Dennis Lacy Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 My 1927 Ford Roadster Hot Rod Starting in May of 2005 and spanning until June of 2007, I built a 1927 Ford Roadster hot rod for myself. The car featured a heavily modified 1932 frame, dropped original 1934 axle and split 1934 wishbone, 1934 rear axle with “T” spring, 1935 flathead V8 engine with Thickstun PM-7 intake manifold, Stromberg “81” carburetors, tubular headers with 2” exhaust and Smithy mufflers, 1935 transmission, 1939 Lincoln brakes, 1941 wheels with 1946 hubcaps and Firestone bias-ply tires, 1948 truck steering gear and 1940 steering wheel, modified 1934 Chevy dashboard with early curved-glass Stewart Warner gauges, chopped windshield, chopped 1929 radiator and shell, 1927 Chevy sedan gas tank in the trunk, BLC headlights and 1939 taillights. Every component on the car was a genuine old part and it was constructed to a very exact degree of period authenticity for a Southern California roadster that could have been built in the late 1940's. Many times observers thought that it had been built in the 40's, found and “gone over” to put it back on the street. Their reactions were priceless when I would reveal that it was a newly constructed car! Despite its weathered “patina” appearance, the car was also built and finished to high professional degree of workmanship, function and safety. With this car I was also a member of the historic Pasadena Roadster Club for 6 years which was re-activated with the blessing of the surviving original members in 2002 as a continuation of the original club which was active from 1946 – 1953. Club rules dictated that for a roadster to qualify it had to be of 1936 or older vintage and built from only genuine components not newer than 1953. The purpose of the club was to preserve and promote early hot rodding. After my time in the PRC I also ran a San Bernardino Krankers club plaque given to me by some hot rodding friends from that region. After thousands of miles and daily use over a span of 5.5 years, the car was sent to it's new caretaker in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It was far from an easy decision but a necessary one as I had a growing family and another project that I wanted to get to and financing had to come from somewhere. Below are the last photos I ever took of the car, the morning it was transported to a shipping service. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki In late 2011 I had started befriending a fellow named Jon Ferren from Hollywood, Florida. Jon is an extremely talented model hot rod crafter who I discovered when I joined a forum called Traditional Rods and Kustoms – In Scale back in 2008, about a year after returning to model building after many years away. Extremely impressed with Jon's skill, particularly in creating realistically weathered and worn models I told him that I would like to see him make a model replica of my roadster. He really liked the car and instantly agreed. It wasn't a commissioned build, per-se, and I never had any intention of “owning” the finished model. I really just wanted to see him build it. Also, not wanting Jon to be out any of his choice parts, I sent him a care package consisting of a Jimmy Flinstone roadster body, a set of wheels, a set of Modelhaus resin tires and some other key ingredients. As luck would have it, Jon's profession sends him out to Anaheim, California every January for a trade show and the Anaheim Convention Center is only 30 minutes from the hot rod shop my Dad and I have. That being the case, in January of 2012 Jon was able to take an afternoon off and come out to see the roadster first-hand, go for a long ride around town and even drive it himself. The experience amped him up for the project, to say the least! The experience also solidified our friendship and we have made a tradition of hanging out every January when he is here for his trade show. Nothing like two grown men hanging out in the garage geeking-out over models! Below is a photo of Jon and I with the roadster and him about to take it for a solo spin. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Jon made excellent headway at first handling all of the fabrication and painting of the replica model. Then, as it sometimes happens, he ran into some builders block. When he ultimately snapped out of it he was on to new projects and the little roadster never managed to get finished. When he was out here in California in January of 2014 he handed me a little shoe box containing the stalled project. He apologized for not completing it but thought that I might enjoy putting it together. I accepted the challenge and up until last weekend the poor thing sat on my bench in that lonely shoe box needing some love. Jon is scheduled to be here again next month and I made it my mission to push everything out of the way and finally get this little guy hung together. Below are a couple of pictures. The first is how I received the project and the second is taking inventory so that I could plan my attack. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Continued...
Dennis Lacy Posted December 27, 2015 Author Posted December 27, 2015 The Replica Model. Fabricated and Painted / Weathered by Jon Ferren. Assembled by Me. The model went together extremely well. Everything fit like it should. There were a few parts missing such as the steering gear, upper and lower radiator hoses and finishing out the intake manifold. I found it interesting to assemble someone elses work because we all have our own techniques, which meant I had to adapt myself to some of his. Most of the assembly was handled last weekend with finishing touches taking place today. To say that Jon accurately captured the look and feel of my old car is an understatement! Even my Wife's jaw dropped when I showed her the finished model. If anyone would like to know what any of the parts used are, please ask because I'm sick in the head and know what every single one of them is! Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki
Ace-Garageguy Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 A pair of real beauties. Hot-rods just don't get any more real than that.
oldnslow Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 That looks great. Love seeing replicas of actual cars.
1930fordpickup Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 Looks great.A very good example of why the 27T is a favorite of many people.
Helix Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 Impressive Dennis, will have to keep an eye out for it next time I'm in Melbourne
JDGREEN Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 VERY COOL STORY, 1:1 AND MODEL! AWESOME WORK
Phildaupho Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 What a wonderful story of a great hot-rod and an amazing model. You are a lucky man to have built and owned the real thing and now to have had the chance to assemble the model and have it to remember your hot-rod.
tim boyd Posted December 28, 2015 Posted December 28, 2015 Great story, Dennis....and now I better understand why your hot rod model projects and comments on other builds are so spot-on. Both the 1/1 and 1/25th versions totally rock. TIM
Grumpa Posted December 28, 2015 Posted December 28, 2015 Beautiful roadster Dennis. Your 1:1 build certainly replicated the era. I don't think that I could have parted with it. Oh....the model is nice too!
unclescott58 Posted March 7, 2018 Posted March 7, 2018 Wow! Stunning real car. And a stunning model. How did I miss seeing these two three years ago? Classic rods, in the true sense of the word.
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