Customs STOP sayin' '38 fords are ugly. My 5W project sixties kustom.

I premise that my english is not perfect, I hope you all can understand.

Some guys here ask me to post a dedicated thread for my project, it's time to show what I'm doing, hoping someone in the future put in the folder "possible custom" '38 fords.

Little bit of hystory:
<O</O

It's march 2009, my '34 ford sedan delivery is pending why the frame is 100% junk and the project is really argue, I need better skills than I have and more tools for begin. I place the thread on hamb hoping to find more help, here in Italy who know how to restore one car in this condition ask lot of money, more than I can gain.
So I decided to look around for an easy project for begin and learn step a step.
<O</O
A lucky day one european hamber contac me, and finally I find what I'm looking for.

'38 ford coupe 5W full fendered in fine condition... yeah.. in the pictures..
But is near Italy! I ask for price and the deal is done.
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After one month the papers are ok and i receive the car at home. <O</O
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Continue..

 

Another car in bad condition but possible to do. It took 2 month to organize my "shop". I builded the following machine:
<O</O

- english wheel<O</O
- bead roller<O</O
- hammering table
- small round hammering table with hammer holes

I just have:

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- 3 in 1 sheet metal cutter, bender and ring roller<O
- lathe<O</O
- wood table<O</O
- wire welder
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I bought:
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- gas heater
- sandblaster
- LOT OF SHEET METAL

 

The goal is a long sectioned, chopped, slimmed, shaved classy Custom. Here are some pictures who inspired me:






















Soon project development.
Luca

 

It sounds like you have a very well equiped shop and know whats ahead of you, good luck and keep the progress pics coming.

There is nothing wrong with a 38, make it your's!

 

I love 38s, who says they are ugly?

 

Maybe not THE best looking but I like 'em plenty.




Doc.

 

We used to call the '38' club coupes ugly ducklings. Your '38' deluxe businessmans coupe is in the same condition as mine (the one in my avatar) was.

Like many others I thought the '39' coupes were the best looking early Ford, until I parked mine head to head with a '39' for a photo. That moment showed me the '38' has the better looking front, from the rear the '39' coupe has the longer lines which is a better look. From the side the extra length at the rear of the '38' rear guards save the squat line of the boot by making the whole appear longer. Unlike the '37' which has shorter guards.

Incidentally the body is the same as the '37' coupe, with some slight differences around the firewall for the front guards.

Good luck with your project, what you have in mind is a great look.

 

38's are badass sounds like your really in to the project keep us posted.

 

Parts & more

&#8217;63 cadillac 390
Tranny T5
bel air '55 steering and column
Instruments '49 mercury
chromed steelies chevy
Bench seat
10 bolt GM
I beam drop 4"
&#8217;38 henry frame
36 ford headlights
59 cadillac taillights
bias ply coker classic or 3 e 1/4 WW
Front end 100% custom &#8217;38 lasalle grille
rear end 100% custom
top chop 3" moving forward 4 & 1/2 the rear couple
Running board slimmed
sand interiors leccatissimi
Side pipes tunnelled 1/5
Fender skirts
Hidden hinges e handles
& more..

Let the project begin

I clean the body first. tons of mexican bondo.. smell like shit but I want to see the henry steel



Lift the body.. I want to take a look to the frame.



The frame look good, appear straight and in undeformed condition, only rust holes here and here but not bad.
Stock front end and rear end are destinated to my delivery progect.



rear end & front end



Bodywork:

I begin from the easy firewall, I want to encrese my skills on straight sheet metal first.



after. The work appear not clean but surely after sandblasting and spot weldings cleaning look better.



I want to take care of the tail. I have to encrease fenders lenght with custom design and make a blade style rear bumper, but first I have to restore the henry design.
Before



After



Updates come asap.
Luca

 

Coke-bottle-your English is a heck of a lot better than my Italian-and better than a lot of Americans!. Looks like you have a great project and the will and talent to complete it. Good luck with your build, and please continue to post pictures as you go along.

 

Lesser men would shy away from such a project....

GREAT START!

Keep us posted.

Rich

 

Looking good so far... I know you have more!

 

I will be in Pienza, Italy the last 2 weeks of July - how far is that from you? I would love to visit you and see this build in person .... fantastic! Are there other HAMB'ers that you know of that live in the Pienza area? Your English is very good, BTW ...

Staro' in Pienza le due ultime settimane di Luglio - mi piacerebbe vedere/visitarti e questa macchina - vive lontana da Peinza? Avevo un'automobile - ci sono piu' HAMB personi vicino a te o piu' vicino a Pienza? Mi scusa ma non posso practicare il mio italiano molto. Ciao ....

 

You have picked some good inspiration! Please keep us posted, your English is fine, better in fact than that of many Americans!

 

This project is looking good! Keep at it.

 

Luca, I love the overall concept. The look you are after is very elegant. Keep us informed. Bob

 

Thanks at all for the support! These pictures are old, the car actually is forward in the works!! I will post soon.

OT - @Bob let me have shissping cost -/OT

@TOM: you are welcome, I think 140 miles far, no more than 2 hours.. not bad, PM me if you want!

 

Can wait to see the new photos. You are doing a great job young man!

 

Luca, I have emailed you 2 times to get your address for shipping prices. Are you getting my regular emails? I may have some other parts for your build also. Bob

 

Your English is fine, and the pictures require no translation! You are obviously a very talented and skilled sheet metal worker. This is going to be an exceptionally nice car. Nothing wrong with '38 Fords. Both the Standards and Deluxes are good looking cars. I actually like the '38 Standard front end styling even better than '37, and I like '37s a lot.

 

Great job dude.

 

This is AWESOME. Good work and please keep going.

 

Yeah, your enthusiasm draw me to keep going to post OLD progress

So here it is the wire mask for simplify the sheet metal works, I've never imagine how hard is try to understand the sheet metal bending basics but after some trial an error the result is not bad. But I've a lot to learn!



masking for sheet metal cut



Tail panel cutted and ultimated



Sheet metal are now SIMILAR to the tail fender I want but I'm so far, lot of finishing still to do.




Luca

 

Damn , you are doing a really good job from what I can see . That 38 will be a show stopper for sure ! As for an ugly Ford , well there are no ugly Fords ! You have to keep those pictures coming . I really like the way you are going to build the 38 . It will be your's and there won't be another one like it ! That is what hot rods are all about ! Good Luck with your build . OH by the way , your English is better than a lot of people that live here in the U.S.A. !

RetroJim

 

You have my undivided attention, Coke-Bottle! I like what where you're going!

 

I for one, do not think they're ugly. Infact, I was also inspired to build a '37 Three window like the one Janes sketched up.

 

Lookin' good! Keep it up! It'll be one of the best looking '38's around!

 

You have some neat work going on there. I gotta bookmark this post.

 

I'm a 38 lover! Looking forward to watching your build. I like the direction you are going!

 

excellant work , keep it up , the car has come a long way from as delivered condition