Construction Photos

Based on the dates printed on some of the pictures (remember when pictures came back from the camera store with white borders and a date printed on the bottom?), the car was built sometime before the end of 1958.

Shoemaker built a mold, then fitted it to the frame, supported by a plywood framework. (The plywood frame is still in the car.)

I could tell this was a flathead, but it took some hotrod guys to identify it as a Mercury Flathead. The frame -- based on this photo and of current pictures of the car has been identified as a Ford (1949-1953). And this is consistent with a magazine article from 1967 that states that Shoemaker's car was built using the chassis and running gear of a '51 Ford. (Unfortunately the article didn't include any photos -- but the author described the car as, bearing a "resemblance to todays Cobra constructed by Shelby-American".)

What it looks like now

The engine, transmission, bolt-on Dayton wire wheels, and the SW Tachometer are all gone -- but the body and frame are still together and solid. (The stance of the car is considerably higher than it would be if the Mercury Flathead was still under the hood.)

New to the car is a rollbar (not in this photo), a pair of "over-the-hill" leather seats (described as having come out of a Jaguar XKE) and a push bar (the kind of rear T-bar that is used to push start a flat lakes racer or a sprint car).

The car is sitting on old and partially-rotted tires, mounted on steel wheels. The wheels are painted gold -- presumably matching the gold paint of the car from the 1950's photos.