Continuing down the center aisle, one encounter the McGee/Scritchfield car, the Doane Spencer car, and, live and in-person, Tommy Foster sitting next to his powder blue channeled machine talking to the folks as they drifted past. Famous owners and famous builders paid their respects-it was like browsing through baseball's Hall of Fame and having Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio or Stan Musial and Ted Williams greeting each and every paying patron. I found it overwhelming, but then I get emotional at the Nostalgia Drag Races.
On the evening following the move-in, Ford Motor Company hosted a lovely sit-down dinner for special guests, participants, and the press. There were a few choice words put forth by none other than Edsel Ford III, recognizing the significance of the 75th anniversary of the landmark Deuce, followed by our host John Clinard and the hard-working Larry Erickson, Ford Motor Company's chief designer who put the whole deal together with David Boule.
After dining on the superb cuisine, folks gathered to discuss the show, and someone hit upon the idea of asking some of the heavyweights present, "If you were given the task of picking one car out of the 75 key historic cars, which one would you pick?"
I was assigned the task of picking the individuals, asking the question, and recording their responses. I started with Steve Moal. He never even hesitated: "I'd pick the unrestored Edsel Ford boattail because I'd be assured of having something important to do when I got back home.
John Buttera said he would choose to have his own three-window coupe back, because he could really appreciate it the second time around. Jerry Kugel hemmed and hawed and never could really make a pick, "because there is just so much history, I just can't pick just one." (You should know, two of his cars had been picked for inclusion in the Significant 75).
Neal East was quick to pick the Doane Spencer roadster and I think the fact that the car had once passed through his hands helped him make the prompt decision. Most others hesitated and many thought long and hard. Hot rod collector extraordinaire Kirk White picked the Ray Brown car, mostly because he was so heavily involved in its recovery and restoration.
Racer and collector Don Orosco picked the Bob Morris roadster; Tom Prufer picked the Doane Spencer car, as did Tony Thacker, Larry Erickson, and Paul Gommi. Larry Crane, editor of Auto Aficionado, picked the Brian Burnett Deucari "because they almost threw me out of the Ferrari club when I ran a feature on that car in the 'Ferrari Newsletter.' They called me a heretic."
Author Robert Genat ("Deuce, 75 Years of the '32 Ford") picked the Catallo Little Deuce Coupe "because I imprinted on that car when I first discovered cars. It was and is my vision of a true hot rod."
STREET RODDER Editor Brennan picked the little green Ricky Nelson/Tony La Mesa channeled car because he saw it on TV when he was a kid. He did say the McMullen flamed roadster would be his second choice because of his ties to Tom McMullen and the startup of the magazine you are reading (read "For Starters" for more details).
Me? Well, I chose the Fjastad/Von Hofgarten two-door sedan with the blown Art Chrisman Chrysler. While pieces of history are nice to own, I wouldn't want to drive 'em. I know the present owner drives this one and he drives it fast when he has the chance. That, in my opinion, is what it is all about.