The ORIGINAL "Judge"...1949 Ford Coupe with a '58 Pontiac Tri-Power (three-two barrel carbs) engine, that my brother, Steve built back in the 50's with a little help from his friends......He was 18 and I was 15... I have duplicated, except with a BAD ASS 383 Stroker Small Block Chevy and S-10 front clip and Jaguar XJS Independent suspension with inboard disk brakes - rear end. Picture taken in front of Engineering Department Building, Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas in 1960. It's the only picture we have of her. Peaked '51 hood, J.C. Whitney tube grille, rear fender joints smoothed, and trunk lid filled in on the indention. Door handles skimmed off. We had a hood T-handle and cable to open the driver's side door under the wheel well. Took the heater core out, brazed hinges on bottom cover, and a latch on top. A six pack would fit perfectly (just in case). The chrome strip came from a 1955 Dodge Lancer.
I sold the "First 49" back in the 60's and have recently tried to find out where it may have ended up. I've traced it through three subsequent owners to the last sale which was made to a person who was stationed or worked at Holloman Air Force Base near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico in about 1967. If anyone has seen it or may know about the car shown in these pictures, I'd really appreciate a contact.
Beginning condition of "THE JUDGE" as purchased, May 2011. Reuben, the guy I bought her from, said that the prior owner had already done a lot of body work, properly prepped, and sprayed epoxy primer on it. (See the series of pictures at the end of this gallery for the "just primered" pictures). I only found one little spot on the bottoms of the front fenders that looked like there was actually any repair, looking from the inside. All still looks great on the outside.
Bought Mid May 7, 2011... Lots of work ahead.
This is Reuben Garcia, the guy I bought the NEW CAR from for $2,500 May 7, 2011, LaVernia, Texas. She's been sitting out doors for five plus years.
The NEW car, loaded up and ready to hit the road from LaVernia, Texas. She sits real high not only because there is no engine or transmission, but because she has a '75 Camaro front clip welded in on the BOTTOM of the Ford frame. THAT is coming OUT.
This is about the worst rust on any of the external surfaces.
Original driver's side floor pan. All will be cut out and replaced with "paint grip" galvanized sheet metal.
"As bought"....lot of work ahead.
'75 Camaro front clip/frame that a previous owner installed. Ugly work.
ALL this is coming out.... ugh...
You can see where a prior owner welded the Camaro front frame to the underside of the Ford frame, making it ride VERY high. He also cut the front body/frame mount completely off. I found a new pair that a guy in Iowa had, so he cut them out of his parts car and I put them back in/on... pictures of that in the "Removing the Body......" Gallery.
She's Home...
Ready to be sliced up and put back together. Note the TOO WIDE wheel spacing of the Camaro front frame.
Ready for transformation. She will be in there for a while. As it turned out, just about 4 years later, I drove her out for initial testing of the drivetrain. See vids in the "First Drive" Gallery !
Pictures sent to me from Reuben Garcia of the car before I bought her. For some reason, the "body guy" frenched the passenger side tail light, but not the driver's side. I'll be cutting the frenching out and put it back to stock. See the "body work" gallery. Fuel tank straps hanging out on the floor.
Be sure to hit the "BACK TO TOP" button on the right side of the screen and click the little house ICON on the upper left to go back to "home" then check out all the other galleries... all the latest pictures will be posted in the "Painting the Car and Reassembly of Body Parts" and "The Interior".
SECOND drive VIDEO ! .... November 27, 2016, a year and a half after the first drive...
The dang cutouts are dragging the ground. Another project to rotate and raise them
VIDEO ! Still have to have the grille rechromed and get some bumpers. I didn't realize that the electronic security system keeps the interior lights for 30 seconds upon starting. I'm trying to figure out why the dang lights were on.. .till they went out a few seconds later...
VIDEO !
VIDEO ! She's surely PERKY ! ! !
VIDEO ! Lost a hubcap but it was not damaged.....sitting beside the road up the hill... "forgot" it was just barely on.. hope all the bolts are tight....hmmmm
VIDEO !
VIDEO !
