Because I couldn't afford to buy the '63 Ranchero that upholstery guy Rudy Pelc was selling I settled for his other car - a '51 Ford Convertible.

This was a car that he owned previously and had reacquired. His story was that it had broken down and he and a friend were pushing it on Forest St. in Reno, transmission problems he recalls, when someone came by and offered him $10 for it. Somewhat irritated at the broken convertible, he took the ten and left the broken Ford behind. Years later he spotted that same car on a car lot although in better condition. He couldn't resist and purchased it.

At the time I bought it, in the fall of '66, it was painted it competition orange accented with chrome wheels. Although nosed and decked with the side emblems removed it was pretty much original.

I replaced the rusty front wheels and proceeded to other modifications including a four-barrel carburetor on a converted Sharp blower intake manifold, Fenton headers with dual exhaust and a new black naugahyde interior (by Rudy). Dark grey tinted windows accented the black top and orange body. After a couple of experiments with dash paint I ended up with orange on the dash and interior mouldings to match the exterior.

1951 Fords

No doubt the shoebox Fords were popular in the 1950s and 60s. For some reason '51 was my number. Somehow the 2 reduced size grill spinners seemed less bizarre than the aircraft inspired '49 & '50 Ford versions to me.

My first '51 Ford was a Country Squire - a woody. I was a senior in high school. The dark green example was a very nice car that my friend Bob Doreo ended up with. The engine was tired, but the car was near mint and I cannot recall the details of how I bought it from him. I believe it was an high school auto shop project that he lost interest in. I installed a used engine with dual exhaust. Unfortunately after a couple of months driving that engine began to smoke. Bob Clews of American Auto upholstery bought it from me and did one of the first Ford 289 swaps into it in 1964.