'37 Ford Panel Delivery- "The Rust Bucket"

[Fletch]

It's finally completed. It was a bit of a challenge, when you see pristine paint it's difficult to get your mind around the fact that you're going to Intentionally sand trough it to another layer.

Thank you to everyone for your encouragement through this build, especially to Jon Ferrer over on TRaK. Without Jon's advice I doubt the build would be anything but another stalled project.

Without further ado here is "The Rust Bucket":

I wanted the interior to have character like the exterior. The seats and door panels were painted with Krylon Make it Suede to give them some texture. Then pieces of tape were cut to size to give the look of torn seats being held together with duct tape.

The engine bay ended up with the Flat Head from the Revell Good Guys '40 Ford Coupe. The speed parts were used for the build with additional pieces from Parts by Parks, Detail Master, Model Car Garage and my favorite source for Flat Head parts Replica and Miniatures Company of Maryland.

Hosted on Fotki

For the first attempt at weathering I am pleased with the results, but figure there are things that would make it even better.

Your questions and comments are welcome as always.

Edited April 3, 2009 by Fletch

[Paul Payne]

the one and only thing that would make this truck better would be opening rear doors to reveal a fully equipped shop!

Edited April 2, 2009 by Paul Payne

[Harry P.]

I guess I don't get the beater/rustbucket body going with the shiny chrome custom engine parts and perfect, clean, shiny wheels/tires?

[Fletch]

I guess I don't get the beater/rustbucket body going with the shiny chrome custom engine parts and perfect, clean, shiny wheels/tires?

Perhaps I should have labeled it as a "Work in Progress". One where we'll put the money into it's go and we'll worry about the show later. I see them all the time at Cruise-ins, they pull into the lot and every one thinks "Why on earth would they even consider bringing that in here?" Then they open the hood and and everyone goes, "Isn't that pretty!" The owner has a big smile even thought the exterior looks like 20 miles of BAD dirt road.

[coolplastic]

You see alot more of this "style" Rods at shows out here, new rims loaded under the hood and not a slab of metal that doesn't have rust or is beat up. One look at your 37 I and said wow didn't I just see that last week-end at the car show in the city. Thanks for sharing really cool build.

[CB]

Yer 'rust' looks like rust, Dave. I remember my Dad's 55 Ford pu havin' the same kinda rust on it, the kind that takes 900 years to eat thru the body. Seen a really cool '50 Chevy pu lookin a lot like yer '37 here last year at a local cruize, cept it had pink/orange rims...........because a very cool young lady was driving it. Wished I'd gotten pics. She had a shop check it out when she bought it, and they made anything that wasn't safe, right. They stuck (welded? bolted?) a jerry can in the corner of the pu bed behind the driver and ran the filler tube up to the opening in the jerry can. She was runnin a small block in it.

Like how you restrained yourself, and disciplined yourself to follow thru on your initial inspiration for this. Like you said

when you see pristine paint it's difficult to get your mind around the fact that you're going to Intentionally sand trough it to another layer

......aaarrrgghhh! What am I doing!?

Well, now you can go and paint shiny

[noname]

I like to build drag cars like this sometimes. Guys with limited funds get an old car and spend the money they have on go fast parts. Worry about the body later. The cars you usually see pictures of are the big name pretty cars with serious $$$ put into them. Thats because those cars could draw alot of fans. Myself , I like the little guy who brought his old Chevy with primered fenders because that is what he had. These are the unsung heros of drag racing ( or any other racing I suppose ).

[Bernard Kron]

THis came out very nice indeed! Looks like you have another technique to add to your arsenal. I absolutely love the stance and the tire/wheel choice (especially with the spare sitting there) and the contrast between "clean" and "rust". Great little engine, too. Two thumbs up, Fletch!

[torinobradley]

I can vouch for the work in progress name. I can't tell you how many of us drove or drive around in a car with a semi rough body sporting new wheels, tires engine, trans & other mechanicals. They used to ask me if that was my old car ('68 Torino GT Formal with faded paint) and I would tell em "no, that's my new car. I have a glovebox full of reciepts to proove it".

[E St. Kruiser50]

HEY DAVE

YOU FINISHED IT :o

Dave and I (The other dave ), are both in the same club (SABA), and I tease Dave about not finishing his "Inspiring Start's" . He alway's say's he's an "Idea Man".

Well Dave, this turned out "BEAUTIFUL", so we'll be seeing this at the next meeting RIGHT???

Nice job Dave - dave TOO MANY DAVE'S lol

[Dr. Cranky]

You did a wonderful job. I love the engine compartment, but I am also delighted by all the rust spots!!! Congrats.

[Fletch]

I thank you all for your kind words. I am pleased with the results of this build. I know that there will be another weathered, rusted build down the road. The plans are already running through my mind. The next go round will include a fair amount of body cancer as well. Stay tuned.

Dave

[Dennis Lacy]

Wow Dave, your panel truck sure turned out neat! I like it from every angle! Not everyone understands the mixing of weathered and shiney parts, but I think it sets the truck off perfectly and is very representative of one of the more popular styles these days, especially here in SoCal. I really like the Edmunds air filters, I didn't know those were even available!

I don't think anyone else caught on (?), but one of my favorite details is the hinged windshield.

[Fletch]

Dennis, actually you're the first person on 3 different forums that this is posted on that even mentioned the open windshield. It was something that just screamed that it had to be done. Even with all the '32 builds it's something very seldom seen, which is really to bad as it adds so much character.

[cdansie]

Hey Fletch

All that truck needs is a good rub back and repaint

Really nice job

Oh and by the way - I did notice the hinged screen ............................straight after Dennis pointed it out!

Chris