For those who remember the early days of automobiles, the color combination from the old Gilmore gasoline stations is as instantly recognizable as the red and white of a Coca-Cola can or the orange and turquoise of a Howard Johnson's roof. From my office, it's a 15-minute walk to the site of the old Gilmore Stadium. A shopping mall and a TV studio sit where Earl Gilmore's quarter-mile circle track once stood, and the only hint of that area's heritage is a recently built, non-functioning replica of a Gilmore filling station, decorated with the famous lion trademark and painted in the familiar red and cream colors.
Collecting Gilmore memorabilia is a hobby for Gary Bland and his wife, Gayle. Gary's uncle, Gib Lilly, raced midgets on the crushed granite oval at Gilmore back in the '40s-so when Gary and Gayle's '26 Ford lakes-modified was ready for paint, choosing the colors wasn't even an issue.
Gary got the idea for this car when he saw a car built by Darrell Zipp in Street Rodder magazine, and thought it would be fun to own one like it. He already had a '40 coupe in the garage, which he calls "our traveling car." This one was going to be "our fun car."
The modified is built from one of the three bodies that Gary and two of his buddies ordered from Zipper Motors. Their three fiberglass roadsters turned out to be numbers three, four, and five out of the mold, all of which are now out there, being enjoyed. Gary added a narrowed Model A grille and custom aluminum hood, and built a rectangular tube frame for the body to ride on.
The chassis was treated to a long list of traditional suspension parts and pieces, and rolls on early Ford rims and bias-ply rubber to make sure no corner of the car departs from that old-time style. And since the look of the interior is extra important on an open car, Gary was careful to keep that element consistent with the overall look. Custom bomber buckets and a Sprint Car wheel do the job.
Gary and Gayle's modified is just beginning to make the rounds at the car shows. The most memorable trip so far was their first, driving through two hours of pouring rain. The San Diego area where they live is usually pretty dry, but Mother Nature let 'em have it--almost as if she was waiting for Gary to finish his roadster. But it's going to take more than lousy weather to keep Gary and Gayle from driving their "fun car," or from showing off the ultimate piece in their collection of Gilmore memorabilia.
Gary and Gayle Bland
El Cajon, California
'26 Ford Lakes-Modified
Drivetrain
Even the Chevy Vortec 4.3L V-6 manages to look like an old-time hot rod mill, thanks to something as simple as painted stock valve covers and pulleys. Machine work was handled by Action Cylinder Head (Lakeside, CA), with all assembly done by Gary. The mostly stock mill is fed by an Edelbrock 600-cfm carb on an Edelbrock intake. Headers and mufflers are also owner-built. An Advanced Automatic Transmission TH350 spins a Driveline Service driveshaft ending at the Halibrand two-speed case housing 3.78:1 gears.
Chassis
Gary built his own frame from 2x3-inch rectangular tubing, with a front and rear split wishbone suspension. The 4-inch drop Magnum axle and quarter elliptic springs throw the front wheels way out there, stretching the wheelbase to 109 inches. The front and rear springs are from a Model A, cut in half and drilled for Teflon buttons. Owner-built friction shocks are mounted at all corners. Front and rear brakes are 12-inch '39 Ford drums front and rear. A pair of aluminum fuel tanks, totaling 10 gallons, mount underneath the body.
Wheels & Tires
Gary settled on the perfect combination of rims and rubber, especially for this car. Early Ford original wide five wheels (3x16 fronts and 4x16 rears) are matched up with 4.50-4.75x16 and 7.00x16 Firestone bias-ply tires.
Body & Paint
Gary saved untold months of searching, not to mention hours of labor repairing 80-year-old sheetmetal, by starting with a brand-new 'glass body from Zipper Motors. A pair of Ford commercial headlights and custom Model A grille shell, plus a custom aluminum hood from Dave Seward at Direct Sheetmetal help set off the front of the roadster. Taillights are '37 Ford parts, and the mirror is a Deuce unit. Gary's friend Curtis Holmquist performed the body and prep work prior to Wayne Cooke shooting the PPG cream paint. Ronny Mueller followed with the scallops and Gilmore lion graphics. Lyle Fisk finished up with 'striping and decals.
Interior
During that first rainy road trip, Gary and Gayle were glad they had chosen good quality Porsche square-weave carpeting and black Naugahyde upholstery. Dave Gade (Corona, CA) covered the Direct Sheetmetal bomber bucket seats, using early '50s-style Ferrari tuck 'n' roll with cooling vents. Other elements of the super-clean interior include the Schroeder Sprint Car steering column and 14 1/2-inch wheel, and the engine-turned '32 dash insert housing Auto Meter gauges.