Sometimes we come across a barn find that doesn’t have the history one would like it to — and thus remains a mystery. This car is certainly one of those! Titled as a 1933 Plymouth convertible but appearing to be based on the frame of a 1939 or newer Ford, this special is now for sale in our own Barn Finds classifieds for $5,000. It’s located in Hustisford, Wisconsin.
The seller tells us that the front end is from a 1950 Mercury but that it has been blended into the rest of the body with both fiberglass and lead. The windshield is from an unknown car and the cut-down sides take the place of having doors for access. With the full-width nose but separate fenders, the car certainly has a unique appearance. It’s grown on me in the hours since I first saw these pictures.
Obviously the hood is steel, and the fact that the rust isn’t too bad gives me hope for the rest of the car.
The seller notes that the letters in the front spell out “THORNE”, and hypothesizes that it could stand for Joel Thorne, a famous (and rich) driver and owner of racing cars who owned the 1946 Indianapolis 500 winning car. Given the fact that Thorne hired Frank Kurtis (founder of Kurtis Kraft), Zeke Justice (Justice Brothers), and Art Sparks to build his road and street cars at various points in his life I seriously doubt that this car came from any of them given the “rough work” and “terrible welding” seen on this special, so I suspect this was a different Thorne.
The seller wants to keep the shifter for some reason. It’s attached to a 1947 transmission and we’re told the chassis has hydraulic brakes. Obviously if you want to restore this car, you’ll end up being at least somewhat creative.
Here you can see where some of the components are blended together. Does anyone recognize either set of fenders or the deck lid from some manufactured car?
Unfortunately, the seller tells us that the engine is only good for parts and doesn’t include a picture. I’d love to know more about this special — do any of you Barn Finds readers have any recollection of this car?
Looks like a flathead Ford under the hood so believe the early Ford frame is correct and what a lot of “Specials” were made from.
LOVELY project! quite decent appearance for a home built and yes–the lowly but loved flathead, If the car has an unknown history, it wouldn’t be slandered by installing a better drive train from the same period–the front end dated it in the early fifties or probably later so an265/283 chebby with a three speed would be fitting–like the early vettes!
Five k is reasonable for that bit of history–I already have tooooo many projects–wonder if the seller has the hots for a Chrysler 300 to swop?
I always go by the amount of rust on the hood to determine the condition of the rest of the car. Brilliant!
Well the wheels are from the 30’s!
But would look great chromed with some faux knock-off hubs.
Looks like a ’49-50 Mercury grill that doesn’t seem to fit very well. A little more creativity might help here. The shape of the opening says Willys Aero to me, for example. The whole front clip says “1950 envelope” to me, whereas the side views say “1935 coach-built”. As is, the “blending” of the two styles doesn’t settle well for me. The side-view with the faired-in headlights says Pierce Arrow – until you look at it from the front. If I were redesigning this car, I might consider that since the title already says “Plymouth”, I’d ask how they solved these problems in the Prowler or even the PT Cruiser. But there’s a bit of Morgan tossed in there too, as well as MGTF.
But these ideas are tantamount to a blank sheet of paper. They would destroy the character, the design, and the execution of this vehicle. Maybe just letting the front fenders slope back gently to running boards. Right now, they look more like they’re trying to evoke the look of cycle fenders. Bumpers are too wide, and front track is too wide.
Drive-train: Chrysler’s first hemis came out in 1952, I believe. Did Kurtis use them? Another flat-head Ford would work well too. Wasn’t there a huge aftermarket supply of HP gadgetry for these engines? I would think one could be built to put a nostalgic smile on a lot of faces.
It would be fun to play with this thing. But I’m not the guy to do it!
Daimler SP 250 – ish
Knock off a zero and this makes a perfect pot for plants , call it yard art !
Too many nice cheap convertibles to enjoy immediately for less than the asking price of this. Eergh thing …
I admit, it would have to be an acquired taste. MCH: you said “Daimler SP 250 – ish”. When I think Daimler SP 250, I think “Ugly”. This car rather inspires the same response. In that sense, I agree.
Daimler SP250 is one fantastic looking sports car. IMO.
My criteria is, if someone offered to GIVE it to me, the condition being that when I sold it I could not get more money for it than what I had put into it, and if it sold for less, too bad, would I take it? For today, the ’37 Studebaker, yes, this, no. The Imperial maybe, I would really like to see the underside, and the rot, or, no rot.
Looks like a 30’s Chris-Craft windshield.
Windshield is from a MG T-series. TC/TD/TF.
This seems to be a car of many parts and ideas. The cut away doors are very Triumph TR indeed. Good luck to the buyer.
HSA
Wayne from Oz,
All I can say is that even great minds can differ. For me, the SP250 is an acquired taste and I’m just not there yet. Gimme abut 20 more years. A friend of mine has a ’49 Triumph 2000 – both quintessentially British and elegant. Absolutely beautiful. I just cannot say the same of the SP250 yet. I’m workin’ on it!
Ran when parked.
I own this one off custom 33 Plymouth now. Cool story to add to this strange unseen in person purchase. The headlight area that protrudes out beyond and kills the flow of the car is just a later add on. It’s made of fiberglass and underneath is 39 Mercury teardrop openings to accept 39 Merc headlights. Now it’s a totally different car! It was originally a light blue/gray color with white tucknroll interior. The flathead has a H&C cam with Forged True pistons.
Could you post some pictures as you work on it?