-
Our New Old Car
A while back I bought a 1950 Ford that was the same (except for color) as Di’s first car, and the car we used when we got married.
The intent was to use it as a toad. After doing a lot of work to make it as good as possible mechanically with new brakes, wheel cylinders, rebuilding the carb, new battery, new tires etc. we used it locally to go get a milk shake or just to cruise around. It was painfully obvious it is unsafe to drive compared to the cars of today so we scrapped plans to use it as a toad. That is until several months ago.
After some consideration we decided to make it into a new car. We turned the project over to Al Morgan of MidSouthern Restorations in Cookeville, TN and he is in the process of literally turning a 64 year old car into a new one. He is going above and beyond to make the body as new because that is about all that will be original. The 1950 body is going to sit on a brand new chassis with power disc brakes, power steering, modern running gear and AC.
It will look just like an original car but it will be safe to drive at todays speeds on today’s highways, and we can use it as a toad, four down.
I am following the project here 50 Ford
-
119 Replies
-
Cool car! Can’t wait to see the final product.
-
Looks like you’re doing things “right”!
-
Jon, you rock ! I’ve been preaching the benefits of “Resto-Rods” for a long time. People our age try to re-create their fond memories of certain cars we had when we younger, and forget how awful they really were. I think you just might start a trend within the Prevo community. I know you got me thinking. Geo
-
Awesome ride. What a great thing to do. You and Di will be SUPER COOL in that toad.
-
We had a 50 Ford when I was a kid. A very very young kid. I remember one time my Dad took the back seat out, went to a farm auction and bought a calf and brought it home in the car. Great memories.
-
Wow Jon, going to be an awesome ride for you and Di!! To borrow some of your partner Toms thunder…will it have a 8 track with the Lennon Sisters greatest hits?
-
Entertainment will be the original AM radio. We can all sing along with the static.
The dash is being retained as original. Even the AC will share the original heater controls. If we decide to add some more modern radio if it will not fit where the original radio is, we will have to hide it somewhere so the car retains its original look. The only outward change is the bench seat in front is going to be replaced with two bucket seats. Both of us feel uncomfortable with the bench and its lack of support.
Di has picked a color that was on an 87 Audi that we had. It was a dark burgundy and it will not tie in with the bus base coat or trim colors. It will look sharp. Instead of standard wheels with trim rings I have a set of vintage American Racing gray center mag wheels on order.
-
You are always thinking Jon great ideas
-
Jon, check out Dakota Digital. They may make a drop-in instrument cluster. I installed one in my son-in-law’s 62 Impala and it looks great! At first glance it looks original with it’s psuedo analog display.
-
Jon,
Check out the offerings from http://www.retrosound.com/ They have modern sound equipment that looks old. Here are some shots in a 50 Mercury. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cntstpdrmn/9103595222/in/set-72157634249144365
-
Thanks Gil and Alvie.
I have bookmarked both and will see what I can do to keep the look original while being able to play my Lennon Sisters cassettes.
-
Here’s the 1950 Ford replace dash with psuedo analog gauges. There’s a lot of info you can display on the LCD displays on the bottom. They have one that’s all digital, but I know you wouldn’t like it.
-
Jon,
I would really enjoy seeing your new ‘old’ car as that is such a neat idea.
Thanks for sharing. Great pics!
Mark
-
I can hear it now, comming down the street at the OKC No-Rally Rally blaring
Hellen O’Connell, the Ink Spots, Glen Miller, Doris Day, The Mills Brothers and of course the Linnen Sisters.
(According to Webster, Blaring-a loud harsh or strident noise)
Can’t wait to see it.
-
Gil
I looked at those and they may still find their way into the car. Initially I want to stick with the stock gauges. I’m even retaining the rubber floor mats. What I am trying to do is avoid having a car so nice and perfect that we are afraid to tow it, drive it, or do any more than adore it while it sits in the garage.
Log in to reply.