Words and photos by Anna Marco
Jack Stewart was my friend. The mere fact that I can say that is an honor because he was so supportive of what I do as a woman automotive journalist in a male dominated industry. He was a treasure trove of historical hot rod information, trivia facts and regaled me with stories to no end of the cruising days of yore. I found him fascinating and entertaining and could listen to him for days. We would speak on the phone for hours about all things cars. He made me wish I had grown up at the same time as he did because I felt I missed out on all of his fun.
Jack is also remembered for his copper 1941 Ford, a trendsetting custom car he fabricated along with Regg Schlemmer, Kenny Lucas, Gil Ayala and finished by Barris. However, that car was Jack and always will be no matter who owns it, as an extension of his understated grace and elegance as a man. A book was eventually written about it entitled “Jack Stewart Ford.” It was a vehicle that would influence many followers and eventually win him accolades but he was most proud of his long involvement in the L.A. Roadster car club (since 1971) because he was a rodder at heart. He proudly remarked that as the historian for the car club, he personally archived a vast array of club collectibles, owned every pewter mug they ever produced and collected over 39 pinstriped panels. I would kill for those. He would always call me before their club’s annual Father’s Day event at Pomona to make sure I took a ride with him in a golf cart and “got the tour and the right wristband.” He called it “a good time for all” and always reminded me to “to get this year’s dash plaque, it’s a good one.” He was the torchbearer of that show and the best PR man they ever had.
To me, Jack was a gentleman’s gentleman. He was dignified; and as a woman, I appreciated his chivalry and impeccable manners. His wife Sally, whom he loved dearly, always put a twinkle in his eye. Together they were the cutest hot rod couple; always a fixture at car shows and related West Coast car activities. I was honored to sit at the same dinner table with them when he was inducted into the West Coast Kustoms Hall of Fame.
Having held many positions in the L.A. Roadster club including President, Jack wrote a book with the late Dick Wells about the club called L.A. Roadsters Retrospective, which includes info and photos about the club and of every club member since its inception in 1958. During the 1970’s he partnered with former Rod & Custom staffer Neal East to write and photograph hot rod features and articles for publications like Rod Action and Street Rodder magazines.
In 2010, Rik Hoving and Palle Johansen (with a forward by Pat Ganahl, hot rod historian) were on a quest to gather as much research material on Jack Stewart’s 1941 Ford as possible, because Palle had purchased the car and was taking it back to Denmark. In a no holds barred effort to make their restoration of Jack’s Ford undisputedly accurate, the overwhelming amount of information they uncovered prompted Rik Hoving to write the book, “Jack Stewart Ford,” chronicling 62 years of history on the car. It illustrates in detail how Jack was inspired to build such a radical custom back then, exactly how he did it, and how decades later, it was brought back to its original 1950’s version. Four different caretakers each have their own section in the book. They tell of their adventures with Jack’s Ford with a selection of accompanying photos. Jack was honored to be the subject matter and pleased as punch with the final result. Of course, I had him autograph my copy. I was so proud of him but touched mostly by how happy he was about it all.
Always outspoken and full of stories and laughs, Jack will be deeply missed not only by me but many others in our rodding community. It will be too damn quiet without him. I find it ironic that he would become ill only to miss the 50th Anniversary of the L.A. Roadster Show, the one he was looking most forward to. In honor of Jack, I will never ride in a golf cart at that event again with anyone else. Jack Stewart, you will forever be in my heart. Aloha.
The Jack Stewart Ford book is available directly from the publisher at: www.kustomkarbooks.com. See:www.laroadsters.com. Email: [email protected]. Phone 310-544-4200.