Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "Automotive Artwork" Story

It was an ordinary day. Standing in the showroom of Horsepower Enterprises, LCC taking photos of a beautiful Midnight Blue 1934 Ford Fordor automobile. Last year I made a visit to the same place for a story that told about my relationship with the dealership when I was a teenager owning a 1955 pink and white Ford coupe.

1934 Ford Fordor

I lived a block away from what was then known as Mohn Bros. Buick and asked one of the men in the body shop if he could paint my car black to avoid the ribbing I was taking from my friends about the color of my car. Not long after I drove a beautiful shiny black car out the rear of the establishment. The last couple of years, after Horsepower Enterprises, LCC moved into the place, I have been amazed at the variety of vehicles that have found their way into the corner window of the showroom. Custom cars, hot rods, classic cars, and of course my favorite Vettes have all been featured in that window. But, for the last couple of weeks, the '34 Ford has drawn my attention as I passed the corner of South Prince Street and McGovern Ave. on my way into downtown Lancaster, PA. So today I decided it was time to make a visit to view the car and take some photos to share with you. I talked with Michelle who was able give me all the information about the car. The car belonged to the owner of Horsepower Enterprises who had died this past March. He had wanted a car such as this most of this life and finally bought it from Mecum Auto Auction. Not long after he made the purchase he died and the car is now being offered for sale. The car is immaculate and had just gone through a total renovation that took seven years to complete, right down to the hand-painted pin stripping. Price for this wonderful piece of automotive history is $37,000. I carefully examined the car, taking photos of just about everything I could. The engine is a relatively simple one featuring a V-8 block and a two-barrel carburetor. The whitewall tires fit over the original spoked wheels that have been restored to original condition. The interior upholstery is just gorgeous as is the wood-grained moulding on the doors and dash. One interesting feature is the original glove-box radio. Never saw one like that and found it really neat. The spare tire and spoked wheel fit into a cover on the rear of the car. The windshield has one wiper and opens from the bottom for ventilation. I was totally impressed with the car and felt so bad that the owner had little chance to enjoy his car before he died. Make a visit to Horsepower Enterprises and take a look at this car. You may just have to find a spot in your garage for it. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Photos will give you an idea of the quality and extent of the restoration of the 1934 Ford Fordor.