It's always good news when any old car is being rebuilt, but when it's a famous custom that Rod & Custom featured back in the days, it means just that much more. Steve Frisbie of Steve's Auto Restorations (SAR) in Portland, Oregon, got the call recently to restore the famous Ron Dunn '50 Ford coupe built by Emory and Jensen of Valley Custom in 1951. It was first shown in 1952 at the L.A. Autorama, where it won First in Class and then went on to win Best Custom at the Oakland Roadster Show in 1953.
Dunn's nephew, Gary Rand of Burbank, California, inherited the car in 1970, and saw Steve's handiwork on another Valley Custom restoration-the '40 Ford sectioned convertible of Tom Gloy's, shown at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours. Gary then gave Steve a call and proposed that Steve purchase his uncle's famous custom and restore it to its former glory. Steve jumped at the opportunity and brought it to SAR for a full, period-correct restoration. Does this mean that we'll be seeing this historic custom cross over the stage at Pebble in the future? We hope so (if the Pebble Beach powers that be open the class to the early '50s customs). If any of Steve's previous coachbuilding projects are any example, we're sure it will be.
For progress reports on this historic restoration, visit www.realsteel.com or stop in at SAR in Portland. For a personal showing, please call Steve at (503) 665-2222.
Here's how the Ron Dunn '50...
Here's how the Ron Dunn '50 Ford Valley Custom sectioned coupe looked when it was brought into the SAR shop.
This article from the October...
This article from the October 1957 issue of Rod & Custom was one of many published on this styling custom of the '50s.
The front and rear of the...
The front and rear of the '50 were redone after an accident in 1954.
The interior is mostly there...
The interior is mostly there for reproducing an authentic style.
The coupe is complete, with...
The coupe is complete, with only the Lincoln side trim missing.