Solved - NEH 640: "Little Jewel" homebuild - 1952

[Carnut]

Identify what this is and who built it, for 1 point:

[DeAutogids]

1 point is very cheap to build a car....

[Carnut]

1 point is very cheap to build a car....

Good point; grammar altered!

[Carnut]

Movin' up...

[Carnut]

And up again...

[Ray B.]

The usual heartbreaker: I think I saw this one, but can't remember where. All I recall ( without certainty) is that the guy was from Texas, and the car body was steel, not fiberglass, made from several different cars.

[guido66]

Thanks Ray. It's the Little Jewel

"This homebuilt sports car was constructed in a backyard shop in Lamesa, Texas, in 1952 by Garner "Grandpa" Jones and Herman Lawhon. Starting with a 1951 Ford chassis that was shortened to 100 inches; the body was formed with parts from approximately twenty-seven cars readily available in the local wrecking yards. An Olds 'Rocket' engine was coupled to a 1951 Ford 3-speed overdrive transmission and rearend that was modified for drag racing. The car drag raced in West Texas and New Mexico, at least through 1956 and raced in Indianapolis in 1955"

[Ray B.]

Pleased to oblige.

I see that the mysterious somewhere I 'd seen it in was simply the Hemmings blog. Where we find hese precisions from the actual owner:

"Thanks for all your comments about the "Little Jewel," or as one of Garner Jones son's called her, "Pop's Jaguar."

Since the Lost and Found pictures were published in Hemmings in 2006, I have almost completed the restoration (with a lot of help from my friends).

Garner & Herman first built a "kit car" that was square like an MG and ran a flathead motor. Apparently over coffee, the two men decided that they could design and build a better sports car. In spite of the fact that Garner's widow left behind 5 scrapbooks of familly pictures, there was not a single picture of the Little Jewel nor did any plans the two men might have drawn up survive. Fortunately two of Garner's sons kept some pictures of the car that they had taken. One son lives in California provided several black and white photos of the car when it was first registered in 1953. At that point it was painted bright red, had Pontiac hubcaps, blackwall tires, and no grille. The widow of another son provide four color pictures taken in 1954, one of which is included in those published by Hemmings. Note the home made grille and windshield. Joe Williams, who lives near Fort Worth, let me copy a color photo of the car taken at the drag races at Tradewinds Airport near Amarillo.

Here's what I know. The Little Jewel started life as a 1951 Ford station wagon. The dash was narrowed about 8 inches. Firewall is 51 Ford as is suspension and rear end. Engine was originally 303 Olds with a 3-speed overdrive Ford "3 on the tree."

The 51 Ford provided the frame, firewall, dash, front and rear suspension. The cockpit floor, rear section, rear fenders, inner doors and rockers were from 47-48 Chevrolet 4-door. Front fenders and outer door skins were from a 46 Buick. Trunk lid is from a 1937 Cadillac LaSalle, the hood had been the trunk lid on a 38 Studebaker, and the folding top may have come from the same Studebaker."


Herman Lawhon was one of the founders of the NHRA.

[Carnut]

Thanks for all the info guys.
Nothing more I can add.
So it's 1 point for guido66.
Well done.

[barrett]

Just in case no one saw this yet  

[João]

Another picture :