OUR 1938 FORD STANDARD COUPE

Part 1: From about 1965 to the day we drug her home

There is one thing that never changes about an old car; the prior owners will always hunt you down and, with a smile on their faces, will lightly caress the faded paint while telling you its history and what it meant to them. This is our coupe's story.
About 1965, give or take a year or so, the coupe began it's transformation into a street rod.The uncle of the owner at that time (seen at right) knew his way around a body shop and worked his magic on the '38.
The coupe was built like many of the street and hot rods of that, and an earlier, time; find what we can use and, if it works, we will use it. Friends helped friends build the car and there was no jealousy or criticism directed at the owner. It was fun.
The interior was green naugahyde (from the rare and little seen green Nauga) accented by a seat with matching fabric from a school bus resting on pine 2 by 6's. (see picture at right) A wood steering wheel from what appears to be a mid-20's Ford truck is attached to a column hanging from a filled 1939 Ford dash with mid-50's pickup gauges.

Rumor has it (and it may have been confirmed) that the fuel line was not properly tightened on the coupe's first trip from the body shop. You guessed right; the fire caused more than a little damage to the recently dechromed and painted hood. Despite this setback, the result was enough to make the heart of any walking bag of hormones of the time to beat faster. (check out the other coupe in the driveway)
During the 60's, the coupe was the fastest car in the central Dakotas (according to one owner) and was powered by a 348. I asked this owner why the hood had a couple of holes drilled in it. He told me that he always had a problem with other racers stealing (or borrowing) items from under the hood so he attached a hasp and a padlock to keep prying hands away.
The coupe went through many owners over the years and was stored in a shed for over 5 years until we saw it advertised for sale on a grocery store bulletin board.
A call to the owner, a quick trip 20+ miles south of town, and a check made the coupe ours. It ran when it was stored but, because it then had a 327, I didn't want to take the chance that it would blow. Sarah also mentioned that the brakes may not have been in the best of shape. So it was towed.
The neighbors wondered what I was going to do with "that junker" and if I intended to leave it in front of the house. I just smiled and told them it would stay there only long enough to let the mice leave. They didn't feel any better.
The car didn't look like it did in1965. But I didn't either. There were more dents and  a lot of bondo. I could count at least 3 new layers of paint. Repro '40 Ford headlights with sealed beams and welded tube "bumpers" were added but not a lot else had changed. It still had the '58 Chevy taillights frenched in the rear fenders, the 1939 dash, the wood steering wheel, and, of course, the green interior with the bus seat. Other than a newer gear shift, the"original" interior was still there. (see the last photo)
It did not take too many days before the neighbors were happy when the coupe was gutted of its interior in our driveway and then pushed inside the garage.
Others saw a rusted hulk of a once proud street machine. I saw what it finally turned out to be. These cars are like life itself; don't let the rust, layers of paint, or bowlingball-size dents convince you that you cannot realize your dreams. Those who cannot dream or fulfill their vision will end their days like many of these treasures of the past; sitting, rusting, and waiting for the crusher.
Next time we start the teardown and the frame build-up.

About 1965, + or -

25 years later