to him that I really liked that airplane. Without me asking, he made an offer. Robin accepted.

Every time I see that plane, I think back to the day in the Haight. Good times.

That sounds cold!

Noooooooo you should have bought it!

Right?! And the owner is right around my age. He gets it for sure.

 

It's getting late over here, but I hope to have some show pictures for you guys tomorrow.

Hahaha that's one way to do it. I can't even imagine going to the show in Oakland. Must have been incredible.

Great eye. I wasn't exactly sure where it was from, but the owner said it came with a bunch of '40 Ford stuff. Makes sense!

Wow! That's a rare bird right there. So neat to see it in the wild. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like the top of the light might not be ribbed like it is on mine? Sooooo did you buy it?!

Thank you Pat! I most certainly will. I was just reading TRJ #26 the other day and thinking about your roadster. Between that and Reeps' pickup, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was one of my favorite articles of all time then, and it's even better now.

 

Like I mentioned above, I'll have a full update either tomorrow or Friday. In the meantime, I couldn't be happier with the latest batch of new-old parts I picked up from friends down in Los Angeles. This very well could be the most exciting piece since buying the body back on page #1.

A real-deal, filled 1932 Ford grille shell that came off an old hot rod. Full report happening soon!