From the Huntington Herald Dispatch, circa 1956: We went to see R. E. Spencer at his jewelry store in the Governor Cabell Hotel about the sports car he and H. E. VanFaussien built in their shop at Lavalette. There has been a picture of the car in the Advertiser. We came back from the interview with some statistics we think are astonishing. The first statistic is that 31 people were done to death in automobile wrecks that produced parts for the car. admittedly it is sad beyond words to think about it, but Mr. Spencer said it is a fact. We traveled all over he said, visiting garages and wrecking yards looking for parts from smashed up cars. Soon we began to ask about details of the wrecks, and noted by marks on our garage wall the number of people who had died in them. There were 31 of them. Building the car began January 1, 1953. In the finished assembly are pieces and parts from LaSalle, Crosley, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Ford, Buick, Packard, Stutz, Studebaker, Cadillac, Mercury, Nash, and Wileys automobiles and a motor boat. They built the car for fun, but they have an objective. Mr. Spencer sari the will be a sports car exhibit in Indianapolis this summer and they hope to hope to be able to show their custom built machine there. They have christened it Vancer Custom. The grill came from a 1939 LaSalle Mr. Spencer said, checking off the parts one by one. The shell was shortened from a Chevrolet, Crosley and LaSalle - 11 pieces metal welded and leaded into one single piece. The frame is lengthened and reinforced Crosley. The running gear is Crosley, with specifically built hydraulic brakes from a 1939 Studebaker dingbatted to fit the Crosley frame. Dingbatted we mused ? Revamped said Mr. Spencer. He went on with the particulars. Headlights were from a 1940 Chevrolet, 1933 Ford gravel shields hand rolled from sheet metal and fender aprons from the same. The hood was made from Chevrolet and Crosley wreckage, and the hood ornament was from a 1934 Studebaker. The vowel was made from Chevrolet hood reinforced with steel bed rail. Instrument panel, plywood covered formica, Buick instruments, Cadillac controls, windshield brackets off of a motorboat. French cut doors with reinforced panels, horn button made of parts from a 1933 Plymouth and park lamps from a 1956 Chevrolet truck. Rear deck made from Chevrolet and Ford parts, Ford tail lights, continental kit home made, rear deck lid from two Chevrolet lids quartered and refit, bumpers from four Crosleys, fenders from a 1942 Crosley, seat Crome made of oak by Gorman Cornwell of Lavalette. Motor built from parts of three motors, Nash generator, Chrysler voltage regulator. Ford wire loom reworked and chromed, air cleaner made from a water filter. Engine compartment includes motor trouble light and brass plate listing repair parts, and a coil cover made from a beer can - chromed. All chrome work was done by the Huntington Plating and Polishing Co. Gas tank capacity, 22 gallons. Battery box made from a 1928 model Packard and a 1928 Stutz. Dual exhaust system made of one and one -quarter inch pipe running through two - inch chromed ventilate stacks. Top speed 70 MPH. Interior of tiger lily red and white nagihide, foam rubber cushions, carpet of tangerine color, body of white lacquer, flaming red wheels and trim. Cost unknown, labor approximately 5000 hours, coffee consumed - 200 gallons, and 200 cakes thanks to Katherine VanFaussien. Comment of builders, if we ever build another, were going to take our time. Comment of Interviewer, a gesture of astonishment.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:22:45 +0000
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