Mark Sanders and his 1930 Model A Ford Pickup ‘Junior’
Last year we helped promote the CON2R Wheel Builder program on their website with a contest. The winner of the contest, Mark Sanders has sent us an update on the project he dedicates to his father and father-in-law.
Here’s his story from his words, first in the initial contest requirements, then in the follow up.
First of all, I am not a professional and this is my first attempt at a complete build.
Meet ‘Junior’. ‘Junior’ is named after both my Dad and my Father-in-law. Both men are Juniors, and both are Korean War Veterans. I decided to name this project ‘Junior’ as a small way to show my respect to both of these fine men. Since the car was started a few years ago, we have lost my Father-in-law, but my Father is still with us.
My Father was in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and he is the person responsible for my interest in classic cars. As a young child, I held the flashlight many times as he worked on some old car. He did not do it as a hobby or even because he liked it, but because it was necessary. He worked 2 jobs when I was a kid to provide for his family.
‘Junior’ is a 30 Model A Ford closed cab pickup that I have learned many things on. Welding, body work and general fabrication skills to name a few. My goal is to finish ‘Junior’ while my Father is still with us. He has prostate cancer and we spend some time at the Atlanta Veterans Administration Hospital, but he is doing well.
I really appreciate the opportunity to enter this contest and a CON2R steering wheel will fit in perfectly on ‘Junior’.
And here is a follow up from Mark:
My dad and me with the wheel and one with just him. The car pictures show the cool steering that the wheel will be operating. It is made up of a Plymouth Duster steering box with a 52 Chevy steering column that has been cut down and mounted direct to the box. The steering arm sticks out of the cowl and a big industrial bearing mounted inside for support. You will notice some copper accents on the steering arm and the headlights. The industry that I worked in for many years was involved in plumbing and I worked with copper for all those years so I will incorporate some in the car.
The liquid level gauge mounted to the back of the car is for fuel level and you will be able to see the level from the outside. The gas tank is a Fordson tractor tank form 1917 and is stamped Henry Ford and Son, Dearborn Michigan. The grill shell has been modified with stainless rods to have more of a 32 style insert and the radiator “cap” is from a 1950 s trophy. I cut the top of the trophy off and made the new bottom to fit the hole.
The engine is something that gets people excited in a good way and some in a bad way. It is a 4 cylinder Toyota Hemi backed by a 5 speed manual transmission. The build is my version of a Bonneville salt flat racer but it is a street car that will be driven. This is a 100% home built car being built by an ex-salesman. Not a mechanic or professional by any means. This sometimes means that something has to be done several times because of the mistakes I made that must be corrected. I have learned to weld, do body work and soon will teach myself to paint. Please ask questions in the comments below.