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History Is the Joe Gemsa T roadster still around?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by alchemy, Jan 12, 2013.

  1. Austinrod
    Joined: Jun 14, 2012
    Posts: 2,356

    Austinrod
    Member
    from Austin

  2. Absolutely wild!

    Can anyone figure out what steering box is in it, or what main caps are used to hold the box down?

    Since my frame is the exact same, I'm trying to figure out my steering.
     
  3. GuyW
    Joined: Feb 23, 2007
    Posts: 687

    GuyW
    Member

    Thanx for the notification. Do you know what magazine that article is from?
     
  4. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,569

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Listed as a 29? and doesn’t have the OHC in it.
     
  5. GuyW
    Joined: Feb 23, 2007
    Posts: 687

    GuyW
    Member

    Was built before 1964 as well. Its not the same car without Gemsa's mill in it.
     
  6. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,310

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california

    The original engine had a single overhead cam "Gemsa" head.
    The engine in it now is a rocker arm " Gemsa" head.
    They both use the same head casting!
    The original exhaust is still on it.
     
  7. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,307

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nice to know it is still out there, hope it finds a nice new home.

    Bob
     
    bowie likes this.
  8. modelAsteve
    Joined: Jan 9, 2009
    Posts: 382

    modelAsteve
    Member

    I believe the present owner knows where the original motor is. As I remember it's in New York.
     
  9. RussTee
    Joined: Mar 25, 2008
    Posts: 1,241

    RussTee
    Member

    I have a Gemsa built Rutherford head it goes well and produces a lot of torque unfortunately its not that good for the street as it is a bit twitchy it goes best with Winfield SR carbs it all about the airflow.
     
    GuyW and tractorguy like this.
  10. Allan Sasson
    Joined: Jul 22, 2024
    Posts: 1

    Allan Sasson

    I know this is an old thread, but I went to look at a TR6 the other day and the guy had this T bucket in his yard under a cover with a Joe Gemsa air cooled airplane engine, would anyone know any info or history about this
    Attach0.jpeg Attach0.jpeg Attach0.jpeg Attach0.jpeg Attach0.jpeg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2024
    51 mercules and tractorguy like this.
  11. deucemac
    Joined: Aug 31, 2008
    Posts: 1,620

    deucemac
    Member

    I never met Gemsa, but a good friend mine, now deceased knew both Joe Gemsa and Wes Cooper and he was a banger fanatic himself and owned a 27 with a B block, C crank he told me that you never mentioned the other one while in the presence of the other. Although he liked Joe he felt he was a little flaky and preferred Wes. He bought and traded with both of them. The car he was building was a 27 roadster that had a timing tag from the last Muroc meet before the Army Air Force kicked them off because of WWII. When he died, everything went to his grandson and then disappeared. He had zillions of stories about both of them and a big banger stash of his own. I enjoyed all the time I spent with him and helping him play with the banger parts and other rare items destined for the build that never happened because of his death. As far as I can tell, most it not all the parts are still somewhere in the Imperial Valley around El Centro.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2024
  12. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,307

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was lucky to meet them both back in the 1970's. Guys you read about in Rod & Custom and a few small club newsletters. I had built this image of Joe Gemsa's machine shop that was such a failure once I saw it was two box trailers with the axles ripped out of them. He lived on a corner with a mailbox on two streets, home address and shop address on the other. Still think that is funny to this day. You wrote letter back in those days, and sent photos of projects, still have them, good times, good memories.
     
    GuyW likes this.
  13. Andrew Willits
    Joined: Oct 27, 2022
    Posts: 1

    Andrew Willits

    Does anyone know who bought this back in 2022? Or where it might be today? I have the original engine from this car and would like to connect with the cars current owner.
     
    51 mercules likes this.
  14. Stan Back
    Joined: Mar 9, 2007
    Posts: 2,611

    Stan Back
    Member
    from California

    Gemsa and son were strong competitors in Little Eliminator during the 60s at Fontana.
     
    51 mercules likes this.
  15. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,307

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER


    That would be nice to see, car & engine reunited.

    Bob
     
    51 mercules likes this.

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