1941 Ford Deluxe Custom Convertible – National Show Winning Custom with Amazing History – Owned by Don Blair

Vehicle Location: Las Vegas, NV 89121
Auction Type: Reserve
Engine: 351 V8
Transmission: Automatic
Exterior: Black
Interior: Tan
VIN: see photos
Party: Private – seller is an authorized agent for the owner

1941 Ford Deluxe Custom Convertible

If you ever though about owning a national show winning custom with a history, you might wish to consider this Ford Convertible. The story unfolds in 7 Chapters¦ (*worth the read)

Chapter I: This Ford was a familiar sight at El Mirage, Muroc, and other Southern California desert dry lakes in the early hot rod era of the 1940s and 1950s. It was purchased new by speed shop owner and dry lakes racer Don Blair who used this car to tow his race car. Dissatisfied with the stock fabric top, Don bobbed the windshield 4 inches, then an authentic Carson top was put on the car by Housers. He pulled the stock Ford V8, and a hopped up Mercury flathead was put in the car. For years it was used as his tow rig to drag a procession of race cars out to the dry lakes and to Bonneville. When Don sold his land speed record setting #27 roadster to Andy Granatelli around 1950, he delivered the car to Andy in Chicago, trailering the roadster behind this 41 convertible

Chapter II: In the late 50s, Don sold the car to a used car dealer in the San Fernando Valley. Here is where the story gets a little murky. Body man and customizer Dick Corky Korkes became the next person to add modifications to this Ford, but the California pink slip was issued to none other than George Barris, the legendary King of the Kustomizers. At the time, Korkes worked at the Barris shop, and he and Sam Barris did the preliminary work on the car. Barris noodled how to make the cuts and they then sectioned the body a full 6 inches. It seems Mr. Korkes ran afoul of the law soon after, and spent the next 3 decades as a guest of the State of California. In his absence, the ragtop was stored behind his mothers house out in the San Fernando Valley. Bill Norton, owner of Valley Ford Parts in North Hollywood, California, knew about the car, and for years he peeked over the fence regularly to see that it was still there. Finally, Norton convinced Korkes to sell him the car, with the proviso that Corky would resume work on it and finish the bodywork started in the 50s. In 1989, Norton finally got to own a car of his dreams.

Chapter III: So, thirty years later, Korkes went to work on the custom he had started in 1959. A 1941 Mercury front end replaced the stubby 41 Ford steel. To keep the smooth, flowing lines of the car in proportion, the fenders were sectioned 2 inches, and the hood was pancaked 4 inches. The brightwork was 86d and the car was nosed, decked, and shaved. Hinges for the hood were recessed into the modified firewall, then 1952 Mercury headlight rims were frenched into the fenders and the grille opening seams were filled. All the work was done old school – in steel and lead with very little Bondo.

Chapter IV: After the rough-in bodywork was finished, Norton took the car to Warren Boughn at Precision Rods & Machines in Canoga Park, California to do the chassis and drive train work. A Mercury chassis with a modified X member went under the body, then a 351 CID Ford Windsor engine went into the car, coupled to a Ford C6 transmission, and a Lincoln Versailles 9 rear end with disk brakes and 4 link suspension. The front end featured power disk brakes on a dropped tube axle. Nortons plan was to finish the car in Tahitian Red with a white tuck n roll interior, but that was as far as it got. In 1990 Norton abandoned the project for personal reasons, so this the 41 was once again to go on the shelf for another 8 years. This Phoenix would eventually rise from the ashes to become the beautiful, historic, ride it is today. But, it was a long way from finished.

Chapter V: John Chamberlin, owner of Sin City Hot Rods, purchased the Ford from Bill Norton in 1998, took it to his shop in Las Vegas, and began a reconstruction that would finally bring the droptop to completion six years later. The car was still in the rough bodywork phase, so John began to add his own custom touches to the car. He remounted the doors suicide style, further sectioning them, then the running boards were replaced with fabricated steel rocker panels. Aft, a pair of 1959 Cadillac bullet taillights were frenched into each of the rear fenders, and a ribbed Plymouth rear bumper was molded into the pan at the Sin City Hot Rods shop. To make the custom a safe, reliable, comfortable driver, the junkyard engine was replaced with a new 351W crate motor from Ford Performance. The dropped front axle was jettisoned and a Mustang II rack and pinion front clip went into the car. Air bag suspension by Air Ride Technologies was added up front to give the car a better ride and the capability to drop down in the weeds for shows. Chamberlin thought the 4 link suspension lacked good handling, so that, too, went into the trash can. New Chassis Engineering parallel leaf springs made the car much more drivable. With the mechanicals sorted out, it was time for a facelift.

The windshield was V butt jointed, the car was finished and prepared for paint by a handful of professional shops, then Raven Black PPG basecoat clearcoat paint was applied and color sanded to perfection. Multicolor flames were hand painted on the car by well known California Flameworks artist Mike Shendo. Inside, hand formed aluminum interior features were covered in rich, tan Mercedes leatherette, and Recaro leather bucket seats were worked over by famed upholsterer Denny Nish to provide adequate headroom. Dakota Digital gauges were fitted into a custom dashboard bezel, a leather wrapped banjo steering wheel by LeCarra was mounted on the tilt steering column, a Sony AM/FM/CD sound system kicks out cruisin music, and Vintage AC and heat keep passengers comfortable whether the top is on or off. The Ford has power windows, power door locks, and an electrically operated trunk lid. The fully lined aluminum top, hand built by Nish, is finished inside with a tan headliner and covered in black German Hartz cloth outside. The top looks great on the car, having a much more pleasing profile than the original Carson top. It is secured by six fasteners and can be easily removed by two people.

Chapter VI: Finally completed in 2002, this Ford Convertible became an instant trophy magnet, winning top awards at no less than the prestigious Grand National Roadster Show, the Sacramento Autorama, and Blackie Gegegians invitation only exhibitions in Fresno. The low, low profile ragtop is considered to be a national treasure in the custom car world, featured over decades in periodicals like Street Rodder, Rodding Action, Custom Rodder, and Hot Rod Magazine several times. If this car is parked next to a stock 1941 Ford convertible, the changes almost defy imagination. It bears little resemblance to its original self at a height of only 52 inches. Chamberlin reluctantly sold the car in 2005 to Herb Sutton, an Oregon early Ford collector, where it rested, unmolested, in that private collection for another 14 years. While driving the car 900 miles to its new home in Southern Oregon, John could only think of turning around and squelching the deal, but other obligations at the time made selling the car a priority. That might have been the end to the story, but it wasnt.

Chapter VII: Chamberlin wasnt done with this work of art he had so heavily invested his time, money, and heart into. He bought the car back from Sutton in 2019, carefully bringing it out of its slumber, then updating the car to ensure it would continue to be a solid, dependable driver. The Dakota Digital dash was discarded and replaced with restored and modified original 1941 instruments. The engine was disassembled and refreshed, and all drivetrain components were overhauled. Preserving the flames painted by Shendo, the licks on hood and front fenders were slightly modified to suit his taste. New radial tires went on those beautiful Real Wheel rims. Eighty years since the car was first modified by Don Blair, this custom has been a veteran of many car shows, but it is not a trailer queen. The car is very drivable and has been driven to several shows in California, Arizona, and Nevada while in Johns stewardship. It is still a crowd favorite wherever it may be. Satisfied that the car has met all his expectations, it is now time for this historical custom to go on to the next owner for a continuance of the story. Few cars gain the kind of notoriety and acclaim that this car has earned. For those who love the rich history of automobile racing, hot rodding, and customizing this vehicle is not about buying a car “ it is a chance to purchase a place in history. Will the next chapter be about you?

Footnote: The Blair Speed Shop is the oldest speed parts store in the United States. Still located at 2771 East Foothill Boulevard in Pasadena, California, this 1941 Ford is a tribute to Don Blair and his lifelong love of all things automotive. Personally acquainted with all of the characters that have touched the car in its historical 80 year run, the seller welcomes inquiries. He has a wealth of anecdotal stories that come with the car he once named Against All Odds. The gab is free of charge, of course.

This car is a nationally known old school custom with 80 years of history. The story of this old ride holds its value – owned by Don Blair (oldest speed shop in America in Pasadena, CA), initially worked on by George and Sam Barris, and extensively customized by several known body men, painters, and upholstery experts. Hopefully some of the bidders are also readers. The owner, John Chamberlin, is well known in Las Vegas – owner of Sin City Hot Rods. He grew up in So Cal and knew Blair, Barris, Korkes, and virtually every other car customizer in the early days.