My friend who was telling me about the car had some really cool stories about it. I'll get more details later n post it up if youre interested. One of the stories included it taking a dive off the trailer when he and a friend went to pick it up from a previous owner..no damagr though.
John Figueroa saw this on Ebay a little while ago and we talked about it possibly being the Urasugi car. Sure looks like and sounds like it. Boy, I've been negligent, I better catch up on my homework. Thanks for those pics "litup". I'll try contacting you soon. I really should get you in touch with John, he's the one that really knows all the info on these Hot Rods.
<big>Now I just have to find a copy. HOT ROD Magazine June 1959. Gene Uyesugi channeled roadster w fenders Waipahu, Oahu. </big>
Looking up underneath the rear roll pan you can see where the exhausts previously came through above the bumper. We thought they were for previous taillights. You can also see where the recessed license plate was.
[/IMG] Same Roadster? Quite possibly. Got these pics from litup today and he told me that when he looks up under the body he can still see where the sunken license plate box is as well as the cutouts for the exhaust where it used to exit through the back pan. This one was last seen sitting here in a yard somewhere in Kaimuki. It would be cool if it really is the same car.
Sure looks similar but at some point someone went to a lot of trouble to change out the frame right? I think it's on a '32 frame now, one of those rare instances where putting an original deuce frame back under a car probably hurt the value.
I just spoke with Gary, the guy I bought the 32 from. Really nice guy. He still had the original front fenders behind his barn for years but just took them to the dump very recently. I don't blame him at all. They just looked like hacked up metal, but it sure would have been cool to return them to the car. Can't win them all!
I would think that replacement steel fenders could be found and they would most certainly enhance the looks of an already cool car.
Just saw this post for the first time and I need to go change my shorts! Roadster looks sweet just the way is sits!
to make this thread even more confusing i found this in Best Hot Rods #1 from 1952 It also has "that hawaiian look" I also learned "Hao Wela" means Hot Rod in Hawaiian notice the front fenders are also bobbed.
Auwe! That is a great photo from 1952! What a surprise. That's for sure a pic from Hawaii. Those are the kind of cane fields that used to cover most of all the major islands that the Hot Rod is sitting in front of. Grew up playing around in the stuff and it's unmistakable. Thanks for the post showrod. I really appreciate others input on this thread. Any more pics or text from those old mags?
Thanks Nobey! I checked it out on Ebay. I hope it goes to a good home with someone who has the resources to bring it back to its original glory. Its condition now is a long way from 1957!
I totally agree! If it was possible for someone to research original type parts like the generator, single master cylinder, front fenders etc and return the car to that configuration I believe the car would be worth alot more, plus the cool factor would be much higher.
Friend of mine showed me this article about the First Hawaii Motorama that appeared in the December 1957 issue of Rod And Custom magazine. In the last picture you can see the Haruo Morishige Roadster that I talked about earlier, on page 6 (post#103) of this thread. The car still survives and is now in California. And yes, there's the Dream Truck!