1933 Ford Roadster - What Might Have Been

Pictured is a 24-stud '41 Flathead with a Stromberg 94, but the engine of the day actually would have been a 21-stud with a Detroit Lubricator one-barrel carb.

A quick way to tell the '33 from the '34 dash is by the insert: the '33's was engine-turned, while the '34's was woodgrained.

You gotta love the small details, such as this safety latch for the glovebox door.

This center-mounted windshield mount is all business.

The roadster began taking shape early on in the process.

It's a race car, and race cars have nifty stuff like leather safety straps for the hood.

The neatly fitted "patch" covers where the stock '33 hood stanchion would rest. The much-shortened and purposeful windshield post now resides in its place.

Look closely and you will see the Bell Auto Parts car resting in the middle of the front row. Almost everything about this photo is factual-almost. A little Photoshop work, and, presto, history is rewritten. Don couldn't resist seeing what might have been.

Mines Field was the site of the race on February 18, 1934. It was (is) property owned by the L.A. Municipal Airport (LAX) and was at the northeast corner of Aviation and Lennox. The 2-mile track was shaped like a big letter B with two huge 240-degree outside (left) corners and two tight inside (right) corners. Rex Mays was on the pole. It ran for 250 miles and took right at 4 hours (62.5 miles per hour).

Here's the famous photo before it appeared on the cover of the Mar. '51 issue of Hot Rod. Can you imagine Downtown Los Angeles with roadsters on parade today?