HISTORY:

I'm the proud third owner of this one-of-a-kind car. I purchased it around 1958 from a guy by the name of Stan Sayles.  He acquired it around 1956 from a farmer who originally purchased it for his wife, but she didn't drive it much so it had been stored in a barn near Croghan NY (east of Watertown).

 

Stan rebuilt it and put in a Buick Nailhead engine connected to a Ford 3-speed, '3-on-the-tree' and updated the rear end replacing the traverse spring with two leaf springs "50's style". He also installed a Cadillac dash panel.  A friend of his, Pete Hillen, upgraded the upholstery using black & White naugahide, also in the 50's style.  A single system hydraulic drum brakes were also installed.

 

The car ran well. It was used as a second car and was seen at Carmines (car hop restaurant) often throughout the 60s.  Towards the end of the 1960s, the engine motor mounts were giving way and the engine began to rest on the steering column, which made it very difficult to steer.  I put it in storage and flirted with the idea of selling it.  With a wife and four kids, time and money were in short supply.

 

During the 70s and 80s, I would take her out and drive around occasionally.  Finally, in the mid-90s, my son John and I discussed fixing the motor mounts and getting it road-worthy again.  In 1998 we pulled her out and began what started out as 'fixing a few things' and became a total rebuild.  I could say we completed the project in 2006 but if you are into car rebuilding and customizing, you know as well as I do that I will never be done. ;-)

 

 

THE PROJECT:

 

THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION & SUSPENSION

First, Gary Czeh installed a Mustang II independent front suspension complete with power steering rack.  We also had him redesign the firewall to accommodate the 1997 Chevrolet 350C.I./5.7l Vortec engine.  This engine was purchased from Wilberts Buick and GM Parts Inc. (http://www.wilbertsgmparts.com/) in Webster, NY. and was out of a ¾ ton 4x4 pickup.  Basically the engine, computer, fuse boxes, and cruise control module were all transplanted from the truck to the 35 Ford.

 

Since the 4L80E transmission from the pickup would not physically fit into the 35 Ford chassis, a 4L65E transmission with overdrive was substituted.  Note this did involve a reprogramming of the onboard computer to make all the components function properly.  We must have the cruise control, after all.  Because we had a 1979 Camaro 10 bolt rear end differential just lying around the garage, we decided to shorten the axels and install it.  It was complete with 3.42 gears.

 

The brake system was upgraded to a dual power system with disks on the front and drums on the rear.

 

THE BODY & PAINT JOB

Once most of the mechanics were complete, it was time for the paint job.  Paul St. Denis performed the bodywork and paint.  The body was actually in pretty good shape to begin with.  Paul made the few repairs needed with metal to keep the integrity of the body.  He put all new red welting on, painted the body with 1985 GMC Truck “Bright Red” and clear-coated after.

 

DASHBOARD MODIFICATIONS

In the process of repairing the body, new Auto Meterä gauges were neatly fitted into the existing dash panel.  A radio panel extension was added to the bottom of the middle of the dash, which also accommodated the new heater knobs.  The area where the ashtray was originally was replaced with matching black smoked plastic ‘stealth’ cover for the indicator lights that can only be seen if they are lit up.  Along the top of the dashboard, defroster louvers were installed.  The glove compartment, which had been modified by the previous owner to accommodate a Cadillac clock, was restored back to a glove compartment.

 

OTHER MODIFICATIONS

The basic plan upon rebuilding was to restore its looks to original as close as possible.  The following was complete to reach this goal.

        New 35 Ford type spoke wheels were purchased from Coker.  The original 16” x 4” wheels were replaced by 15” x 6” to accommodate the addition power of the engine

        We added front parking lights and turn signals (using LEDs) and disguised them by installing them inside the original horns behind a screen.

        We added a third brake light (actually 2 of them), also LED which are inconspicuously set into the body and the door of the rumble seat, so when it is open, the brake light is still visible.  And like my refrigerator, the light switches from the body to the door (whichever is visible) when you open and close the rumble seat door.

        Power window motors were added, being controlled through micro switches, using the original window cranks.  (no cranking necessary!)

        The taillights were fitted with LEDs inside.  To accommodate the license plate light, since LEDs are directional, a pea-bulb and socket were added.