Art & Inspiration What makes your car or cars unique?

May be the only 51 chopped with 47 Chevy back glass..

 

Hello,

The 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery was unique in that there were no other sedan deliveries in all of our cruising areas and many road trips we took to places in So Cal. Most people did not like sedan deliveries because it was a work/business related vehicle that looked like a real 1940 Ford sedan, but with differences. Everything was the same, except for the huge hollow chamber behind the front seats.

That private area behind the seats came in handy many times over the 5 years of ownership. It was a surf related form of transportation that started out as a powerful hot rod in Bixby Knolls. The previous owner had installed a big 348 Chevy motor and 3 speed LaSalle transmission. The motor made sounds that no other hot rod had, cruising in that drive-in parking lot.

When it was sitting in the premier back row spot, it just stood out in style and design. When it fired up, everyone took notice. When it left the parking lot, the powerful sound of the 348 just hung in the air all the way down the block. That was one main reason there was a big smile on my face…that was the hot rod I wanted to own. Plus, no other sedan delivery compared or was even in the whole cruising area. Who drives a sedan delivery except for guys delivering parts or painting your house. It was unique to say the least.

Jnaki

Then one weekend night, the sedan delivery was for sale. What???? I immediately inquired and the price was sky high for the times and my savings account. Who had that kind of 1960 money as a teenager? All dreams were dashed and hope was going down the street. I knew the owner, as he went to my junior high school and high school, one class above me. But, no amount of bidding was going to win him over. No one else had the met the cost to buy the sedan delivery, so I felt safe.

After weeks of squabbling over the price, the owner decided to sell the sedan delivery to me, but instead of that big 348 motor, a stock Flathead would be put back in place. With everything else going on, the Flathead solved several problems for both of us.

The former owner could use the 348 for another drag racing build he was planning. One problem solved… And, now, we could go on surfing road trips without the constant glare of a couple of guys/girls arriving in a pristine 58 Chevy Impala. That implication was one that was hard to live down, except for the fact that the Impala was very cool and unique. Also, we were better surfers than 95% of the guys in the water.

Well, after the exchange, I could afford to buy it, with 200 less horsepower. So, that made the 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery unique… Now, I was the owner of a hot rod that was one of the fastest cars in Bixby Knolls to one of the slowest ones around. It was one unique hot rod I could live with, that had the “slow” connotation.

 

They say the only difference between men and boys, is the size of their toys; I can't think of anyone, other than Moriarity, that that's more true. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

I don't think its unique but it is different, flathead towing a flathead

 

I guess maybe these Rudy Sumpter Reed Engineering shocks. I'm still trying to find out more about them but they were on the car when it was first built in 1952.

 

@Moriarity I was literally bumping this thread!




I've always admired skilled craftsman and creative thinkers and so my coupe is a combination of a lot of stolen ideas inspiration from unique details of cars/builders from the eras I love.

I could point out 50+ details that are inspired by others but with my spin (or Seret's or Hartman's).

The taillight access door using a 35/36 Ford is my own, tie down, and trunk-mounted battery kit are my own.







There's more but in reality the car is just a combo of what I like from other cars/builders (Maratta, Kiwi Kev, Davies, McMullen, Bass, Seret, Hartman and MANY others) and that combination sets it apart.

 

does nt have a redesigned LS beer can engine in it

 

I feel Ya

 

Not a whole lot actually unique about my 53. Has cliche 350/350 combo. Has cliche red and black color scheme. Cliche lakes pipes and spinner hubcaps. Does have the shift knob equivalent of my wife lol. It is unique in that not a single panel aside from bumper splash pans have been off the car since it was built in 1953. Also belonged to one of the first black school teachers to teach integrated classes after integration in Arkansas. He also was a bit of a bad ass doing three tours in Vietnam as a paratrooper. Car itself was unique as it originally had factory power steering.

 

I guess something else unique is my radio knobs are custom made from custom made dice with my own design jolly Roger. And after Friday with the help of a fellow hamb member my wife will have a matching tattoo on her ring finger

 

[AT] Mine is different because of several things. I always thought 34 Chevy hood sides were much prettier than 33-34 fords. Also, 34 chevy dash's were much prettier than Fords. A lot of guys use the 41-48 chevy taillight but The 40 chevy light [turned on it;s side] has that angled lens that I like.

 

Just a F#$$Kin Old Rebuild Dodge

 

It still has the Econoline axel from its gasser days and it is not another "Christine" clone. The blue paint is lacquer I applied in 1981. The car has been mine since 1964.

 

My RPU is unique because the bed is welded to the body

 

Iv'e seen lots of Y blocks with 2 x 4's. Iv'e never seen one with 4 X 2's.

 

Mine isn’t very unique other than still having the paint Ford sprayed on it and the accessories that were put on it in 1956 like a spotlight and peep mirrors. Otherwise, it’s just an old Ford…

 

You don't see many 1928 Mercury Torpedoes hot rodded. This one is the upscale Salon . . .

 

I like to make stuff so my cars have alot of hand made parts. May not be as shiny as 1-800 parts, but it's a big reason I'm in this hobby.

Gary

 

I don’t know if 2 extra adapters count? But they look cool!

 

I still say that car embodies my mental image when I think average late fifties/early sixties mild custom

 

My 5 Window Coupe has molded rear fenders. If you look closely, that’s not a skirt, it’s all one piece.

ironandsteele.com ​

 

How bout having the only known running Akron-Hed (HAL) overhead valve conversion for a Model T? Complete with custom machined Winfield Model S carbs, intake manifold, rocker arm conversion, water pump… basically everything but the engine block and head castings!

 

That thing is gorgeous!

 

Mine are both not Fords and they are powered by V8s that aren’t Chevys

 

I like how you customized that 57 chevy

 

Kind of unique, considering my Cabriolet has much less storage than my old Sedan Delivery, I built the spare tire carrier as a locking tool box.

 

1953 Cadillac Wire Wheels restored by Dayton, Wheel Co., Stock A.M. Radio Etc.