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History Information Please

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ford Blue, Jun 2, 2018.

  1. Ford Blue
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 37

    Ford Blue
    Member

    I have recently acquired this 1954 Ford. It is Ted Well's old car. It still has the complete fiberglass frontend. Any information about the car or Ted, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks IMG_2131.jpg IMG_2132.jpg IMG_2133.jpg
     
    Pufff, 1964countrysedan and wvenfield like this.
  2. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,138

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

  3. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    Wow. My favorite Adam 12 episode, of course. Reed kicks Ed Wells' Camaro's ass.
     
    lo c dan likes this.
  4. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    First time I saw that Adam 12 was purely by accident. Man, 'Reed' was travelin' as he went across that finish line...
    I read on the 'Ted info' that this car weighed 3800 lbs.???
    This is a light tudor sedan, with a 'glass front end, and an axle up front IIRC.
    (The convertibles and hardtops had the extra X-member in the frame, which added 'some' weight. Still not that heavy.) FOB delivery weight of a coupe/tudor was 3204 lbs.
    My son bought me a '54 Ford coupe, for Father's Day, 1992. Some engine parts, too...
    Now it is to be equipped with my newly prepped 406/heavy 3 speed top loader.
    1/2 ton lighter than my '63-1/2 Galaxie (4200 lbs.)
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2018

  5. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    That 3800 lbs is a bit stiff. A .030 over 406 block with a 3.784 stroke comes out to 395.4 ci. That bore and stroke combo would allow the use of a modified 391 FT crank.
     
  6. Lou kriger
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 914

    Lou kriger

    That ran 10:70’s in 74. Amazing! I wouldn’t think it could go that fast—-even if you dropped it out of an Airplane @ 30 thousand feet! 3800lbs-10.70’s that perty quick...Somebody was wringin it out.!


    Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
     
  7. Lou kriger
    Joined: Mar 16, 2009
    Posts: 914

    Lou kriger

    I’ve always been told if you want to make a Ford Fly, you better have a BIG wallet. Any truth to that rumor.


    Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
     
    Truckdoctor Andy likes this.
  8. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    I would guess that the weight would be much closer to 2800, especially with the fiberglass parts and maybe a gutted interior.
     
    Texas Webb likes this.
  9. Ford Blue
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 37

    Ford Blue
    Member

    Any idea on value? The car has the original tubs, roll bar, rear end (minus the third member) and fuel tank. Not much rust, considering the outside storage. Thanks!
     
  10. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,257

    corncobcoupe
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    What the seller will sell it for and what you are willing to pay is what the value is.
    From scrap price to parts price to project price.
    Seriously….250,000 plus members, 250,000 plus opinions.
     
    Uncle Bob likes this.
  11. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    The car would hold some sort of premium based upon the known history. What that would be is not something I could guess. Cool car and hopefully it gets the attention is should get.
     
  12. Ford Blue
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 37

    Ford Blue
    Member

    I would like to see the car returned to its racing heritage. I have a Polaroid of the car about 35 years ago. I have information from NHRA.com on the car and from here on the HAMB. It was on an episode of Adam 12 racing a 1967 Camaro. Does anyone know if Ted Wells is still around?
     
  13. Ford Blue
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 37

    Ford Blue
    Member

    No Axle up front, A arm, factory style suspension. However the rear has tubular locating arms similar to the Thunderbolts.
     
  14. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    More pics would help. Does it have a title?
     
  15. Ford Blue
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 37

    Ford Blue
    Member

    IMG_2637.jpg IMG_2638.jpg IMG_2640.jpg IMG_2647.jpg IMG_2648.jpg IMG_2650.jpg IMG_2652.jpg Sorry for the delay, I am getting the Title now. I have attached more pics. Does anyone know if Ted Wells is still around?
    I just watched the Adam 12 episode called "Who Won" on Hulu. This car is in it and, as you guys have stated, there are several good cars in these shows. They certainly don't build them like they used to!!

    Thanks for any info, pics or ? that regard to the "54 Ford.
    I am going to end up selling the car, just need to find the right sites along with the HAMB to get the best exposure.
     
    mgtstumpy and Pufff like this.
  16. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    Neat car! 1/2" household copper water line as fuel line from the tank?

    I'd drop a Big Block/stick in it, and drive it to work!
     
    Texas Webb likes this.
  17. Pufff
    Joined: Sep 6, 2012
    Posts: 153

    Pufff

    Back up with more info, & some repeating.
    Ted Wells was from Tarzana/LA Ca. and later moved to Wichita Ka. The 54 originally had a built 352 Fe engine with a home made tunnel ram, made with a Weber 8 pack manifold as a platform. He named the car "Excedrin Headache #1320, which was displayed on the back glass. He later built a de-stroked 427 FE engine (396") and ran it. Transmission was a 4spd top loader that he did some machine work on, it had a Weber clutch & Hurst shifter. The rear 3rd member was also home made by Ted do to his destruction of stock Ford 3rd members. The "Valley Head Service" on the rear quarters is who he worked for. (Larry Ofria). And I'm not positive but I think "Canyon Ford" on the doors was their race club? The black cat on the front fenders was a token to his wife "Kitty", who was also an AHRA drag racer with her 57. When Ted built his 66 Fairlane 427 S/S drag car, he put a 352 FE with a 4v back in the 54 with a C6, and Kitty raced it. The home made tunnel ram went on the 66 Fairlane, which was later bought and raced by Bud Cochran up in Ohio. Ted's step daughter Nancy who helped Ted & Kitty at the drags when she was a kid and teenager, also got into drag racing, and has spent her adult life (except for time off raising kids) as Funny Car driver. She lives in Texas and is still racing Nitro Funny Cars. Her name is Nancy Matter. Nancy said her step dad never missed a shift, and was often contested by other racers over his smooth methodical shifting.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2020
    bchctybob, harpo1313, lostone and 5 others like this.
  18. Pufff
    Joined: Sep 6, 2012
    Posts: 153

    Pufff

    Car Craft March 1971 has four pages on Ted's 54. Does anyone know for sure which issue of Super Stock & Hot Rod magazines also had articles on Ted Wells 54 Ford?
    Thanks,
    Zane.
     
    town sedan likes this.
  19. Pufff
    Joined: Sep 6, 2012
    Posts: 153

    Pufff

    According to Ted, actual weight of the car was 3270 lbs. While setting at the light he would rev rpms to a static 6000, and on the last yellow hit 8000-8300 and launch. He would make first shift at 6000-6500, 2nd shift at 6500, and third shift at 7000, going through the traps at 7100.
     
    bchctybob likes this.
  20. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 2,820

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    Awesome job pufff !! Not my car but even I appreciate the history you provided !!!!
     
    bchctybob likes this.
  21. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,442

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    Man he had some big ones...
     
  22. DRAG.INC
    Joined: Jan 14, 2007
    Posts: 52

    DRAG.INC
    Member

    did you ever sell it?
     

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