Everyone loves a great, pristine hot rod build or resto mod, but there’s something truly special about a vehicle that’s been preserved, maintained, and lovingly restored by a committed owner over a period of years. It’s that sort of dedication that Steele Rubber and the International Show Car Association wished to honor when they presented the first Preservation Award at the Detroit Autorama. The award went to Clarence “Slick” Patterson for a 1939 Ford Convertible Custom that had been in his family for decades.
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According to Steel Rubber, the award “is given to a vehicle and individual that showcases the heritage of the hot rod and classic car industry. These award winning vehicles may not have the most glitz and bling, but they represent the ideals, character and history of the hot rod hobby.”This year, the award will go to Mike Stowe for his 1940 Ford Coupe.
Mike has owned the car since April 1958 when he purchased it for $125 in a town 50 miles away from where he lived. “It ran, so the idea was to drive it home,” said Mike.
“One thing we didn’t think about was license plates. In the very first town we came to the local police stopped us. He must have felt sorry for two kids because, after of lot of conversation, he let us go on our way.”
The issue of the license plates was only the first of many things that had to be addressed. The crankshaft was missing a rod, so the engine had to go, replaced with a ’55 Chevrolet V-8. After extensive body work, sierra gold paint, new upholstery and a few other parts, the car was ready to drive, which Mike did, keeping it in that condition until 1987 when it got new paint. In 2001, a new T.C.I. chassis and a new aluminum head 350 motor were installed, along with a tilt wheel from Ididit and air conditioning from Vintage Air.
2012 saw another new paint job by Lewis Brothers, new upholstery, and a new Tremec five speed transmission pluse a rebuilt 327-350HP Chevy motor.The ’40 has been part of Mike’s life for nearly fifty years, making it the perfect recipient for the Preservation Award. The Ford will be on display at the Detroit Autorama in a specially marked place for the award winner. If you're going to the Autorama, be sure to stop by and see it.
Congrats to Mike and everyone who has kept the Ford (and other vehicles like it) on the road!