• If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

'32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

    This was a volunteer job that we've been trying to get after for a while. They called us the day before the reveal, so we couldn't put the time into it that it really needed. So 14 hours latter we made it shine a little more.
    It sat for 10 years and needed a lot more sanding but we just didn't have the time. He painted it himself and we did the best we could, it's not our best work, he loved it and that's all that matters.
    M105 was just to oily and Joe had to go home to get the "Old School Stuff". #4, a wool pad and a rotary did a good job after sanding with 1000 grit by hand. Then we covered it with #7. The rims were actually MAGNESIUM we broke out some secret stuff for those and they came out great!

    Here's the story:

    St. James and LaDonna Davis’
    ’32 Ford Kustom Koupe
    For years St. James Davis and his '32 Full Kustom Koupe were a familiar sight on the streets of the east San Gabriel Valley especially when his Chimp “Mo” was riding shotgun. St. James has owned the car for more than 50 years and the chopped and channeled 3-window coupe you see here is just the latest iteration in a long line of renditions. Unfortunately the project came to a halt on March 4, 2005 when Davis was mauled by two large Chimpanzees at a birthday party gone awry for his beloved “Mo”. The devastating story received world-wide attention and does so even to this day.
    Davis has endured more than 60 surgeries over the past four years and was close to death several times. But thanks to the doctors at Loma Linda Hospital and the total devotion of his wife LaDonna he is on the road to a long but successful recovery.
    Part of his recovery included the restoration/finishing the dream of getting his Koupe back on the road. The plight of the cars condition came to the surface in 2007. It had been stored somewhat under cover and even though the paint was intact the rest of the car was in very poor shape.
    Enter members of the Cal-Rods who are not only the resident car club supporting the NHRA Museum but also take on philanthropic projects as well. They decided to restore the car for St. James and LaDonna and give them the boost they so rightfully deserve.
    As you can see it’s a stunning vehicle. The boys have done a great job restoring the car that’s taken more than a year and thousands of hours to complete.

    We are honored to say thank you by recognizing the following individuals and companies who have given so unselfishly their time and products to the St. James Davis Koupe restoration project:
    •Cal Rods St. James Koupe Restoration Volunteers: Don Baker, Bob Bayles, Dan Callahan, Ken Campbell, John Ciauri, Vic Cunnyngham, Don Ford, John Hampton, Connie LaMarche, Bill Lathrop, Roger Burckel, Ed Lyons, Jerry Masson, Rick Rabuse, Joe Rode, Fred Simola, Bill Willis, Joe Fernandez and Mario Asencio.

    •Gabe’s Street Rods Custom Interiors 24215 Ward St. San Bernardino, Ca 92410 909.884.5150
    The Lopez family: Gabe Sr., Gabe Jr., Jesus, Carlos, Daniel and Robert Flores.
    Interior Materials sponsored by: J & J Fabrics 247 S. Riverside Ave. Rialto, Ca 92376 909.874.3040 The Flores family: Joe Sr., Joe Jr., Helen, Bobby, Luis and Jerry.

    Connie & Rick’s Resto • Mattson Radiators • Rodesway Boats
    The-Fan-Man • Street Rodder Magazine: Brian Brennan
    Superior Shine Auto Detailing• Glass House • Interstate Batteries-Upland • Painless Wiring
    Best Way Stamping • G&A Metal Polishing • DR Design • Alumi-Art Plating • Eddie Marine
    SO-CAL Speed Shop Components & Volunteer Crew











    Twin blowers baby!










    Actual Magnesium rims!





    Here you can see how dirty the paint was





    Here's how bad the orange peal was


    Had to break out the mini rotary! These fenders were handmade out of lead




    Some shine was gained




    Joe never smiles, oh wait he is.


    The big reveal!





  • #2
    Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

    Really nice work,to everyone involved on that project!

    A great bit of reading too! Good pics.Brief and to the point!

    Apart from what you said about the paint job,it came nice.

    Engine..... !!!


    TOP

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

      Great story. Great hot rod. Thanks for the write-up and pics.
      Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
      --Al Kimel

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

        This is much more than a story about an old ‘32 hot rod. This is a story were a tragic event ultimately brought together a bunch of gear heads to come to the need of one of our own.

        Mr. Davis doesn’t live far from me. I’d drive by his house after work on my way home and see him out in front of his home waving at passerbies in support of his beloved pet “Moe” which was taken away from him and his wife by the local authorities.

        I knew he was a gear head because I have seen him at local cruise nights and classic car shows that he would attend in a little black hot rod

        One day while visiting Moe at a wild life sanctuary he was savagely attached by two chimpanzees that had escaped from their cage. You can read about it here - St James Davis Story


        The attack left him unable to finish an old hot rod he had worked on years ago. When word got out about Mr. Davis old skool hot rod, gear heads at from the Cal-Rods ( www.Cal-Rods.com ) car club and Pete Chapouris / So-Cal speed shop (www.so-calspeedshop.com ) among others, came together to finish it.

        The car had been sitting out doors parked under a canopy and covered with a tarp. It wasn’t much protection from the elements.

        The car ultimately was completely disassembled and redone 100% by voluteers. Everything had been redone except for the paint. That is where we come in.

        I was honored to be asked to come in and polish the ’32. Our task was to make her shine. We only had one chance at it. No going back and painting anything if we messed up. We took it easy, took our time and gently brought a shine out of the old paint.

        I had in my arsenal of all the latest Meguiars goodies, #105, #205, etc.. It was evident pretty quickly that I had the wrong types of products for this paint. When I come across a paint that I am going to shine, I let the paint tell me what it take for it to surrender a shine to me.

        Luckily I had been polishing since the early 80s so I had some experience to fall back on when this old girl was getting stubborn. I made a mad dash back home and dusted off Meguiar products I hadn’t used in years such as #4.

        14 man hours later we completed our work. The finish wasn’t perfect but I appreciated it. It had character. It shined. Evident was the touch of a gentleman that had spent countless hours cutting, chopping and molding this work of art before he laid down the paint in his home garage. I greatly admired it.

        I had a great time working elbow to elbow with fellow gear heads that had come together to aid another gear head. Sharing time on a project with the accumulation of talent that unselfishly worked on this ’32 for over a year was humbling. Even though our part in the project was minor I was exhilarated to be there and will not soon forget it.
        Freedom prospers when Christianity is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

          This is how much of the finish looked before we touched it.




          Here is an area after polishing.









          Freedom prospers when Christianity is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

            Great work, Great story! Love to see that you care about your job enough to not only make something look this good, but for a great cause. Mario and Mr. Shine, you guys rock...Also what does the WARNING say on your sign?
            "Every moment frontin and maxin
            Chillin in the car they spent all day waxin
            "

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

              A great job,for a very worthy cause. You guys are great. Way to go.
              quality creates its own demand

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                Now that is one slick hot rod! Excellent job both of you.....as always!
                For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

                736th GunTrucks "Bakersfield to Bagdad"

                Wife say's I'm "obsessed"!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                  Originally posted by Zuke View Post
                  ..Also what does the WARNING say on your sign?

                  WARNING: We are very good at what we do. Your vehicle will look amazing. You will be the envy of your neighbors. You will be routinely mistaken for someone that is rich and famous. Are you prepared for the experience?
                  Freedom prospers when Christianity is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                    Gentlemen , my hats off to you all for what you have done for this couple and the hot rodding community. Fantastic save on the paint .
                    Paul
                    Live like you're not afraid to die.Don't be scared, just enjoy your ride. Chris Ledoux RIP

                    PAUL SPARKS / Distinctive Auto Detailing
                    317-513-4678

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                      fantastic work guys.
                      what a cool car.
                      cant beleive the level of orange peel on that paint, well sorted.
                      Beau Technique
                      Member of the autoshine sv detailing network and dodo juice authorised detailer in the UK.

                      Happy days maxin the waxin.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                        Great work on a beautifull Hotrod.

                        TOP

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                          Thanks to Eddie, Here's the entire story of this family... Esquire Mag Article By Rich Schapiro..

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                            Originally posted by Maserati Mario View Post
                            Thanks to Eddie, Here's the entire story of this family... Esquire Mag Article By Rich Schapiro..

                            TOP

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: '32 Ford Kustom Koupe.....

                              you guys are awesome! Are those dual Weiand 6-71 blowers???

                              Comment

                              Your Privacy Choices
                              Working...
                              X