Projects Dads 34 Build Resto after a 60 year absence!

So my Dad, Jack, and his brother Larry built this 34 Chevy Coupe on a Ford Frame, with an Olds Rocket motor. Dad got out of the Navy in 55’ and after arriving home was looking for a project him and uncle Larry could complete together. This car was born. Built in a one car garage with all the neighbor kids and local teens watching it became a late night hot spot in our little town of Bourbon IN (population 1500). While they drove it on the street, with the addition of a 3 deuce manifold & carb set and very early Isky cam it became the king of the local drag strip. The year was 1958. Dad gets married and I become a honeymoon baby, born in 59. Dad sells his half to Uncle Larry who continues to treat his street racing friends and drag racing competitors with NO mercy. This car cruises the streets at night with a killer reputation. In 1962, Uncle Larry marries and the car is sold as a roller. Dad & Larry both enjoyed life, raised families, and unfortunately passed away fairly close together around 2008. But boy, growing up, did I hear stories about that 34 !
I was a hot rod guy myself having grown up in the muscle car era and have, thru the years owned a lot, including 2 Indianapolis 500 race cars, a Fuel altered, 3 BB/FC nostalgia funny cars, & over a dozen 60s and early 70s Muscle cars. So the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. One month ago, I was combing Facebook Marketplace and guess what I came across??? The old 34! I bought it in a heartbeat. Oh it’s changed, evolved, but the bones are there and they are good.
This thread will deal with the restoration of the car. The plan is to get it back to where Jack & Larry had it in 1958. I’ll start with a few pictures of the car after they first got it and their first modification was to heavily channel the body down over the frame. From what I can tell it’s been channeled 6” maybe even a little more. Then in it’s finished state in 1958. After that pictures in the garage are the way it looked a month ago when I bought it and where it had set for 30 years. Now remember it was sold and left Bourbon in 1962, the owner I bought it from had it for 30 years, so there are still 30 years unaccounted for. After the garage pictures it will next be seen in my fab shop, slowly coming apart. I have located an Olds Rocket 324 and the fun begins! If I don’t run out of money it will be rumbling the streets of Bourbon by the end of next summer. You will see me on other threads as I seek your expertise and answers from you knowledgeable gentlemen. Please watch and enjoy!

 

In 1958

 

As I bought it one month ago.

 

2 weeks ago.

 

This past week

 

Great story..the car is home.

 

That rear end treatment compliments the rear window nicely.

 

Awesome!!!!

 

Love those 33-35 three windows. Congrats on getting the old beast back.

 

Congrats

 

Neat project, and lucky you found it again! FYI, the frame is not Ford, but the front and rear axles and suspension are.

 

Thank you, hey this is not my forte. My knowledge of this era is very limited. Can you identify the frame?

 

Wow very cool!

 

Im in, cool project!! Looks like a chebby frame to me. Had parallel front leafs from the factory

 

Awesome find and great story! Glad you found it!
Looks like a 33 Chevy frame to me...
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1933-chevrolet-frame.1000714/

 

That's really cool.

 

Cool car and cool story. Glad you got it back in the family.

 

Shit that’s killer! I kind of even love the later molded in stuff on it! I’ll assume you’re putting it back to as it was when they had it?

 

Great story! Good luck,I'll be following!

 

What a cool story! Congrats on getting it back and I will be following your progress.

 

Love the story. Back where it belongs.

 

X2!!

 

I'm SO very happy for you!
Fantastic story ... I'll bet it was a quick Hot Rod ... power-to-weight for the Win's.
I'm excited that you're going to keep/make it just like they did, a true,simple,fast Hot Rod.
Just in time for Christmas, best gift ever !!!

 

Cool project. My dad had a 34 master. It looks like the frame is fuct up in the as found pics. It seems like the front of the frame is sitting way higher in the channel as it relates to the body. With the different hood and grill the frame looks like its in the center or above the center of the grill. Goofy. Definitely looks better with the frame lower in the front. Looking forward to seeing how it comes together.

 

Hey, thanks guys for all the encouragement & support! I just retired so I'll be working on this most weekdays at my shop. Thanks for correcting me on the frame guys. Ford front & rear but 34 Chevy frame. Dad always called it the "34" but on the pictures I got from Larry the envelope said "the 35". The title says 36. So I am still confused about what year the body is. Have questions as to why the X member was cut??? Shifter??? I dont know??? There will be lots more questions.

 

Cool story.

 

What year does the vin on the car & title say it is? Such a great find & project!

 

Good for you on finding your dads old car! I saw that car on Facebook also and I think it was part of a garage or estate sale in South Bend, IN. If I remember right it was a strange ad and really didnt say much about it. But I remember that first pic you posted of it sitting on blocks in the garage/pole barn. Glad you found it! Cool story!

 

I had heard that early Chev's had a lot of wood in the body but WOW ... that is one HUGE pile