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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2015 => Topic started by: Paul Jaray on December 27, 2010, 11:51:15 AM

Title: Solved -PJ363- Gordon Tulbert Special
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 27, 2010, 11:51:15 AM
Know what it is?

Please, respond below and share your knowledge of what this vehicle is, and who built it.

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Thanks!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Allemano on December 27, 2010, 12:06:59 PM
Congratulations Paul!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: woodinsight on December 27, 2010, 12:25:29 PM
10,000 posts!
Congratulations on passing that formidable milestone PJ.
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 27, 2010, 12:34:24 PM
Grazie 10000.  ;D
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: jotage21 on December 27, 2010, 01:18:01 PM
Congratulations PJ!! Thank you for share with us your huge automotive knowledge!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 27, 2010, 01:25:33 PM
 :o

Wow!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 27, 2010, 01:30:19 PM
:o

Wow!

Wow + 7938!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: woodinsight on December 30, 2010, 06:34:53 PM
From USA?
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 30, 2010, 07:01:51 PM
Yes!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Vincent Vell Vet on December 30, 2010, 10:40:07 PM
Looks like Cadillac hub caps. Does that discribe it's innerds?
(That's all I got. A pro I am not.)
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 31, 2010, 04:09:36 AM
Built by students?
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 31, 2010, 05:46:20 AM
The base is not a Cadillac...and the builder started to think at his custom when he was an high school boy, but it was not built by students as a project.
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: João on January 01, 2011, 01:32:33 PM
Hope it´s not based on a Nash or Nash-Healey  :-\
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 02, 2011, 03:01:04 AM
Not Nash or Nash Healey...quite an ordinary base for this custom.
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Amsterdam on January 02, 2011, 07:35:17 AM
Not Nash or Nash Healey...quite an ordinary base for this custom.


Ford?
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 02, 2011, 08:15:11 AM
Yes!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 12, 2011, 04:33:41 PM
Black hole?
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Vincent Vell Vet on January 13, 2011, 01:05:36 PM
Coachcraft?
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 13, 2011, 03:06:13 PM
Self-built custom.
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 19, 2011, 12:50:52 PM
I know what you are thinking: 'Must be some custom made car he found in an old magazine...'
This car is not featured in my books but it's online.
I think I ear you saying: 'well, yeah, one of the obscure sites you know, very obscure source...'
This car is featured in at least 2 places: 1 is very known by 'almost' all of us, the other one is know by EVERY one, in and outside Autopuzzles.
If you don't get the clue...the car is currently for sale.
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 09, 2011, 04:15:36 PM
Alright, then...down the hole!
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 10, 2011, 02:52:15 AM
Ah - Model A wheels. That helps.

Back in my "to be researched" file.
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 10, 2011, 03:20:31 PM
This car can be found on the net.
Is it no longer for sale on Ebay but there is a link to that car in a site about, guess what, fiberglass sports cars...
Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: João on February 10, 2011, 03:29:57 PM
I found it :  It is the "Gordon Tulbert Special" based on a 1940/42 V-8 Ford

Title: Re: PJ - 363 - 10000th post
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 10, 2011, 04:39:16 PM
Cool!  8)

Nice work, João
Title: Re: Solved -PJ363- Gordon Tulbert Special
Post by: Paul Jaray on February 11, 2011, 02:10:24 PM
That's it!
From Ebay:

Original, survivor 1940/42 V-8 Ford Custom Hot Rod Sports Car "Wanabe Corvette"

No, it’s not a Woodhill Wildfire, a Glaspar G2 or any number of other low-volume glass-bodied cars/kits
that were becoming available in the late 1950's. It is a "Gordon Tulbert Special" and it is one-of-a-kind.
The term “one-of-a-kind” is often used quite loosely. In this case, it could not be truer.
I have included an original sketch done by a Minnesota high school boy back in the late 1950’s.
He had Corvette tastes, but was on an old Ford flathead budget. He was not going to be able to buy it,
so he decided to build it.
A lot of these projects get started, but a smaller number get finished. Here is one that made it.
Using skills he developed in helping to fabricate some of the first fiberglass fishing boats,
he created something magnificent.
There is a great history between the time this car was built until the modern day.
It was traded, sold, not paid for, repossesed and thought to have been scrapped at one time.
Sometime after the purchase, I was able to locate the builder only by a crazy stroke of luck.
If you have read any of Tom Cotter's great books
(such as “The Cobra in the Barn: Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology”),
you are familiar with stories of unusual cars and motorcycles being re-discovered.
If you have not, you should immediately go out and buy a copy of everything he has ever wrote on the subject.
Great Reading!
Back to the story of “the Ghost", as one of its former owner referred to it as.
It is built based on a 1940/41 Ford 2-door sedan, the same one pictured in the original, study hall doodling.
Imagine driving the original 2-door sedan from the back seat! The North Dakota title lists it as a “1942 Ford”,
but as far as I can see, the serial number on the frame is for a 1940 Ford.
I suppose it sat on the lot for awhile before being sold.
The frame is unaltered in length and has the engine positioned in the stock location.
A late 1940’s vintage flathead Ford V-8 with a Lincoln Zephyr side-shift transmission is installed.
This is the original transmission that was installed when the car was built, but the engine has not yet been verified.
The body is very unusual, as it is fiberglass laminated over sections of the original Ford sheet metal,
including the original rear windows section now used as the trunk panel.
Gordon even built an electric motor operated hood!
He also "borrowed" the 1955 Thunderbird from one of his friend's dad in order to make a mold for the hood scoop.
Remember, this car was built by a 16 year-old high school student with limited resources.
There are parts that are crude, such as some of the welding, but overall, I am in awe of what he created.

I have replaced the following parts with new or reproduction components:

·        All steel brake lines
·        All flexible brake hoses
·        All brake shoes
·        Master cylinder
·        All brake wheel cylinders
·        Front and rear wheel grease seals
·        Fuel tank
·        Fuel filler tube
·        “V8” fuel filler cap
·        Steel fuel lines
·        Fuel pump
·        Water pumps
·        Battery
·        Voltage regulator
·        Tires
·        “V8” hub caps
·        High beam switch

 In addition, I have wired up the essentials (ignition, starter, head, brake and tail lamps)
in order to be able to be somewhat legal to drive.
There is much more to this story, but I think you get the idea.
It obviously still needs to be completed, but I am not sure how far cosmetically it should be done.
This car is a “survivor” from a different age. I just know that I am not the guy to make the next move with this car.

Title: NEH 4239
Post by: Carnut on August 27, 2015, 07:45:36 AM
What's this and who from where built it, for 1 point?

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: Carnut on September 10, 2015, 05:59:41 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: Carnut on October 08, 2015, 04:35:08 AM
No takers so far..
Let's see what the Pro's make of it.
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: oko94 on October 08, 2015, 04:36:06 AM
American home-built Ford V8 special ?
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: Carnut on October 08, 2015, 04:36:48 AM
American home-built Ford V8 special ?

Yes..
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: oko94 on October 08, 2015, 04:57:56 AM
Fiberglass body ?
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: Paul Jaray on October 08, 2015, 05:01:09 AM
Tulbert Special.  ;)
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=14927.0
Title: Re: NEH 4239
Post by: Carnut on October 08, 2015, 05:08:06 AM
Tulbert Special.  ;)
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=14927.0

Right you are!
I didn't actually have a name for this car, which wasn't mentioned on the site I got the pictures from (rear view below).
I see you've replaced the picture in your original thread, which had gone missing so I had nothing to go on anywyay..

These threads will now be merged (and I'll give you a point!)
Title: Re: Solved -PJ363- Gordon Tulbert Special
Post by: Paul Jaray on October 08, 2015, 05:24:41 AM
Thank you, but really I do not deserve it ;)