50th Anniversary.

Rat Rods Rule

Help Support Rat Rods Rule:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Torchie

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2013
Messages
8,101
Location
Northern Michigan
Tomorrow, the 14th is my 64th Birthday.
More importantly it's the 50th anniversary of me getting my first old car.
I was 14 at the time. A bit of a wild child being raised by a single working mom.
I guess she figured it would be safer for me to be out in the back yard with my head under the hood then out running the streets.:eek:[ddd
First one was a 1947 Chevy Fleetmaster. Paid all of $60 for it and drove it home.
A 4 door with the 216 Stove bolt 6 in it. My dream car.[ddd
The first Pic is of me in my "hipper then you shirt" about a year after I got the chevy. Notice the pile of debris under the car. That same pile is under the custom Dodge right now.[cl :D
Other cars followed in fairly rapid order.
The white 40 chevy coupe with a 350 in it.
The black 56 Mercury Montclair was my main HS car. 312 Y block with a full on custom pleated interior. I found that one on a day that I skipped school and took my brothers 69 Baracuda out cruising. He and my mom were gone checking out colleges for him.:D He never should have left his keys.....
The pic of the baby in the front seat is my 64 Olds Starfire Convertible. Stone stock with a rebuilt 394 in it.
Here's a list of my cars to date(That I can still remember.:()
Sadly most of all the pics that I had of these are lost. All pre digital.
Hope you all enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with me.
As always.
Keep on keeping on.....
Torchie
1927 Model T. Built into a speedster.
1929 Model A 2 dr sedan. Chopped of course.:D
1932 Ford 5 window coupe. Chopped and Channeled with a original 32 frame that had been Z'd. Ran a hot flathead. Most likely an original old hot rod build.
1939 Deluxe Ford coupe. 460 Lincoln engine in it.
2 1940 Chevies One a stone stock 4 dr. The white coupe in the pics.
1941 Ford/52 Ford F-6 that I turned into a custom truck.
1947 Chevy 4 dr Fleetmaster. Stock
1949 Dodge Coronet.
1950 Buick 2 dr. Sedanette.(Fast back) Stone stock one owner car.
1953 Ford Victoria. Pro built show custom from Detroits Clarkaiser custom shop. Known as the "Queen of the Vics."
1953 Ford 2 dr sedan. Stocker.
1955 Cadillac Convertible. Stock.
1955 Chevy 2 Dr. 210 sedan. Built to the gills 350 with a muncie 4 spped. Pure hot rod.
1956 Olds Station wagon. Stone stock one owner.
1956 Mercury Montclaire. 2 dr hardtop. Mild custom.
2- 1957 Chevies. One was the wagon in the pics. Daily driver for about 3 years. The other was a 2dr hardtop Belair sport coupe. Built 327 and yet another muncie 4 spd. Pure hot rod.
1959 Austin Healy Bug eye sprite. Stock
1962 Ford Country squire tin woody wagon
1964 Olds Starfire Convertible.
19#& Yet to be bought..:eek::p[ddd
 

Attachments

  • 258129_194816977237757_751002_o.jpg
    258129_194816977237757_751002_o.jpg
    75.8 KB · Views: 41
  • 264749_194816593904462_5851189_n.jpg
    264749_194816593904462_5851189_n.jpg
    100.9 KB · Views: 33
  • 264749_194816600571128_2505477_n.jpg
    264749_194816600571128_2505477_n.jpg
    86.1 KB · Views: 31
  • 256889_194816603904461_4979407_o.jpg
    256889_194816603904461_4979407_o.jpg
    99.6 KB · Views: 30
  • 256889_194816607237794_4796267_o.jpg
    256889_194816607237794_4796267_o.jpg
    82.1 KB · Views: 33
  • 258129_194816973904424_8263005_o.jpg
    258129_194816973904424_8263005_o.jpg
    71.5 KB · Views: 31
  • 78247629_2775652112487551_4630797776786030592_n.jpg
    78247629_2775652112487551_4630797776786030592_n.jpg
    95.7 KB · Views: 33
  • IMG_2842.jpg
    IMG_2842.jpg
    98.7 KB · Views: 32
  • 2-10.jpg
    2-10.jpg
    81.7 KB · Views: 32
Great post, happy birthday and many more [cl
Love the old pics, the camera is truly a time machine taking us back when our memory fails.
Love the Barracuda, my favorite body style for them.
 
Very good Torchie bio. I think this is what e-man is looking for.[cl

Happy Birthday young (sort of) man.:D
 
Great post, happy birthday and many more [cl
Love the old pics, the camera is truly a time machine taking us back when our memory fails.
Love the Barracuda, my favorite body style for them.

That was my brother’s car ZZ and him in the picture with a trophy from Motor City Dragway. Back in the days of run what you drove drag racing. 69 Bacaruda. As we used to say. Last year of the fast back body style.
340 -4 barrel/4 speed with factory headers. Great car and the one I “borrowed” when I found my 56 Merc😳
Good times for sure.
Torchie
 
Very good Torchie bio. I think this is what e-man is looking for.[cl

Happy Birthday young (sort of) man.:D

Thanks all.
I was thinking of eman as I was posting it bob. I hope he sees it.
Hard to believe it’s been 50 years already. But hey. I started young.
64 years old but when I get my new leg on Monday part of me will only be one day old.😜😂
Torchie
 
Cool Bio ! happy birthday and anniversary !

really like your 41 ford pickup ! and another fond of those Barracudas
 
Cool Bio ! happy birthday and anniversary !

really like your 41 ford pickup ! and another fond of those Barracudas

Glad to be part of your celebrations, Torchie. I, too, am very fond of your '41 -'52 Ford truck. That was one of the finest customs I have ever seen.
Congratulations Torchie.

Thanks crate and Mac.
At odd times I think of that truck and wonder what has become of it,Mac.
File it under the "One I never should have sold" category. Along with a few others on that list I posted.:eek: :p
Hopefully the Dodge will live up to it's predecessor.:cool:
Torchie
 
happy b-day and anniversary Torchie.
I love that truck, too bad you let it go... but then again, we would not have been able to join you on that dodge & boat trip... I wish you may more yrs in "good" health and I wish us many more Torchie builds [P
 
Thanks dutch and fbp.
I like to think I have at least one more build in me.:eek:
I'd like to get my hands on either another 47 Chevy or that 56 Merc and do to them what my 14 and 16 year old self wanted (But lacked the skills) to them back then.
Perhaps one day.........
Torchie
 
Thanks for all the well wishes gang.:)
Finished out a perfect day with our first outdoor grilling of the season.(It was 33 degrees but sunny. It's Northern Michigan:eek::p [ddd)
Bacon wrapped shrimp. Beef tenderloin with saute'd mushrooms. Fresh grilled asparagus and Home made german chocolate cake for dessert.
All courtesy of my talented and beautiful wife.:D
The new leg is ready tomorrow(Record time) and then back to the Dodge.
Keep on keeping on...
Torchie.
 

Attachments

  • 2-7.jpg
    2-7.jpg
    48.7 KB · Views: 9
  • 2-8.jpg
    2-8.jpg
    45.9 KB · Views: 10
  • 2-9.jpg
    2-9.jpg
    39.3 KB · Views: 9

Latest posts

Back
Top