When I was about 15 years old, my dad thought that a good way for me to learn about mechanics was for me to work on an old car. So acting on a tip from a fellow employee at his place of work, he bought me a 1948 Ford Club Coupe. The car had no engine or transmission, so the cost of $40 was reasonable. For the next year, I frequented Mound Wrecking in Warren and was able to get a good used flathead V8 for $15 and a transmission for $5.

The interior was upholstered in Early Ripped, and the paint was multi layered primer carefully applied with a stiff paint brush by many previous owners. Back then K-Mart sold “universal” seat covers and I spent HOURS sanding the finish to prep it for eventual painting. I spent so much time on the running gear, that I never was able to paint the car.

It became my high school car, and I was known by it all over the area. I fitted the engine with left over, obsolete (read cheap) speed equipment: Mallory dual point ignition, Offenhouser high compression heads, Fenton headers and a Edelbrock dual carburetor manifold with two Stromburg 97’s. Hot stuff! .

When I graduated from High School, I sold the car to my cousin and purchased an old used 1956 Ford. That used Ford was a Thunderbird that I paid $950 for. Back then it was just another 10 year old used car.  I owned that car for 18 years, but that’s another story. I presently own the Washington Blue 1937 Ford Tudor sedan you see from time to time in the employee parking lot. So you see, little blue ovals are in my blood!

The photo was taken in June of 1965 on my graduation day from High School. So now you know how old I am!

Jerry