Thread: Rise and fall of a great American hotrod

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Years ago I built a bugeye Sprite with a 289 Ford in it. Sold it to a Buddy when I went into the Service. Few years later I walk into a garage, and there is the Sprite sitting there. I told the owner of the garage "I built that car about 6 years ago." He tells me that is impossible, as he bought it from the guy who built it, and he even went into great detail how he made every little bracket and mounted all the parts!

So the guys are right. Don't believe everything you hear about your car. We rodders are notorious for stretching more than sheetmetal.

Don

All us geezers must have at least one of these stories. The '72 Chev p/u posted in my gallery was seen by a buddy of mine down in Sacramento a year or two after I'd let it go. He said he listened to the owner go on and on about how he'd done thus and so, then told him what he really knew about it's history.

Yup, done any number of cars right here in my own shop then later at some rod run or show here a new owner telling all about the history of the car and how hard he had worked building all the parts on it!!!! Friend of mine just this summer got back a drag car I built in '95.... He heard some very interesting stories about the origin and history of the car.

I'm back! (Was at a car show all day, had fun though, some photographer took 3D photos of the roadster & I, I am curious to see what it will look like - trippy!)

OK, I read all your posts, and I do agree 100% with everything said. I do however have to clarify a few points:

1- I am a very very smart person with extremely enquisitive mind and great attention to details. I do make a great detective. I thouroughly question, check and test any data that is given (3 times). I compare threads of each story given by each owner, to see if the DNA matches you know what I mean. I am waiting for a second phone conversation with that owner to get more details so I can assess how accurate the data is. I guess what I am saying is: Give me a little credit

2- Tracking the car as far back as 1979 I have spoken to many owners. No less than 7 people. There are other owners in between these 7 key people, but these guys only kept the car a month and basically passed it on "as is".
I know the car belonged to Eric Coceja since it's engine rebuilt at the 2002 NSRA Nationals was documented (with photos) on streetrodder.com I can recognize my car from these photos with NO doubt. I seperately talked to both his Dad and Eric and both their accounts matched 100% (and they gave me lots of details). From there, I carefully tracked back one owner at a time. None of these people are currently still in touch with each other so I asked about the purchase/sale details each time, to see if the data matched and to be sure that this is the same car. From there I asked more details about the car, how it looked like at the time, what was done to it, etc... I AM VERY VERY THOUROUGH. Most of these people offered to mail me photos of the car when they had it. That will also help.

3- Of course, the further back in time I regress, the more "fuzzy" things are. People don't remember details as well, some of these guys have owned and bought/sold SO MANY RODS they can't keep track. I was lucky one owner has cards of every rod he bought, and he is currently looking for the photo of the car, which he has in a card box. He said he sold MANY 32 roadters over the years (he is an older man) but only 3 had a fiberglass body. he usually only dealt with steel. because my car was half black (body) and half metallic green/blue (hood and nose) he was able to remember which of the 3 cars mine was. Yet, I asked him to trippple check his records one last time. Currently I am not 100% sure the green car on the cover is in deed my car, but so far odds are about 75%. I am still checking on a few things, just to be VERY sure. I checked the upper inside part of my hood last night, where the louvers are, the heat has pealed the black primer paint. Guess what color is underneath? Lighter Mettalic green/blue. So the descriptions given me were accurate.

4- IMPORTANT NOTE: None of the owners I spoke with told me they "built the car" themselves. Many right out confessed, they did NOTHING on the car, just bought it and sold it, or let it sit in their garage for 12 years, intending to "finish the project" but never getting around to it.

5- Terry, the oldest owner I have found so far, is a 65 year old retired teacher, and seems like a man with a good head on his shoulder, not the "bragging type". He did say the car in his area was the fastest of his group at the time. He also said his friend's roadster always beat him at shows, so that gives me some credibility because he was very willing to admit he was not winning, his friend's car was a better show car. Of course not to say it is not possible that he is lying, but I don't really see the point, since he no longer has the car, has not had it for over 20 years and did not himself sell it to me.

6- Ironically the guy who did sell it to me downplayed it. He forgot to mention about many of the original parts on the car. He even failed to tell me the rails were original 32. Not a very good seller !!


Well this post is way too long, but I thought I would mention all this so you guys have a better understanding of how I am going about this and that I am by no means "gullable". Everything will be tripple checked for accuracy.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

When you get the mag you'll learn the car on the cover and inside feature belonged to Brooks Cranmer in Milton, Mass. If he got $10k for just the body in the late '70's he's a god!! That's about what the price of a nicely done complete deuce with one of the much more desired bodies like a roadster, or either style coupe went for around then. But hey............that's what stories are all about! Kinda goes with the "nobody could beat it" line!

Bob, it sounds like you have a copy of that magazine. Would you be able to make me some good quality color copies of the cover and article? I can send you money via paypal to cover your expenses.

ALSO, are you able to take a quick digital shot of the cover and post it here? I might be able to recognise an element or two that might help me tell if this is the same car or not... (providing any of that car's elements remained on the car throughout all these years!!!)

We're going to have to start calling you "Cannon".

Originally Posted by HiboyGal

Bob, it sounds like you have a copy of that magazine. Would you be able to make me some good quality color copies of the cover and article? I can send you money via paypal to cover your expenses.

ALSO, are you able to take a quick digital shot of the cover and post it here? I might be able to recognise an element or two that might help me tell if this is the same car or not... (providing any of that car's elements remained on the car throughout all these years!!!)

Sorry, I'm in Vegas til the end of Nov and the mag is in Wa. Maybe Don will find his copy...............he works cheaper than me too!

Sorry, I'm in Vegas til the end of Nov and the mag is in Wa. Maybe Don will find his copy...............he works cheaper than me too!



Oh, suuuuuure, give it to old Don. He has LOTS of spare time and works dirt cheap. In fact, just send him a sandwich or some cookies and he will work his butt off.

Don

Originally Posted by HiboyGal

I am by no means "gullable". Everything will be tripple checked for accuracy.

We did not say you were stupid or gulliable ...
Just that you cannot believe everything you hear ...

Lots of folks buy/sell/trade cars like some folks change clothes ... details get lost or misplaced. Time also affects the memory. With over 25 years of owners and the changes in the car and the lives of the many previous owners ... anything can happen.

IMHO ... it does not really matter where it has been or what it has done ... Nor the DNA of the parts ( But at least it does have some original Henry Ford 1932 Ford parts DNA ... a lot of " so-called 32 roadsters do not ) ...

What really matters is it is yours and you are enjoying it. Trying to improve it and make it yours ...

Its funny all you guys have stories of people taking credit for cars you built, i know , and talk to the 3 prior owners of my merc on a weekly basis ,and i cant get none of them to admit they did anything to it, they all blame each other, funny how nobody wants to admit to the crappy builds

Originally Posted by DennyW

Isn't there a saying for that called ? "Passing the Buck" !!

No, in this case it's called"passing the BUICK."

Don

Originally Posted by DennyW

Isn't there a saying for that called ? "Passing the Buck" !!

See if this saying fits better

"Success has many Fathers, but failure is an orphan"

Unfortunatly i passed 6000 bucks for the orphan

You bought the whole d*** Orphange.


Don

Originally Posted by DennyW

scroll down to feb, 73.

http://www.tias.com/11384/InventoryPage/1736513/1.html

I LOOOVE YOU MAN!!

I ordered it and paypaled them the $ and can't wait to get the copy... Hope this is my car in deed, but if not, that's OK, I'll have an extra magazine to read when I'm sitting around at the next car show .