Custom Ford 1951 Oakland Roadster Show Winner Don Garlits Hot Rod

1950 Peretto Brothers Special Show Car

Please see early show history and photos of this car,by clicking on this link:http://www.customcarchronicle.com/custom-cars/paretto-37-ford-custom/I acquired this car in 2014, n behalf of Big Daddy Don Garlits,as one of the Garlits Drag Racing and Antique Car Museum's Board of Directors, nd Museum Attorney, osts I have held since the 1990s. Occasionally I will buy cars on behalf of Don, nd/or the museum. The cars dash has been signed by Don Garlits. Winning bidder has the option of having his photo with Don Garlits next to this car. We auctioned two of the Garlits Collection cars on Friday January 22nd 2016, t the Mecum Kissimmee auction. Mecum does an AMAZING job at their auctions!! Our 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500 four speed brought $155,000. This Peretto Brothers Show Car bid to $25,000, ith a reserve of $34,900. We have decided to put this superb car up for auction to a wider audience, n Ebay, ith a no reserve opening bid of only $26,000.The car is for sale, ocally, nd I reserve the right to end this auction early. Good Luck, eorge Albright, cala, la. 3--5---2--8---4---3---1---6---2---4-

Built in 1950 by brothers Reno and Ray Peretto of Alameda, alif. using a 1937 Ford sedan as the donor vehicle! The body panels are all custom made, nd resembles a 1950 Muntz Jet or Allard sports car. The early history of this vehicle has been extensively documented. Three long term Calif. area owners until around 2012. Brought to Florida in 2014.(Notice on the driver’s door in faded lettering the words “GREASE Box Office Presents 1978”. This car may have been used as a prop to advertise the movie box office hit “Grease”, ith John Travolta and Olivia Newton John)

Included with this solid car is its original grill, s the front end was modified/updated to a sports car appearance some time after the 1952 auto shows. Thus the car can be shown as is, r returned to its early 1950s appearance. Also included with the car is its 1951 third place trophy won at the 1951 Oakland Roadster Show, nd its 1952 second place trophy won at the 1952 Oakland International Sports Car Show. Both trophies were recently acquired from the Peretto family, o that they can permanently remain with this historic vehicle.

The car’s engine is a late 1930s/40s Ford/Mercury flathead. The car starts, uns, hifts, rives, tops excellent. $1,700 of recent mechanical work includes removing and cleaning the radiator and gas tank. New parts include the carb, oth water pumps, oints, aster cylinder and all four wheel cylinders, rake shoe linings, ront end ball joints, nd shifter linkage rubber grommets.

This original time capsule is a superb investment as early 1950s documented hot rod show cars are virtually nonexistent. It would be welcome at most any show or concourse that has a historic hot rod category. Plus its super cool and fun to drive! Again here is the link to a major story on the cars history:

http://www.customcarchronicle.com/custom-cars/paretto-37-ford-custom/

Mecum Auction cataloguetext below, rom the Friday January 22nd 2016 auction. Car reached $25,000.

ESTIMATE: $40,000 - $60,000

This 1937 Ford from the famed Don Garlits Collection is a fascinating relic from the early years of the automotive customizing trend that broke in postwar California and spread like a wave across the nation. It is believed to be the first car customized by brothers Roy and Reno Peretto of Alameda, alifornia, ho showed the car at the 1951 and 1952 Roadster Shows in Oakland, alifornia, inning its class and third place overall in 1951. In 1952, t won second place in the International Sport Car Show, lso held in Oakland. The brothers dismantled the 1937 Ford humpback sedan donor car and, emarkably, egan the transformation by using the roof to form the rounded rear bodywork. The quarter panels, ender skirts, oors and fenders were hand-rolled and finished; period photos show the bottoms of the panels clamped in place to establish the proper alignment. The front bulkhead and windshield frame were widened to align them with the new bodywork, nd the stylish dash adapted from a 1941 Lincoln. The front and rear bumpers are from 1949 and 1947 Buicks respectively, nd the tail lights also 1941 Lincoln units. Originally fitted with a 1946 Chevrolet front grille, he car was at some time modified with new front bodywork seemingly inspired by the early-1950s Lancia Aurelia. The “Peretto Special Sport Car” languished in obscurity for years until “Custom Car Chronicles” Editor-in-Chief Rik Hoving discovered a photograph showing the car at the 1952 Oakland Roadster Show. Then Chris Ito, nother CCC contributor and then-owner of the Pretto Brothers’ custom 1949 Mercury, ound a Peretto family album with photos of both cars, stablishing its provenance. In 2013, he owner at the time contacted Hoving after seeing the photos in the CCC archive. It was then put up for sale, nd in 2014 the Garlits Museum took ownership. Still powered by the 1946 Mercury flathead V-8 with column-shifted 3-speed, he Peretto Special has that patina only found in a well-preserved early custom and is ready to reclaim its place as a pioneering and prize-winning California custom.

HIGHLIGHTS

- From Don Garlits Collection

- Believed to be the first custom car built by the Peretto Brothers of Alameda, alifornia
- 3rd place at the National Roadster Show in Oakland, alifornia, 951
- 2nd place at the International Sport Car Show in Oakland, alifornia, 952
- Trophies included
- 1937 Ford humpback sedan frame
- Dropped front axle
- Hand-rolled body side panels
- 1930s-40s Ford/Mercury flathead engine
- Column-shifted 3-speed transmission
- 1949 Buick front bumper
- 1947 Buick rear bumper
- 1941 Lincoln tail lights
- 1941 Lincoln dash
- Cut-down 1950 Ford side trim
- Hand-made fender skirts
- Whitewall tires
- Chrome wheels
- 1946 Chevrolet grille included