Topic: '31 Model A coupe/truck ? (elcoupamino) (Read 74440 times)

Greybeards Customs · « **on:** April 18, 2011, 07:47:20 AM »

This will be my next major build . It is a 1931 model A coupe that was hacked up in the 40's . I have been told that during WWII gas was rationed and you had to have gas coupons to get fuel . Well you could get more coupons for a truck so many people would take and whack the back off a coupe body and build a make-shift homemade bed so they could get more fuel rations .
I will most likely make an extended cab truck out of this body , hence the name -- Elcoupamino an early version of the elcamino . I bought the body from a guy in Iowa , a nice little drive from Alabama . I am a few months away from starting on it due to a few other shop projects we have going on now. I am going to build this one for my dad to drive and then pass it on to my son , Will . I have been gathering parts for the last few months , so far I have my front axle- '40 ford with juice brakes , a 3.42:1 10 bolt for the rear with posi , 700r4 trans and the customary 350sbc . I plan on doing this build without a chop so it will be easier for my dad to get in and out ( he's 73 ) . It will have a heavy channel at least 8"

obama · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2011, 08:24:14 AM »

sounds kool, like the family connections keep us informed, and posta da pictures thanx.

ezrat · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2011, 08:25:18 AM »

I think your dad will enjoy that. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

hotwheels · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2011, 04:24:15 PM »

That is gonna be awesome man...........wow.

intmdtr · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2011, 07:28:25 AM »

thats a sweet looking body you got there, looks to be in decent shape.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2011, 06:51:33 PM »

the left door is a little weak around the window opening , i've never seen one rust there before . I will be able to make a patch panel for it . I just bought a new sheetmetal shinker / stretcher just for that problem . Any excuse to buy a new tool !

hotwheels · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2011, 06:55:04 PM »

LOL, i totally agree on the any reason to buy a tool reason.........Just wish my wife would see it that way.....

jsmithbm · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2011, 08:20:47 PM »

okay its been a month...... where are the updates?

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2011, 08:33:26 PM »

Well , now that you mention it I do have an update . I just bought a set of 30-31 rear coupe quarter panels , so I guess we will make a coupe out of it . I also bought the back half of a 28-29 roadster , I have a cowl already so all I have to do is fab up a set of fixed in place doors to make a climb over roadster . I will try and post some pictures tomorrow

jsmithbm · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2011, 09:26:35 PM »

cool, but you know the old saying a build thread is not any good without photos LOL jk...... good stuff Greg.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2011, 11:19:11 AM »

Here are some of the long awaited pictures , I started early this morning trying to fit the rear quarters I bought . The left side is VERY rough so I started with it first , after getting the doors inline and spot welding them shut for now . I have found it easier to align everything with the doors welded shut , there is alot less flex in the panels .

I think I may need my head examined for trying to use the quarter panels but no one offers new ones, so I will do the best I can .

jsmithbm · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2011, 02:47:04 PM »

Are ya'll at the shop on the weekend?

hotwheels · « **Reply #12 on:** June 26, 2011, 07:29:50 AM »

Awesome............

ezrat · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2011, 07:21:47 PM »

Wow, That looks like a monumental task but sounds like you know what your doing...

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2011, 07:31:44 PM »

Lovin' the build pics....looks like you have it under control....you've done this once or twice before haven't you....lol....keep sending the pics

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #15 on:** June 27, 2011, 08:23:26 AM »

Quote from: jsmithbm on June 25, 2011, 02:47:04 PM

Are ya'll at the shop on the weekend?

Every saturday from 8:30 to 3:00 except this weekend I will be out of town for the 4th of July .

carvinmark · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2011, 03:14:41 AM »

Sure is coming along nice, enjoy the weekend

RustyNCA · « **Reply #17 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:53:38 PM »

Quote from: Greybeards Customs on April 18, 2011, 07:47:20 AM

It is a 1931 model A coupe that was hacked up in the 40's . I have been told that during WWII gas was rationed and you had to have gas coupons to get fuel . Well you could get more coupons for a truck so many people would take and whack the back off a coupe body and build a make-shift homemade bed so they could get more fuel rations .

Few weeks back I looked at a 30 Coupe that has a funky truck bed on it in place of the rear deck lid(which I am sure he won't sell). Anyway, what the guy told me about it..... it was his dad's car, and his Dad added the truck bed because at the time you got more fuel allocated if you had a truck instead of a car. In this case, the car was not whacked off, it just had this little truck bed added in the opening left from the trunk. It was both riveted and welded in place. The car was all there and complete, full fendered, etc.

Not sure why it didn't occur to me to get photos of it. We talked about taking my 29 Coupe and my friends 30 Sedan up and taking photos of them sitting in front of the car, it's in the guys body shop bone yard. His main focus seemed to be Pontiac GTOs.

FWIW, make it back to a coupe, I know I am biased but I like them best.......

hotwheels · « **Reply #18 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:25:17 PM »

Quote from: RustyNCA on July 07, 2011, 01:53:38 PM

Quote from: Greybeards Customs on April 18, 2011, 07:47:20 AM
It is a 1931 model A coupe that was hacked up in the 40's . I have been told that during WWII gas was rationed and you had to have gas coupons to get fuel . Well you could get more coupons for a truck so many people would take and whack the back off a coupe body and build a make-shift homemade bed so they could get more fuel rations .

Few weeks back I looked at a 30 Coupe that has a funky truck bed on it in place of the rear deck lid(which I am sure he won't sell). Anyway, what the guy told me about it..... it was his dad's car, and his Dad added the truck bed because at the time you got more fuel allocated if you had a truck instead of a car. In this case, the car was not whacked off, it just had this little truck bed added in the opening left from the trunk. It was both riveted and welded in place. The car was all there and complete, full fendered, etc.

Not sure why it didn't occur to me to get photos of it. We talked about taking my 29 Coupe and my friends 30 Sedan up and taking photos of them sitting in front of the car, it's in the guys body shop bone yard. His main focus seemed to be Pontiac GTOs.

FWIW, make it back to a coupe, I know I am biased but I like them best.......

That is really a kewl story.......I would love to have seen pics of that from back in the day.

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:31:27 PM »

Really cool story...man what it must have been like with the gas rations...couldn't be out riding up and down the roads during WWII...if you ran out of gas it would be a lot of pushing...

Dustin Arnett · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2011, 03:35:54 PM »

I thought this was a very interesting subject, so I googled pics of these trunks turned into truck beds & this is all I could find. Check'm out

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2011, 04:38:07 PM »

The last picture is sorta what I had in mind not quite as fancy though . At this point I will be going the coupe route .

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2011, 04:54:29 PM »

It took a few minutes to find this picture but this is what I was thinking of doing . but since I found some quarter panels I will go with the coupe theme

Dustin Arnett · « **Reply #23 on:** July 29, 2011, 08:14:44 PM »

That thing is badass!!! That's what I had in mind also. I guess google & I weren't on the same wave lengths.....

hotwheels · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2011, 08:18:10 PM »

I like the coupe myself...........but that truck/coupe is pretty kewl looking.

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AuthorTopic: '31 Model A coupe/truck ? (elcoupamino) (Read 74440 times)