1955 Ford Ranch Wagon - A Nice Memory

[Tom Geiger]

This 1955 Ford Ranch Wagon was built by Todd McWilliams. I was friends with Todd for years, first on the old AOL Model Chat and in emails and eventually in person when he moved to New Jersey. A lot of guys in the hobby knew Todd since he moved around the country and was active in model clubs where ever he lived. Unfortunately, Todd left us last year.

Todd was pretty private as a modeler and didn't show off his work at club meetings or in on-line posts. Even though we lived 15 minutes apart, he would send me long emails. I knew he was building this wagon, starting with the Posey's custom wagon diecast. He had taken it apart, stripped it down and wanted a stock Ranch Wagon.

At one point I asked him to bring the in progress model to the Jersey Shore Model Car Club meeting so I could see it. He had it carefully wrapped in a box. He pulled it out, showed it to me and quickly put it back away. I was happy he shared it with me and thought he was doing a wonderful job.

Todd died suddenly and I was sad to lose my friend. I thought about the unfinished Ranch Wagon and thought it would never be finished. Recently Dave Burket told me he was buying Todd's collection from his wife, and I remembered the wagon. I told Dave to look for it, and that I'd be honored to finish it in Todd's memory. Dave got back to me that he found it... with one surprise. Todd had finished it! I told him I certainly wanted the car and made plans to buy it.

Once I had it home I really started to appreciate the car, the cleanness of the work and how unassuming a car it was, but one that immediately grabbed your attention when displayed. The plain antique white of the body along with the logos Todd made as decals really capture what the car was. I am very pleased to have a memory of my friend on my shelf.

[vintagercr]

Tom, that is a nice story and a nice build. Steve

[Ramfins59]

That is very cool Tom. It is always great to be able to have a "model memento" of a departed friend.

I have a '67 Ford Galaxie that Tony "Slice & Dice" DelVecchio converted into a 4 door hardtop from a convertible for me so I could replicate the first car that my wife and I owned when we got married.

I also have a '36 Ford roadster that Dave Dickash painted for me when I was recovering from the stroke I had 14 years ago. (I also have several other models that I built in his memory.

Those are treasured models for sure.

[bbowser]

Great model and memory!

[Tom Geiger]

I was looking through my Friends list on Fotki and noticed that Todd's page was still active. So I took a look. He didn't have much on Fotki, but I was delighted to find these progress photos, the only model photos he had!

Here's the first photo.. shows what he started with.

Progress shot one, new paint job!

Another paint shot

Interior completed. I had given him the interior door handles and window cranks, resin pieces from Norm Veber.

Dash board

Engine in chassis. He also had a shot of the instruction sheet of the AMT '56 Crown Victoria, so I know a bunch of the parts came from that kit. And that's all he had there. See my first post for the finished model photos. I'm glad to have this model built by my friend in my collection.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

That's a great little story, and I love what was accomplished. It's cool his work will be remembered like this.

[AzTom]

Great wagon for a great memorial.

[unclescott58]

Nice model, and nice story.

Scott