A few years back, we were looking for old pics for our website of cool Stromberg-equipped cars from back in the day. A great contact in California sent us this awesome COLOUR picture of a channelled ’32 roadster at the 1961 Oakland Roadster Show. We had no idea who took it (though I now hear it was Andy Southard), but I thought it was the coolest thing ever – it says everything about what Stromberg means to millions of hot rodders the world over. But the blue colour balance didn’t work for the website and it never made the cut. Then just recently we nearly used it again for our ad in the forthcoming Jalopy Journal book. Note, I said, ‘nearly’…
So let’s back up to October 2011. We get a phone message from a guy named Marcus in CA. I mean, no-one phones us from California! But he had six chrome 97s and was asking about 6×2 linkages. We were still in development then, but we emailed back and showed him pics of our early feasibility prototypes and mock-ups. By December, we had enough parts to send Marcus our first ever 6×2 Back-bar kit. No idea what the car was or anything. Happy customer… on to the next enquiry…
Next up, in Feb 2012, we get the first pics of the Grand National Roadster Show contenders. We make our personal choice. No contest. Sylvester III, the wild red ’32 with the six chrome 97s. I can’t see the attraction in Indy-car looking hot rods myself, but the judges thought differently, I guess. Then in May this year, a new email back from Marcus. I hate the word ‘humbling’. It’s overused, but it kinda fits here:
Hi Clive, Back in January, you sent us a prototype 6 X 2 rear linkage and we would like to say thanks again for your help. We have recently finished a project using 6 of your new chrome 97’s, a couple sets of your progressive linkage and your “you-fit” rear linkage and couldn’t be happier with the overall look and performance of all of your products. We have taken the car to a few high-end indoor shows this year and have been getting a very good response and are attracting a lot of attention………(I’ve cut some here)…. I have attached a couple pictures of the car, and look forward to hearing from you.
Two things. One..humility. Guys build my vote for coolest car of the year and talk about “a very good response”. I should say so! I love this car to death. And we want to give huge thanks to Marcus Owens and Paul Shaughnessy of New Metal Kustomz for using our chrome 97s on this car. 2012 was actually a breakthrough year for Stromberg at the GNRS with a bunch of the real high profile cars using our carburetors and other products. So thanks to all those who chose Genuine Stromberg! We know you have a choice… And the second thing? Suddenly it all makes sense. Mystery Marcus, the awesome red ’32, and yes, of course, it’s the very same car as in our blue-tinted 1961 Show picture!
You can read all about the car and its trip to the GNRS 2012 on the HAMB. No point us repeating it all here. Far better to hear from the various horses’ mouths. Click the HAMB link to check it out.