Alright, so I’ve been lurking around here for years, hoping to one day start my own project, and I’ve now finally pulled the trigger. This car has a bit of personal history that I thought I would share. The story goes like this: Back in the mid-to-late ‘60s, my grandfather bought a few old Fords, including this 1930 Coupe, with the idea that when his grandkids got older, we would fix them up for our first cars. He had an old warehouse he used for storing materials for his construction business and just pulled the cars in the back and parked them. Although I didn’t show up until 1970, at the time he had 3 grandkids all still in diapers - the man thought ahead! Unfortunately, he was killed in a plane crash in 1973, and the cars were just kind of forgotten about. The old wooden warehouse, for the most part, just sat locked up and neglected until the mid-80’s (and to a degree, falling down around the cars). It was about that time the city notified my grandmother that she was going to have to clean up the property or they were going to tear the warehouse down. The cars were then ultimately moved after someone tried to break in and steal one of them. Well, we didn’t fix them up to be our first cars. Don’t get me wrong, my cousins and I had heard the stories about the cars and had even seen them, but at the time, they weren’t at the top of our radar. Remember, this was the mid-‘80s - we were more enamored with the pony car and muscle car era of the ‘60s. My first car was a hopped up ’65 Mustang and my two other cousins that actually cared about cars had ’68 and ’69 Camaros. So again, there the cars sat, mostly forgotten about. Over the years I shuffled them around between places to store them, always with the hope and dream that someday I would fix them up. As can happen in life, other projects (and life in general) have occupied my time until now. I’ve still got some other projects, but I’ve finally got some time to start tackling this project. As this is my first ‘30s rod, I’m sure I’ll need plenty of help along the way, and for anybody out there in the Tulsa area, I’d be happy to meet up when this pandemic blows over!
Awesome story, I wish one of my girls uncles, grandpas or even my dad kept a cool old car or two to pass down someday. They all had cool old hot rods but were a bit short-sighted in their thinking. I have a couple old hot rods to pass down to any one of my kids if they showed some interest. r Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Very nice! Looks like there’s some lettering on the door...KOVSKY?? Maybe McKOVSKY? Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
IMO... dump the mud guards... build it your way... that was what the old guy figured as he didn't build them his way... he saved that for the rascals... go rascals go...
Excellent place to start both with the quality of the car and family history. How would I build it, look at my AVATAR it is powered by a 181 cubic inch Mercruiser marine engine (basically a big Chevy II or Industrial engine). Go slow and get a lot of advice from the guys here on HAMB. Charlie Stephens
My advice. Don't overthink it, and don't buy any magazines. These cars are simple, and you will have all the advice and help you need here on the HAMB.
I’ve changed my mind about that multiple times over the years, but I think I’ve finally settled on fenders. Although don’t hold me to that...
It’s on both doors too. Looks like KOVSKY and there is something in smaller print above it. I have no idea about the history on that. I’ll post some better pics of both sides to see if anyone else can make it out.
It was originally parked with this set of '35 spokes. My current plan is to clean them up and reinstall when the time comes.
Kudos to your Grandpa as well as you for keeping them . It is always great to see another oldie heading back to the street .
I look forward to see where you go with this! What a good start & what providence with your grand-pa's foresight! & the begging question... what were the 'other' cars??
Thanks! I’ll start posting some tear down pics soon. As to the other cars, (1) a ‘36 5 window that had a cracked block when parked, (2) a ‘28 Tudor, and (3) a ‘36 cabriolet rusty basket case sans engine and transmission. A 4th that wasn’t in the warehouse was a restored ‘28 Phaeton that he bought in 1965 that was always kept in their home garage but never driven (except for me and my cousins as little kids climbing in and out of it playing cops and robbers). I’ve been working on that one also, but plan to put it on the market soon.
Looks in pretty good condition. That's about what mine looked like when I bought it in 1971. Have fun with your build.