This story is about Frank’s Ford. I am very proud to be the car’s caretaker. Over the years I have learned a lot about these wonderful Fords. This ’40 Ford DeLuxe Tudor was the Grand Prize raffle car of the Western Regional meet that took place in San Diego, September 20-22, 1974. I don’t know where it was originally purchased. 

The car needed a little work before it was ready for the big raffle according to our own Ralph H. So, Ralph and Jay H. delivered it to Jack Miles to make sure it was safe and in running condition. Tickets for the raffle were on sale for at least a year. The car even made the cover of the March/April 1974 V8 Times. The November/December 1974 issue had the meet results. 

As expected, the Grand Prize was the highlight of the Awards Banquet that week! A hush fell over the crowd as the ticket was picked out of the ticket drum. Amazingly the ticket was owned by a 10 year old girl named Kim of Temple City! Kim, her sister, and her father had purchased 3 tickets in February that year. So, the car stayed in the family until Kim was off to college and needed funds for school. The car was sold to a man in the Los Feliz area. He enjoyed owning it for awhile, then wanted to sell it. 

Frank saw a picture of it at a Pomona Swap Meet in the mid 1980’s. Frank made a deal with the owner there and became the new owner. Frank took the car to his shop. Frank did a little work to get it running again but wanted to restore it to Concours condition. Thru the Valley V8’s Frank met Jack Miles. Jack agreed to help Frank restore it. As an employee of Frank’s, I became involved when Frank became ill with cancer. I worked alongside Jack to finish the car. 

Jack took this car to the Western regional meet in 1989 held at Lake Arrowhead and was awarded its first Dearborn. The car was driven regularly between 1989-2012. I heard of the Western Regional Meet to be held in Thousand Oaks, hosted by our own Valley V8 Club and the Ventura Club. I worked to get it correct and clean. It was awarded its 2nd Dearborn award! 

In 2016 I had an opportunity to trailer the car to the Eastern Meet held in Charlotte, NC. I learned much more about correctness. It was awarded its 3rd Dearborn! After this we entered it in the 2018 Western Meet held in Bakersfield with all the updates. It was awarded its 4th Dearborn! 

Since COVID it hasn’t been seen very much. Small shows and our own great tours with our great Valley V8 Club! 

Kenny