SELLERS EQUIPPED WINDSHIELD

After much hand-wringing, waffling, and contemplation, I've decided on my windshield. I'm going to get a Seller's Equipped Hallock style.  Here's a shot of the car that convinced me, once and for all. Special thanks to fellow HAMBERs for weighing in, and to Steve Sellers who I chatted with today. More details to come. Oh, and here's a link
to a Hallock Registry I was directed to.

INTERIOR PERFECTION

Brian Bass and Sean Johnstun aka Fat Lucky's combined efforts on this deuce roadster. Words fail me. Let's just say this is the most beautifully restrained interior I've ever seen. And with that, enough words. Drink it up, gents. Extra props on the gauges. Perfection. It gets no better than this. Kudos on a beautiful car, Mr. Bass. Sean, you've just outdone yourself yet again. Damn impressive.

A FRAME SUITABLE FOR FRAMING

It's been a while since I've talked about the '29's frame. Marty South did a beautiful job and while it isn't entirely done yet, it's going to be badass. Note the small touches. The engine mounts, the front spring perch. I just came across these shots today and thought I'd throw a few shots into the blog. Can't wait to see my body, 327, 4-speed and 9" attached to this beauty. Special thanks to Marty South for doing such a nice job on it. More on this to come as we near getting the rear setup.

MAGNETO FOUND

Drew came across a Vertex Magneto with tach drive listed on Denver Craigs List last night for $500. Although it was well beyond my budget, I called on it and according to its owner, Troy, it was out of a big block Chevy that had been raced by a buddy of his. He also mentioned that he'd had it gone through, including purchasing a brand new cap for $65.oo. I explained that I was planning on having whatever magneto I ulltimately buy "gone through" by French Grimes, who has been coaching me on finding a suitable used candidate for rebuilding. Frankly, I was hoping I could get him down on his price. This morning, we went to take a look and while I'm no expert, we pulled the cap and everything did indeed look spotless. Small blemishes on the outside body of the unit but clearly it has not seen hard use. The cap appeared brand new. I made him what I felt was a fair offer explaining that I'd be sending it off to be gone through and have it set-up for six degrees advance for my street-driven 327. My initial offer was less than half of asking and when he came back at $300, I knew the haggling was over. I bought it for three bills. Next stop for this magneto will be French Grimes. The manufacturer of this unit was Ronco, Blue Bell, PA. and its stamped with a factory serial number. Hopefully, the coil won't need replacing and it'll check out as to be as good as it looks. I'll keep you posted as to how the bill ends up looking after my Vertex expert test it out. 

I hope this sucker ain't a turd. Until then, enjoy the photos. 

TBD

SCORED A GREAT VINTAGE SHIFTER

Forty years old and unused.

All the original paperwork and packaging was intact.

Last night at a quarter to midnight, an ad for a Hurst Competition Plus shifter popped up on Denver Craigslist. It didn't have an e-mail contact so I called this morning just after nine and left a message. Robert called me back. The price seemed fair so I asked him if it included linkages. He said he'd check. When he returned he said that all the linkages were still "in the box" with the shifter. I aksed him if it was in the original box. He said yes and that it had sat on a shelf in his garage unused for about forty years.
I beat a path to his house in Aurora, CO. When I arrived, I was amazed by what I saw. It looked like the the shifter had sat in its box on a shelf for forty years. There was a brochure, instructions, some small parts still sealed in a plastic bag and other than the knob itself looking a tad aged, it was absolutely perfect. The rods and all transmission connectors were intact, as was an unused warranty card. As Robert explained, he had bought the shifter for his 55 Chevy's Muncie 4-speed, which had a 327 in it at the time. Instead of installing the shifter, he subsequently swapped a 454 into the car and never used the 4-speed shifter. I had planned to offer him less than he was asking but when I saw it, I didn't have the heart. Good thing too, because when I handed him the cash, he mentioned that a ton of callers were lined up behind me, but since I called first, he wanted to give me first shot at it. The remainder of February's parts budget is now officially spent, and quite well I might add. Sometimes you just get lucky. 

Even the layout of the brochure feels old school.

Even the packaging is in decent shape.

HOMEWARD BOUND --A new thematic thought for the roadster

As those who know me can attest, restraint is not my strong suit. Case in point, the tiki truck. Practical?
Not really. But boy was it fun to build. Sure, it would have been cool without the whole tiki motif, but would it have had the ability to polarize crowds? To strike the hot or cold nerve in people? I think not. Nobody is middle ground on Ratiki. They either love it or they hate it. And frankly, that's what makes it so much fun to drive. Which leads to an thematic idea I've had in the back of my mind for quite some time now. What if, instead of painting the roadster a lime green color, which I've touched upon throughout this blog, I instead established a theme for the car that has less to do with color? And what if that theme afforded me an opportunity to make choices based on the theme? The idea is to call the car "Homeward Bound", and the car could be adorned with tattoo style art. Think Sailor Jerry style. Design touches could be vaguely nautical. A duvall-style boat windshield. A vintage boat steering wheel. The interior could have a Polynesian influence, even use barkcloth and Seagrass, feeling kinda Polynesian in influence. What if the car's design had the same influences that returning soldiers brought home with them from the war? Suddenly, the point would be less about what color I'm painting it, but rather what feels right for that theme. Maybe a simple color like a light bamboo color would feel appropriate. The name "Homeward Bound" also captures a feeling of homesickness, which may be why it's resonating with me. I miss my West Coast. I miss Austin. Perhaps "Homeward Bound" speaks to my sense of being in a strange place and wanting to get back to the things I love. So there you have it. That's the thought that has been rolling around in my head.