Long-time Milton Ulladulla Vintage and Classic Car Club member Greg Farr is also a Ford 'tragic' with a penchant for the blue oval nomenclature.
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The model featured in this article is a 1936 flathead V8 coupé.
The flathead (side-valve) V8 engine launched in 1932 was another masterstroke from the brilliance of Henry Ford, the man who put the everyday American on the road in 1908, with the Model T.
An inexpensive simple and reliable car for the masses.
Fifteen million had been built and were travelling the roads on all continents, before the end of the line in 1927.
Old Henry a teetotaller, who couldn't suffer fools, and had what could only be described as an abrasive personally - was without a doubt a man with great foresight - a genius.
From 1917 he spent 10 years building the largest single industrial complex in the world - the River Rouge manufacturing plant, which on its completion in 1927 covered an area of 3642 km, materialising his dream of - 'from iron-ore to a completed vehicle' - all on the one complex. The launch of the Model T's successor, the more "luxurious" Model A in late 1927, was the first car built at the giant River Rouge Complex.
The second time around
Greg first saw this car at a Ford display day and noted just how original it was, even in it's not so glamorous dark brown hue.
Because of its originality, he told the owner if ever wanted to sell it, he would be interested.
So, when the call came some years later he went to the owner's place to reacquaint himself.
Unfortunately, the owner had embarked on his own restoration but apparently lost interest.
"On close inspection, I thought the job so far was rough and not very professional, but I was assured at least the engine had been properly reconditioned," Greg said.
"I'd recently sold my Mustang and the money was burning a hole in my pocket.
"So even though I thought the price he was asking a little high - we came to an agreement and I was keen to get started."
Prior to the Mustang, Greg had owned a 1935 Ford (of course) V8 sedan and loved everything about these thirties-era cars.
"With some input by my son Michael, who is a panel beater and handy with a spray-gun - the car was completely dismantled," Greg said.
"Michael attended to fettling the bodywork and I the mechanics.
"It wasn't long before I found that the engine wasn't in the condition described - we had to hone the cylinder bores as one was quite scored, therefore requiring the fitment of new oversize pistons."
Greg said the body's beaver-tail was rusted, apparently a common problem.
"We found that weld-on replacements were available from the US. so I ordered one and when it arrived Michael set to work and grafted it," he said.
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Greg says then with the body completely stripped out and off the chassis, it was soon ready for painting.
This fourth V8 model had lost the squarer and more angular features of its three predecessors. Its contours smoother and more rounded, more Art Deco in sympathy with the mid-thirties-era.
The '36 looks resplendent in its new red clothes, but it took a mountain of blood, sweat and tears to reach this point.
"The engine was now reconditioned to a first-class standard, carburettor and electrics and ancillaries either reconditioned or replaced," Greg said.
"The suspension and shock absorbers completely refurbished. Fortunately, the previous owner had replaced the mechanical braking system with the later 1939 model hydraulics system."
Greg said the original helmet type twin-point distributor was hard to keep in tune, but on meeting with Eric Warner (the Ford engine 'Guru' - what Eric doesn't know about side-valve Ford V8s isn't worth knowing) at a NSW Southern Highlands event was helpful.
Eric advised Greg to fit the later model crab-type distributor, use single points and a 6-volt coil and it'll be trouble-free.
"How could I possibly doubt the 'Guru' - it hasn't missed a single beat since Greg said.
"I just love driving it," Greg said with a smile on his face.
"For a 30's model car it steers and cruises beautifully.
"The non-sychro gearbox shifts well and of course with the hydraulic brakes, it pulls up effortlessly. "
We've travelled to half a dozen rallies over the years.
"We have been as far as Adelaide and through much of country Victoria and of course many parts of NSW."