Fixed a little carburetor issue on fab32’s old sedan then took a ride out to his shop. Since the coupe is sort of running and driving I backed it out so they could get acquainted. This is the first time these two have been photographed together. Frank drove the wheels off the sedan, but he never touched the coupe again after it was parked in 1977. I’ve been wanting to see these two side by side for a long time. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Great pics , great cars , but that deuce chassis is lookin' a little lonely layin' da weeds.............
They both belonged to a close friend and prolific HAMBer Frank Burrell or Fab32 as most here knew him. He built the sedan 20 years ago kind of street rod underneath. 350/400 with a posi F body rear end. Disc brakes, four bar front, coil over rear. Great driving car with a perfect stance. Sadly Frank passed away in January 2015 and in the spring his wife asked if I’d like to buy it. I couldn’t say yes fast enough and I’ve been enjoying it for three years now. I think of him every time I drive it. The coupe was built around 1967, Frank bought it in ‘77 (a week after I was born) He drove it a little, then cooked the engine waiting for a freighter on a drawbridge here in town. The car never moved again. I work out of his shop and last year I asked his wife if I could build it for Autorama Detroit this year? She said yes, and I started on it. The chassis was horrible to I saved the rails, put them in the jig and made a whole new chassis and rear suspension. It was really sketchy. It has a ‘69 Mustang 9” with Moser axles, Richmond 3.70 gears and a spool. I raided his parts pile and grabbed a Malcuit 358 race engine from a pavement Super Late Model that made over 600 HP on the dyno. I tamed it a little with a tri power and Corvette rams horns but it’s probably still over 500 horse. It has a ‘68 Camaro SS Muncie M21 close ratio 4 speed behind it. The ‘62 Corvette Honduras Maroon sprayed in ‘67 was brought back to life by a local painter who buffed it out. The old coupe drove for the first time in 40 years move in day at Autorama. I promised his wife I’d drive it into Cobo Hall and I did. Lots of work still to do, but it’s getting there. I only wish he was here to see it. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I believe Frank would be pleased with what you have done with his old sedan and ecstatic with the way the coupe turned out. You done good! HRP
Both look great and the 5W is inspiration for mine whenever I get to it. Now his is simply my personal opinion but the difference under different lighting conditions of maroon paint is why I prefer Burgundy. Maroon with natural light and brownish with fluorescents. And as I've said before maroon is an anglicized version of the French word for chestnut which we all know are brown.