Page 24 - Issue 35

ome of our readers will recognize the
name Greg Theis from the cover of
issue #25. He’s got a collection of cars,
bikes, and Ford fl athead-related stuff
S that puts most enthusiasts to shame.
He’s done his share of frame-up builds, but this car is
more of a rescue than a full-on build. Greg purchased
this 1939 Ford Roadster from Hot Sam’s Antiques
& Collectables, just south of the Twin Cities back in
2006. At the time of purchase, it had an Oldsmobile
Rocket V-8 with a broken block in front of a ’39
Ford transmission. It also came with the homemade
body you see here and a shortened frame.

After the purchase, the old Rocket motor was removed and a Ford
fl athead of 1939 vintage was installed in its place. It was freshened
up a bit beforehand with a mild cam, an NOS D&S dual carb drag &
strip aluminum intake with two Stromberg 97 carburetors, and shop
built lakester headers. Other improvements were vintage Edelbrock
aluminum heads and a vintage truck ignition coil. Another 1939

24 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-FIVE

22x27_39Roadster.indd 24 12/21/15 1:11 PM