That's it!
From Ebay:
Original, survivor 1940/42 V-8 Ford Custom Hot Rod Sports Car "Wanabe Corvette"
No, it’s not a Woodhill Wildfire, a Glaspar G2 or any number of other low-volume glass-bodied cars/kits
that were becoming available in the late 1950's. It is a "Gordon Tulbert Special" and it is one-of-a-kind.
The term “one-of-a-kind” is often used quite loosely. In this case, it could not be truer.
I have included an original sketch done by a Minnesota high school boy back in the late 1950’s.
He had Corvette tastes, but was on an old Ford flathead budget. He was not going to be able to buy it,
so he decided to build it.
A lot of these projects get started, but a smaller number get finished. Here is one that made it.
Using skills he developed in helping to fabricate some of the first fiberglass fishing boats,
he created something magnificent.
There is a great history between the time this car was built until the modern day.
It was traded, sold, not paid for, repossesed and thought to have been scrapped at one time.
Sometime after the purchase, I was able to locate the builder only by a crazy stroke of luck.
If you have read any of Tom Cotter's great books
(such as “The Cobra in the Barn: Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology”),
you are familiar with stories of unusual cars and motorcycles being re-discovered.
If you have not, you should immediately go out and buy a copy of everything he has ever wrote on the subject.
Great Reading!
Back to the story of “the Ghost", as one of its former owner referred to it as.
It is built based on a 1940/41 Ford 2-door sedan, the same one pictured in the original, study hall doodling.
Imagine driving the original 2-door sedan from the back seat! The North Dakota title lists it as a “1942 Ford”,
but as far as I can see, the serial number on the frame is for a 1940 Ford.
I suppose it sat on the lot for awhile before being sold.
The frame is unaltered in length and has the engine positioned in the stock location.
A late 1940’s vintage flathead Ford V-8 with a Lincoln Zephyr side-shift transmission is installed.
This is the original transmission that was installed when the car was built, but the engine has not yet been verified.
The body is very unusual, as it is fiberglass laminated over sections of the original Ford sheet metal,
including the original rear windows section now used as the trunk panel.
Gordon even built an electric motor operated hood!
He also "borrowed" the 1955 Thunderbird from one of his friend's dad in order to make a mold for the hood scoop.
Remember, this car was built by a 16 year-old high school student with limited resources.
There are parts that are crude, such as some of the welding, but overall, I am in awe of what he created.
I have replaced the following parts with new or reproduction components:
· All steel brake lines
· All flexible brake hoses
· All brake shoes
· Master cylinder
· All brake wheel cylinders
· Front and rear wheel grease seals
· Fuel tank
· Fuel filler tube
· “V8” fuel filler cap
· Steel fuel lines
· Fuel pump
· Water pumps
· Battery
· Voltage regulator
· Tires
· “V8” hub caps
· High beam switch
In addition, I have wired up the essentials (ignition, starter, head, brake and tail lamps)
in order to be able to be somewhat legal to drive.
There is much more to this story, but I think you get the idea.
It obviously still needs to be completed, but I am not sure how far cosmetically it should be done.
This car is a “survivor” from a different age. I just know that I am not the guy to make the next move with this car.
