Big John

This story is an article that can be found in the April 1991 issue of 1949-50-51 Ford Owners Newsletter

When I first found my 1951 Victoria in March of 1989, I was sure I would be content forever. She was a one-owner beauty with only 19,860 miles. She had a Fordomatic transmission and ran so quiet you would swear she wasn't running. The interior was flawless and there was hardly a scratch on her entire body, plus everything on her worked like new.

But all the time I was enjoying her at car shows and on the many trips (twice from Florida to Michigan and back), I was forever haunted by memories of my teenage years. So after many sleepless nights and many conservations with my ever-so-thoughtful wife, the decision was made to make some changes and create the car of the 50s that I had always wanted but never had.

Thus was born this story our our '51 Vic, "Black Beauty."

It is Saturday, February 9th, 1991. The place is Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. The event is the first major car show that is within 100 miles of our home.

Heading for the entrance gate, I'm feeling like a teenager who just got his first car and is out to show it to the world. The car is sitting real low and slowly makes its way in line with all the other show cars. The deep rumble of the new Flathead attracts the attention of the crowd. Heads turn and the men start grinning and nodding their heads in approval; they're joined by the women.

Cameras come out; picture after picture is taken as the people start clapping their appreciation for the "Beauty" that I so proudly drive. I try to act normal but I know that the ear-to-ear grin on my face lets people know just how proud I am of that car.

Slowly I keep moving toward my designated spot among all the other great-looking show cars in the same class. Most of the owners are wiping down their cars, but I notice many heads looking up at the sound as I pass by.

I park the car while trying to answer what seems like a thousand questions, all being asked at the same time. As I lift the hood the crowd goes silent. You could hear a pin drop. Then, almost as if by cue, people start gasping and the cameras start clicking again. By now, I'm sure my head wouldn't fit in a 50 gallon hat!

The questions keep coming; when I tell them my car is a daily driver, some say it should be kept locked up and in a garage. I try to explain that if I couldn't drive it and enjoy it, just what fun would I get out of it?

A lot of people ask how much it cost to get the car in the shape it is in. I tell them that the price is only a figure and if you really want something, you have to make sacrifices. You also have to give a lot of sweat, sleepless nights, skinned knuckles, more sweat and plenty of aching muscles. And probably most important, you have to have an understanding wife.

Even thought he exterior of the car is beautiful, with chromed lake pipes, dummy spots, fender skirts, pinstripes, Dodge Royal Lancer 4-bar spinners and new radials and rides four inches lower than stock, it is the engine that is the focus of the crowd.

The Flathead was built by Tony DiCosta who owns Hot Rod & Custom Supply in Cape Coral, FL. If you want a truly beautiful dressed-up Flattie, Tony is someone you should talk to. Even though I had my own ideas, Tony is the one that made all the right suggestions to end up with what is the most beautiful-sounding Flathead anyone could want- and be proud to own

When I removed the old flathead, I spent many hours sanding the firewall and the inner fender panels in preparation for the high-gloss black paint. The Merc block was painted high-gloss black as were all other paintable parts on the engine. This turned out great, with the chrome and aluminum under the hood. The heads are Offenhauser cast aluminum high compression jobs, precision cast with maximum rib design - makes them cooler running and they have more water capacity. They also provide more fin area for rapid heat dissipation

The cam is a three-quarter Isky with overlength adjustable chilled iron tappets. Both the inner and outer valve springs are Silicon chrome and the valve spring retainers are heavy duty.

The intake manifold is also an Offy, cast in high grade aluminum alloy. The twin cars are Stromberg custom 97s with power coating and chrome and stainless trim. They have been jetted andmodified for multiple set-up and have positive linkages. Both carbs have triple-plated chrome air cleaners.

The fuel runs through clear red fuel lines. There's a fuel pressure regulator and special fuel filter with a Fenton polished fuel block.

The exhaust is (naturally!) dual, with chrome headers. The mufflers are Smithys with a new turbo core. Out back, I used 3-1/2 by 18 inch echo cans.

The ignition is Mallor Unilite- the breakerless electronic ignition system. Nifty!

And of course, I converted to 12 volts. All wires under the hood are wrapped with special chrome covers.

The plug wires are clear red and run through a polished stainless steel wire loom. The alternator is a chromed one-wire GM item. Most everything else is chrome-plated.

Thinking of all the work and changes put into making my semi-custom daily driver, I can understand how people are so taken back at seeing the finished product- myself, I'm still in Seventh Heaven, realizing a dream that started more than 30 years ago.

The day seems to go by in the blink of an eye. The judging has been over for some time and we all head for the judging area. Black Beauty was in the street modified class, matched against some other beautiful cars, including a '50 Ford and a '50 Merc.

The 3rd Place winner is announced and the croud claps in approval as Jim DeGroat, owner of the '50 Ford, steps up to get his trophy.

The 2nd place winner is announced and my heart skips a beat as I head up to get my trophy while the crowd claps its approval.

The 1st place winner is announced, and Fred McCoy, owner of the '50 Merc, steps up to get the top award.

It was a clean sweep for Flatheads! We talk about the fact that all three winners were Flathead-powered cars.

When I get back to my car, a pinstriper is waiting; I have some work I want done under the hood. I have him paint FLATHEADS FOREVER on the firewall. Fred McCoy smiles and says he's going to have FOREVER FLATHEADS painted on his firewall.

Black Beauty is rolling out of the Stadium as the people start clapping again, showing their approval for the sound of the Flathead. The cameras were clicking again.

I arrive home and enter the house with my new trophy and start telling my wife everything - she smiles and gives me a kiss and lets me ramble on for about an hour. She also tells me how happy she is for me and my "new" car.

I head for the shower thinking about a rolled and pleated interior and then a new paint job...but my wife is sitting there wondering how to tell me she has a flat tire and that the hot water tank quit working early this morning.•