Two of the guys that worked for me a good while started they're own shop a couple years back to mainly do moderate to radical custom work. If someone comes through the door and says "chop" or "drop" I send them over to their shop. Jesse had worked at a production body shop and Able was a custom wall paper hanger. It was easier to train the wall paper hanger than to remove every last bit of modern body work approach from the body man. Anyway, they're latest effort, a 1940 Ford Hardtop, has been nominated for the Ridler Award. (It's very prestigious I guess). I was not familiar with this since I very seldom go to car shows and only then if they are within 25 miles of the shop. The show that gives out this award is the Detroit Autorama which is in late February this year so if you attend it look for a bronze 40 Ford Coupe that has been made into a hard top and tell them Evan could find at leat ten things that could be better.
Kids Are The Future Good show ! . I always like to hear of kids doing good work . Hopefully some one will post a picture of this car from the show....
Ridler The ridler is a very very prestigious award in the rod/custom scene, only a very few select, top of their league cars get nominated for it. They should be very very proud to even be nominated, some of the winners previously are like works of art. Got to take your hat off to them Mind you, who did they learn their trade from.........????
Sounds like they paid attention in class. Congradulations to you and your students.As a friend of mine says "If you plant corn you get corn." Sounds like you had a very good crop.
Your boys done good! Hey Evan, just a follow up on the Ridler Awards. Your boys may not have won the award, but in my opinion, and the opinion of most of the "pollees" who went online to vote for their favorite, the '40 won hands down! Here's a few shots of it for those of you who haven't seen it! A tip of my hat to you, because you are the one who taught them how to turn a hunk of steel into a masterpiece! Congrats Evan! Ken
Thank you so much Ken, but for them-not for me. They called when they found the car had been selected for the Great Eight award and I don't think their feet have touched ground since. What is really great is all of them, including Kenneth the owner, are as country as they come. He made his considerable fortune nailing shingles on roofs not by starting some dot com company. I don't think Jesse or Abel had ever been beyond the Texas border and I'd bet that if they stayed at a five star hotel they ordered a chicken fried and pinto beans. I may have been a factor in teaching a few building tricks but the unique and beautiful design is all their's which includes Johnny whose health prevented him from making the trip. I understand it would have been a cinch for the Public Choice Award had one been offered but I'd still bet not much work get's done at their shop this week with all the tales to tell. Thank you for posting the pictures.
Evan, one thing I noticed when looking at the pics was the integration of the classic Ford V8 emblems in the upholstery. That is class!! You know me! I rant when a classic is bastardized! It being a "standard" vs a "deluxe" coupe, I can over-look certain things! They did one hellavu job, and they've got my vote (and did!)
Good Job I see a lot of hard work and good planning went into this car..... (I'm also glad they did it to a Brand 'F' )