This 1928 Ford Roadster was built by Pat Fraser, here's how Part 1
By Pat Fraser
Back in the medieval ages I saw my first Model "A" roadster hot rod and knew immediately that someday I'd have one. In the ensuing years I've owned 37 cars, including 4 roadsters, I phaeton, and several autos with sun roofs. There have been show quality cars, some that hurt your eyes to look at, a few super fast cars, and, yes Matilda, some real dogs that would lose a bicycle race. But none of those cars was a Model "A" roadster hot rod. About 2 years ago I decided that "someday" had come, it was time to have my dream car.
First I joined the Colorodans to meet other car people, and get involved with the local rod scene. After advice and thought, I figured there were three ways to get my dream car. First, I could buy one from a professional builder. Those cars cost a tremendous amount of money, way over my budget, and mucho buckos up front. I'm on a limited monthly budget. Hey, guys it's a budget NOT an allowance. Second, I could buy a car that was built or partially built from a private individual. Again, lots of cash in one lump sum, but no extra charge to worry about what's under the paint, inside the engine, and all that funny stuff underneath. Yup, Jethro, looks like I gotta build it from the ground up. This series of articles will chronicle the adventures and misadventures of that undertaking.
I started looking for a frame and a body. There were original bare frames available from $100. to $500. Once a frame had been sand blasted, boxed, and straightened, it would rival the price of a new one. For $900 I bought a new Brookville frame. I saw several original bodies starting at $2000. and going way up. They all needed a minimum of $3000. of body work and a jillion dollars worth of new panels, fenders, and running boards. New Brookville bodies were available, great steel reproductions but too costly for me, remember the budget. The alterative was to use a fiberglass body. On a trip back East I stopped at a glass body shop and liked what I saw. I saved my pennies and nickels and a few months later I bought one.
MISTAKES, MISTAKES, MISTAKES!!!
When someone buys a glass body, the number one priority should be to check out the company with the better business bureau. I didn't.
When a person buys a reproduction body, they should seek out both happy and disgruntled owners. I didn't. If you are in the market for a glass body, check out the workmanship, structural bracing, and overall finish quality compared to a competitor. I didn't. Make sure you don't just check out the showroom bodies, try to see ones ready to ship. I didn't.
Finally, if you buy a glass body, try your damndest to pick it up yourself, if you can't, go to the factory and thoroughly inspect your purchase. I didn't. Everyone told me I'd make lots of mistakes. They were right. I didn't think I'd make so many mistakes so soon. I really believed that the rod business was chock full or reputable business people. Once again, I was wrong and I'm paying for it. Hold on to your wrenches, I'll be back.
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