Mort's Shorts

WHO ARE THEY FOR, ANYWAY?

Texas kin had been tellin’ a guy that a car he got outa Texas, via Massachusetts, is the John Mulkey ‘32 Roadster;  B Gas Champeen at the first NHRA Nats in Great Bend Kansas, 1955. Then again in 1956, 1958 and 1961. Whoa! It was also the star of the 1959 monster-flick “The Giant Gila Monster”.

Then they couldn’t quite connect all the dots and he forgot about it.

Then…enter another guy from Texas who ran with Mulkey, who has the original Bill of Sale to Mulkey…in 1948..for $50….that includes the vehicle ID number. It’s the car the guy has.

So..whadaya think?

If he goes to the trouble to erase his own vision of the perfect highboy, and build somebody else’s vision because it was a notorious car, is he serving mankind? Contributing to the history of the genre??? He builds the thing in a historic, period-perfect, accurate, correct fashion..does it right…but it’s not what he wanted….

I mean, OK, the restoration program would be a nice tribute to someone he never knew ...but…what if he kinda had his own vision for the car, had it thought out, got the appointment with the chassis guy…I mean, dreamed damn near into existence? If it’s to be built the restoration way it’s garage art. What if that doesn’t square with him…like, take it to shows all the time and put a little story board in front of it and stand there, wipin’ on it and fieldin’ questions about it?

Built the planned way, prob’ly only 19 Pals would ever see it…. and it’d still be the ‘famous’ car.

If any body seemed to care…...he could tell them it’s a NHRA record holder from the 50’s….an’ they prob’ly wouldn’t believe it. Would that matter?

Naw. In Hopupland it’s never been about pleasing the unwashed, anyway. And…besides…..we  would know.

Hot Rods Will Get You There

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