48 years later dads 29 Roadster is in a new home(pics)

[Double D Mods]

48 years ago this month my father in-law finished this 29 Roadster and put in on the road. He bought this car in 1962 and worked on it for 3 years to get it as you see today. This car was the love of Leroy and the most cherished thing he owned.

We just got home trailering this car from Billings Montana back here to Wisconsin. 2400 miles round trip later she is safely resting.

Some history on the car.

As mentioned it was started in 1962 in Leroys shop on his farm in Billings Montana. The was not the first Model A he was going to build. He originally had a different 29 Roadster that he started on. That car was stolen in 1958 and was never seen again! Leroy had a couple different A's in the period from 1958 to 1962. The car he was working on was a Tudor that he lost in a shop fire that burned down his second shop he had on the farm causing him to lose that car and alot of other parts. He had this 29 roadster he had purchases so he decided to just build this car you see below. The car was very solid when he started with it. For three years he worked on it finishing it in 1965. Well kinda finished it. We all know there is no way you can not tinker with a car for the last 48 years. This car was stored away for a 20 year period as well during the last 48 years

Leroy pulled the car out of storage in the 90's then started to enjoy the car again. Leroy was very active in the Billings Model A club and telling me all kinds of stories of all his friends and the fun he has had over the years.

Health reasons have become the reason for the car to stay in the family and remain with his daughter (my wife)

I have boxes and boxes of parts, magazines and other misc items we brought home with the car I have to sort through yet.

One of these boxes is to have pics of the car from 1962 up till now showing everything from the build to all the good times he had with the car.

Leroy still has a photo album with him that has all the good pics that just amazed me to see.


As mentioned this car is now setting in its new home as you see 48 years almost to the day from when it hit the road( we have the 1965 Montana title!). The car needs a good cleaning that we will begin to start on this weekend. Other than a cleaning and some new tires we have no intention of changing ANYTHING on this car and enjoying it as she sets 48 years later. I fired it up to back it out to the trailer and I am so looking forward to taking it for a spin around the block.

As a car guy myself it broke my heart to drive away with this car he loved so much. He is now relieved to know his car is not only staying in the family but in good safe hands for us to enjoy as much as he did and pass it on to our son years down the road.

Thank you Leroy for keeping this roadster on the road for all these years and to allow us to continue to add the miles to the car that you can not do anymore.

You will always be there with us each time we take the ol jalalopy for a spin.



Here is a few pics of the car after we unloaded it tonight in our shop.

still amazed me how it looks after 48 years!

My wife who remembers as a little girl riding in the rumble seat!

[Brian SATX]

Great story and a great looking car.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Double D Mods .........................
Great story and a very nice looking "A". Thanks for posting that !
MIKE

[Brubaker]

Very nice car. Pictures afford a nice break(especially after reading the 'vendor disappointment thread). I may even like your shop more than the car! Congrats on both.

[Double D Mods]

Originally Posted by Brian SATX

Great story and a great looking car.

Thanks!

[gunmetal blue]

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That is A great story and great looking car. Hope you can make more happy times with it to.

[Aerocraft]

What a terrific, uplifting story! I hope my '30 Coupe purchased in 1959 ends up in such good hands. I would enjoy seeing some pictures out of his album. Enjoy your new treasure. Gar Williams

[montanafordman]

Awesome story and what a nice looking Model A! Thats great that you're keeping it in the family too. Your story is pretty similar to mine. My grandfather farmed in Gildford, Montana (west of Havre) and bought his Model A in 1962 also. I belive it was missing an engine and in need of a lot of work so it ended up sitting in the corner of his garage for 27 years until he retired from farming in 1989. He started work on the car and had it painted and upholstered, got another model A motor and had it running to the point he could have fun running around town but his health never allowed him to really finish all the mechanicals. I helped him with the car a little when I was a kid as he was working on it and we shared a lot of good times cruising around the farm in it.

My grandpa always said the car was going to be mine someday. He passed away 3 years ago and I was finally able to trailer the car out to Tacoma, WA last fall where I live now and have been working on the brakes, suspension, and rear end. I hope to have it back on the road as soon as my new ring and pinion gets off back order! Working on the car and driving it always reminds me of him. I'll be sure to keep his memory alive and pass the car on to my kid someday.

I'm with Aerocraft - Post up some pictures from your family album if you get a chance! We'd love to see them!

[Double D Mods]

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

Double D Mods .........................
Great story and a very nice looking "A". Thanks for posting that !
MIKE

Thanks Mike
There is so much more I was told just gave you guys the short version of it!

[1931 flamingo]

N I C E.........................................

What color are the wheels???
Paul in CT

[Elcastor]

You know, there seems to be plenty of room for more cars in that garage! Nice looking car!

[gweilbaker]

Hey, nice story. Umm that's a mighty nice MAN SHED!! And it is a little too clean. All I can say is WOW.

[MALAK]

Very nice!

[bogdonj]

Nice car, Nice shop!

[Richard Wilson]

WOW! That car looks great for a 48 year old restoration. Glad it stayed with the family.

[Modelakid31]

Beautiful roadster! Glade to see you guys keep the car in the family! Have fun with it.

[james hitchcock]

Wow.

[Double D Mods]

Here is a couple more pics i just found in one of the boxes.
These are from the late 60's

The wheels he originally painted yellow but didnt like them so changed them to orange

[Double D Mods]

Originally Posted by Brubaker

Very nice car. Pictures afford a nice break(especially after reading the 'vendor disappointment thread). I may even like your shop more than the car! Congrats on both.

Originally Posted by Elcastor

You know, there seems to be plenty of room for more cars in that garage! Nice looking car!

Originally Posted by gweilbaker

Hey, nice story. Umm that's a mighty nice MAN SHED!! And it is a little too clean. All I can say is WOW.

Thanks guys!

The shop is actually our business. We have a 6000 sq ft building

We customize Corvettes and Vipers updating the cars to in dash NAV as our main claim to fame.

We sell many custom audio packages, wheels, performance parts as well for all makes and models.


this car was in the bay where the roadster is now. 8500.00 leather interior/NAv upgrade to this Corvette


The display area





This is ours that usually takes up some of the space.

[Gumpy]

thankyou for sharing your car story...I'd love to be the caretaker of that roadster!