“I found my 1950 Ford custom club coupe on a hot rod Web site in Connecticut while searching for a ‘lead sled,’” says Jim Gair as he gives his car a final pass with a soft cloth. Gair, a collector
“I found my 1950 Ford custom club coupe on a hot rod Web site in Connecticut while searching for a ‘lead sled,’” says Jim Gair as he gives his car a final pass with a soft cloth. Gair, a collector of fine classic autos and motorcycles, lives in the Kalihiwai Ridge area and recently shared his ‘50s collectible at the 5th Annual Father’s Day “Just for Dads” auto show at Kukui Grove.
The “lead sled” Gair refers to is when body work was applied to a car “back in the day.” Lead was added to any creases or wrinkles on a vehicle and was then sanded down to a baby smooth finish and painted. Gair’s 1950 Ford is lead-free even though he still refers to it as his sled.
Gair’s Ford is a very unusual classic because the ‘50 Ford body sits on a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro frame and chassis. The car is powered by a Chevy 350 V8, drive train, and turbo transmission. Any doubt about the auto’s secret identity is confirmed by the Body by Fischer labels embedded in the door thresholds
The 1950 Ford custom club coupe was chopped and lowered four inches, the door handles were then “shaved” and the Ford’s expansive white hood was louvered. On first glance, the 1950 Ford passes for a Mercury because of its distinct 1949 chrome Mercury grill. Hidden within the grill are the bullet shaped turn signals from a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado that are best viewed at night.
The fuel tank has been removed and swapped out for a marine type tank that you would normally find in a boat. The red metal flake paint on the dash also sports an autograph from world renowned hot-rod builder Chuck Barris. The leather interior is a detailed white tuck and roll and of course the rear window has the traditional white shag to give it that hamburger drive-in retro feel.
It took three and a half years to complete building this hot little Ford and visually worth every minute. Gair drives his custom ride most days but avoids rainy days whenever possible.
Jim Gair grew up in the Orange County area of Southern California, and the first car he ever owned was a 1961 Falcon Ranchero, which made him feel like he was “the coolest guy on the block.” Over the years Gair has owned numerous classic cars, trucks and motorcycles and just drives them for sheer pleasure of watching people smile when they reminisce about them.
One evening Gair drove his Ford to The House of Noodles restaurant for dinner and a man came over to his table and asked if that was his car. Gair affirmed that it was and the man said, “I used to own one just like it and it was my favorite. I even took out the back seat and dropped in a mattress so I could live in it.”
Gair shared two quick sidebar stories about his classic:
During the shipment from Connecticut to Kaua‘i, a small crack was discovered in the driver side window of the ‘50 Ford. Matson would not allow the car to enter because of possible liability, so the driver from Dependable Auto Shipping volunteered to search for the phone book for a glass shop to fix the window.
He quickly drove it to a local shop he found and the glass employees were so enamored with Gair’s classic that they replaced the window in two hours. The driver then drove it over to Matson and the rest is history. Gair made sure the driver received a choice reward for his above and beyond customer service.
A few days after the Ford arrived, Gair was so excited that took his friend on a date to Princeville for lunch. After driving away from the restaurant, the sleek ride was spotted by one of Kaua‘i’s finest, who noticed the absence of license plates.
He pulled Gair over, and after reviewing the proper paperwork and listening to the explanation of the recent shipment, the officer smiled and said, “Yeah, this is really cool. I just wanted to take a look at it. Have a nice day.”
To view a short video of Jim Gair’s ‘50 Ford, click on the “TGI video” link at www.kauaiworld.com
Anyone wishing to share their classic auto may find out more information by contacting Richard Aki at 482-0688 or Harvey Maeda at 651-2813 or via e-mail at harveyskoi@juno.com.
Watch video
footage online
of this classic 1950 Ford in action as part of The Garden Island’s recurring series on Kaua‘i’s Classic Car Club and check back each week
for a new classic.
