Continued from the Hall of Fame front page featuring the Hirohata Mercury

......The bodywork was spectacular and featured a full belly pan that was formed by Valley custom's Neil Emory and Clay Jenson. Also involved was Dean Bachelor, who later would become a famous author, editor of Road and Track magazine, and also a top judge at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance.
Next came the famous nose and hood that set the standard for roadsters for years to come. It was copied after an indy roadster. The nose was formed out of aluminum.
The body itself was formed from three different Model a bodies, picking the best parts from each. The body was then channeled over the frame. Dick Flint then added 46 Ford hydraulic brakes and a dropped and filled front axle made by the famous SoCal speed shop.
The dash was taken from a 1932 Auburn, Stewart Warner instruments installed with some additional gauges used for racing. The car carried a SCTA timing tag saying the car ran a top speed of 143.54 mph.
The engine was a 1940 Mercury Flathead, displacing 286 inches, and featured a wealthy old camera. Racing Pistons and adjustable tappets, followed by a complete engine balancing.
The the car was finished off with many coats of Federal truck red.
Dick Flint sold the car in 1961. It was bought by Duane Kofoed, then a member of the LA Roadsters Car Club.
Years later, the car was purchased by Don Orosco, who immediately began a totally correct reconstruction using materials that were only available in the years the car was originally built. Though restoration was so well done, that in 2001 the roadster took first place at Pebble Beach. It also received the Dean Bachelor Memorial trophy, which was only fitting as Dean Bachelor was involved in the building of the original roadster
Truly a legend in the world of hotrodding. Bob Nugent
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Bob Nugent
Copyright Hotrodsonline.com