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
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.)
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.
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.
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.
I would guess that the weight would be much closer to 2800, especially with the fiberglass parts and maybe a gutted interior.
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!
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.
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.
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?
No Axle up front, A arm, factory style suspension. However the rear has tubular locating arms similar to the Thunderbolts.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.