History Research help for build on 1927 Roadster from 1958 Oakland Roadster Show

lucky_1974 · Sep 22, 2011

I got this car in Late Oct 2004 from a HAMBer who picked up but decided to pass it along(more here if you are interested:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33161&referrerid=1059) and have been doing research on the car on and off for 7 years, I feel I almost have enough information to do a pretty faithful restoration of the car. The car was built and owned by 2 members of the Lancers car club (not confirmed if this is the same Lancers as the Hollywood Lancers with members such as Dick Kraft, etc. http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Lancers)
The car is credit with Mike Lopez as the owner (1952 Motorama) and then redone by Ray Lisea for the 1958 Oakland Roadster Show. I know it was at other events but have not been able to confirm any locations or dates.

Before I go on I want to thank several people on the HAMB that have helped and without them I would likely be at a deadend. First Titus (Jeff Bloedorn) he found the original Magazine the car was featured in and on the cover (Jan 1959 RODBUILDER & CUSTOMIZER), second Raysson (Scott Lisea) This is Ray Lisea son he provided some good background and photos and also informed me it was in the May 1958 issue of Hot Rod as part of the coverage of the 1958 Oakland Roadster show. I also want to thank HEMI32 (Todd Olson) for helping with pictures and helping with leads, JimmyB (Jimmy Barter) for finding pictures and information on the car from the 1952 Motorama when Mike Lopez seemed to have owned the car. Lastly I want to thanks JiveBomber (whos real name I dont know but should) for letting me harass him about getting information from his original 1958 Oakland Roadster Show program. I have not gotten the information yet but I know once he gets settled from his move he will help me out!

I thought I would put all the pictures I have up and also a list of all the details I know and dont know and let people add, argue or suggest what they think is correct. So any help to fill in the blanks would be helpful and if you think I got it wrong tell meplease! I plan on pulling parts I have collected together this winter and see how things start progressing. I really hoped to get a good lead on what the chassis/frame so hopefully it is alluded to in the program Jivebomber has.

Details of the Car
Known:
Wheels: 14 steel rims 5x5.5
Hubcaps:1957 Dodge Lancer 14
Dash: 1936 Ford
Steering Wheel:1951 Ford (ROD BUILDER & CUSTOMIZER Jan 1959)
Engine: 1948 Merc
Front Axle: Have Original
Front Brakes Merc: Have original
Front and rear wishbones: Have original
Body: Have Original
Grill: 1939 Chrysler
Taillights & License plate lights: Have original

Unknown:
Tire size:
Steering Wheel: 1950 Crestliner ??(1952 Motorama photo)
Steering Column / Steering box: likely a cross steer box since pitman arm is up (1950 or 1951 ford maybe based on steering wheels)
Intake:
Heads:
Transmission:??? (looks like toploader)
Pedals:
Frame/Chassis:???
Rearend:??? Parts came with Olds rear axle not sure of originality as chrome wishbones were welded directly to axle and looked very crude also noted chrome backing plates in one picture and current rear has no chrome backing plates.
Hood: Looks all custom
Headlights: tractor headlights
Splash aprons:

lucky_1974 · Sep 22, 2011

More pics

R&C RON · Sep 22, 2011

Lucky....I discovered your thread today and knew right away I had an old picture of the car in my collection. I did some research and was able to add a little info to its history. Here is what I found.......
The Roadster was entered by Mike Lopez in the 1952 Oakland Roadster Show.

I looked thru my 1958 Oakland Program and there was no listing for the car, it was probably a late entry and did not make the program! (This happened a lot) I did find however the car was entered in the Fresno Show a few months later and did make the program!

I applaud you for taking the time to research the car and restore it to its former glory!
RON

lucky_1974 · Sep 22, 2011

Wow Ron thanks so much! So it is a 32 frame. I need to look at pictures more but maybe it is z'd in the front as that reveal still looks more like a splash apron but a 32 frame makes more sense with the way the bones are attached.

titus · Sep 22, 2011

Awsome, now the fun part, building it!

jeff

lucky_1974 · Sep 23, 2011

titus said: ↑

Awsome, now the fun part, building it!

jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks again Jeff! Looks like I need to run down a 32 frame.

slim53 · Sep 23, 2011

Those fenders are crazy. Are going to build the early version or the old one?

40 & 61 Fords · Sep 23, 2011

This kind of stuff that happens on here that makes me LOVE this place. It's great when a guy can find out the complete history and old photos of a project he bought with the help of people around the world.
Now you'll have to decide if you want to do the early or late version. Personally, I'd do the later, but the Pebble Beach judges would probably rather see the earlier one!!!!!!!!

LANCE-SPEED · Sep 23, 2011

What a cool car and history!

jipp · Sep 23, 2011

yes cool indeed. i like what he did to the wish bones.. simple way to stiffen them up. and give its own image.. cool.. good luck on the build.
chris.

lucky_1974 · Sep 23, 2011

Thanks for all the support.

So I really am questioning that this is a 32 frame. Look at the picture the reveal is the wrong angle, and the way there is a bossing around were the tie rods attach to the frame really suggests some type of modified splash aprons. I have never seen a bossing like this done and and wondering how they would have done it on the 32 frame, sheet metal seems more likely given the tooling the average hotrodder had in 1951, 1952.

The car sits well on a model a frame and the "A" pillar even would bolt up to the frame and it put the rear in the correct spot for a spring behind the axle setup which is what was there if you look at how the sheetmetal is shaped on the back of the body. I also note that there are 2 rivets behind the rear bones and I have no idea what they are for but then this make me think maybe it is the frame. Last thing is at the where the hood meets the frame it looks like the there is a seem like a splash apron over a frame..thoughts?

lucky_1974 · Sep 24, 2011

Another picture...before the pinstripping on the nose...

fleet-master · Sep 24, 2011

really cool car Lucky!! i'm subscribing ,looking forward to watching your progress on returning this jewel to former glory

HEMI32 · May 1, 2018

@lucky_1974 -

What a "coinkydink" ... just the other day I was thinking about your "Lopez / Lisea Roadster".

I'm glad to see you haven't let the project die ... and still plan on bringing it back to life!

PS: @R&C RON is the man!

sko_ford · Aug 20, 2012

Man that is cool

stephane-rod · Aug 25, 2012

Nice T

fordman1 · Feb 8, 2013

That is really cool! Any updates?

HEMI32 · May 1, 2018

@lucky_1974 -

Here's yet another color snapshot of the roadster .... this one was supposedly taken @ the 1952 Los Angeles Motorama:

volvobrynk · May 29, 2014

No Update? No news? No progress?

I really dig this car. That front is so nice, shure a one off.
I like it with fenders, I like it with out. I would'nt change much.
But that pyjamas pattern interior on that frontpage, that has to be a mistake.

That dosen't look as good at rest of the build!

Stogy · May 1, 2018

@lucky_1974 I was just revisiting a thread on an interesting hybrid Hotrod/Custom and your vintage survivor was posted by @Jimmy B along with a link to your thread...

I and many others here I am sure would be much interested in your progress on this vintage classic. You are very fortunate to have aquired it.

Please let us know...

Just a heads up...most of the thread reads well with most photos intact however there is a huge amount of text in the intitial opening post that could use an edit. Thanks in advance...

HEMI32 · May 1, 2018

Stogy said: ↑

... I and many others here I am sure would be much interested in your progress on this vintage classic ...
Click to expand...

@Stogy -

Just an FYI that @lucky_1974 is selling this project:

Here's his H.A.M.B. Classified Ad:

Jan 1959 RODBUILDER & CUSTOMIZER Magazine Cover Car "Lisea Roadster"

For more of the story (& more pics), checkout his original thread about the car:

Was my car a former movie star???Hot Rods to Hell (1967)

... and here's yet another thread about the car:

Information on my Model T and Opinions on Restoring a Historically Documented Hot Rod

Stogy · Dec 2, 2020

Thanks @HEMI32 for the heads up...I wish I was the guy for this project however I have my hands full with my current Hotrod but I really think that is one heck of an interesting project and priced very fairly. Personally that full fendered rendition oozes cool to me and as others have said it stands its own without too.. It is well documented visually and otherwise for a revival and I can only hope that would be its destiny...

lucky_1974 · May 2, 2018

Stogy said: ↑

Thanks @HEMI32 for the heads up...I wish was the guy for this project however I have my hands full with my current Hotrod but I really think that is one heck of an interesting project and priced very fairly. Personally that full fendered rendition oozes cool to me and as others have said it stands its own without too.. It is well documented visually and otherwise for a revival and I can only hope that would be its destiny...
Click to expand...

Thanks guys! Yeah I hope it gets into the right hands to see it get back on the streets.

History Research help for build on 1927 Roadster from 1958 Oakland Roadster Show

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

Attached Files:

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

Attached Files:

R&C RON Member from Castro Valley Calif.

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

titus Member from stillwater mn

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

slim53 Member from Bloomington, MN

40 & 61 Fords Member from HAMB Lake, MN

LANCE-SPEED Member from (QUADA) LA HABRA, CA

jipp Member from Arizona Apache Junction

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

Attached Files:

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

Attached Files:

fleet-master Member from Outram,New Zealand

HEMI32 Member from Bay Area, California HAMB Old Farts' Club The DOG - Deuce Owner's Group Landspeed Addicts Early Hemi Tech Hot Rods of The Dry Lake Era

sko_ford Member from west fargo nd Modifieds The Little Pages Tech Archive

stephane-rod Member from france

fordman1 Member from Portland, OR

HEMI32 Member from Bay Area, California HAMB Old Farts' Club The DOG - Deuce Owner's Group Landspeed Addicts Early Hemi Tech Hot Rods of The Dry Lake Era

volvobrynk Member from Denmark

Stogy ALLIANCE MEMBER from Ontario, Canada

HEMI32 Member from Bay Area, California HAMB Old Farts' Club The DOG - Deuce Owner's Group Landspeed Addicts Early Hemi Tech Hot Rods of The Dry Lake Era

Stogy ALLIANCE MEMBER from Ontario, Canada

lucky_1974 Member from Maplewood, MN, USA

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lucky_1974
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from Maplewood, MN, USA

lucky_1974
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from Maplewood, MN, USA

R&C RON
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from Castro Valley Calif.

lucky_1974
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from Maplewood, MN, USA

titus
Member

from stillwater mn

lucky_1974
Member

from Maplewood, MN, USA

slim53
Member

from Bloomington, MN

40 & 61 Fords
Member

from HAMB Lake, MN

LANCE-SPEED
Member

from (QUADA) LA HABRA, CA

jipp
Member

from Arizona Apache Junction

lucky_1974
Member

from Maplewood, MN, USA

lucky_1974
Member

from Maplewood, MN, USA

fleet-master
Member

from Outram,New Zealand

HEMI32
Member

from Bay Area, California

HAMB Old Farts' Club

The DOG - Deuce Owner's Group

Landspeed Addicts

Early Hemi Tech

Hot Rods of The Dry Lake Era

sko_ford
Member

from west fargo nd

Modifieds

The Little Pages Tech Archive

stephane-rod
Member

from france

fordman1
Member

from Portland, OR

HEMI32
Member

from Bay Area, California

HAMB Old Farts' Club

The DOG - Deuce Owner's Group

Landspeed Addicts

Early Hemi Tech

Hot Rods of The Dry Lake Era

volvobrynk
Member

from Denmark

Stogy
ALLIANCE MEMBER

from Ontario, Canada

HEMI32
Member

from Bay Area, California

HAMB Old Farts' Club

The DOG - Deuce Owner's Group

Landspeed Addicts

Early Hemi Tech

Hot Rods of The Dry Lake Era

Stogy
ALLIANCE MEMBER

from Ontario, Canada

lucky_1974
Member

from Maplewood, MN, USA