Tom and List,
Tom, thanks for sharing the story of the coupe with us. It is frustrating
to see the car in the Petersen Museum and not be able to get closer than 25
feet to the car. This summer it was mounted several feet off the floor, on
a slanted display behind a collection of photos and press-and-listen
comments on the history of Hot Rodding. Pete Chapouris and PC3 have done
some very nice work restoring cars for Bruce Meyer ... they are friends like
lots of hot rodders and their projects reflect that friendship too.
Someone mentioned to Bruce at the Gas-Up that they had heard he had turned
down an offer in the million dollar range for the coupe and he didn't deny
it. To have the Pierson/Tom Thumb coupe in his collection along with; the
Duesenberg, the '37 Type 57C Bugatti Coupe he won the Elegance in Motion
award with at Pebble Beach, the Doane Spencer/Neal East '32 roadster, Pebble
Beach, first time Hot Rod award winner in '98 and the red "Bob McGee"
roadster he placed second in class with this year ( I believe he said it is
the roadster SCTA or NHRA uses on a logo somewhere) tells you how respectful
he is for Hot Rod history and all. His daily driver is a red '32 Ford,
fenderless, 3 window coupe, with an Ardun for power. Fun to see that car
parked outside "The Lodge at Pebble Beach" in a favorable spot between the
luxury cars like Cadillac, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lexus and a Land Rover with
every protective bar imaginable that will never drive on dirt. The coupe
was on the cover of a '99 calendar featuring Hot Rods and is very frequently
shown at prestigious automotive events, I saw it at SEMA. It's nicely
maintained but not to 100 point "show quality' because he drives it! He
drove his black '32 roadster with a yellow checkerboard nose ... aircraft
type decoration ... on the AmeriCruise in '98. There are other cars of
historical significance which will end up in his collection when their
racing days are over, there have been handshakes on it. His Hot Rods are
well done but dependable drivers and I respect him for it. He's also just a
nice guy... try to find many of them at an event like Pebble or for that
matter on North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills!
Wes ... full of turkey in SLC.
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