I have some some where. Which one you talking about? His B-ville car, the black roadster he built 25 yrs ago or the Veda Orr recreation?
I have pics somewhere from 20 years ago, when he came to Des Moines' Goodguys (or maybe the Midwest Nationals). I'll never find those pics though. I remember him discussing the "surgery" he performed on the body. Sounded outrageous back then, but that's what you have to do to save a real Henry body nowadays.
I traded Paul an original '32 roadster body for the chop job on my '32 2dr. It was a mess and was before Brookville came out with their repo one (or I would have kept it and rebuilt it myself). Anyway, Paul told me that his black roadster was in worse shape when he started on it. That was hard for me to imagine but after seeing the quality of the chop on my sedan I surely believe it. I also got a ride in his 270hp Chevy powered one (the one your inquiring about) and it was a time travel machine for sure, built much like one would have been done in the late fifties after the SBC was introduced. I believe he told me the quarters from the one I traded him ended up on his Bonneville car. Frank
Anyway, Paul told me that his black roadster was in worse shape when he started on it. That was hard for me to imagine but after seeing the quality of the chop on my sedan I surely believe it. Frank[/QUOTE] Believe it. I end up at Pauls house quite often and he always has something else he is working on everytime. And its always rare...And it always started out as a rusted out upside down car he found in the middle of a drainage ditch out west somewhere. His craftsmenship is amazing!
Is this the Paul Beck 32 Roadster? I met the gentleman that owned this roadster at Bonneville an number of years ago and he was very helpful when I told him I was building a 32. HemiDeuce.
that looks like his car. I saw the Veda Orr car before it was the Veda car. I remember seeing that the qtrs were made from 7 or 8 pieces welded together.
it was a lot more than that as i remember it... helluva of a builder and a helluva guy. he's taught me a lot. could'nt find any pics of his Roadster but here he is helping GMGrunt (Jeff) fix some bent up old fenders for Jeff's 36 Ford coupe... Jeff looks like a hippie.
thanks thats the one.You can see the early Chevy air cleaner. Thanks for the replies guys,its cool to hear stories about a true craftsman.
yup. it was Blue and Silver when Paul owned it. it's on the cover of the January 2001 Rod & Custom. he built it for $5k! true story. in fact he said he actually had less than that into. he would fix up parts that other people would deem unsaveable. he is amazing!
I know this is not a 32 ford roadster but it is an example of Paul Becks talent this was a 4 door 33 willys when he started.
Paul is a hell of a nice guy. When I was 18, he took me for a ride in his black roadster out on the salt...made my day. Love that roadster.
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