With The Automobile's event exclusively for unrestored cars, the Oily Rag Run, drawing ever nearer, it seems like the perfect time to take a closer look at a truly Oily Rag conservation story. This rare 1935 Ford 22hp coupé was found by owner David Acon in 2012 in the USA. Discovering it was originally an English-market car, he bought the Ford and had it shipped back home. Instead of embarking on a full restoration, he had the mechanical parts rebuilt and renewed, including a full engine rebuild, and carefully conserved the paintwork and interior in their original state.
As expected, there are some age-related scuffs and the moth has been at the seats, but overall the condition is amazingly good. David discovered why when researching the car's history: owned from new by a doctor who died in 1940, the Ford was put into storage by his widow, where it remained until 1962. After the engine was damaged in the harsh winter of 1962-63, it was again taken off the road, where it remained until 2012, meaning this rare survivor has spent more of its life off the road than on it. Read the full story of its discovery and renovation in the latest issue of The Automobile, which is out now.
(photographs by Tom Pilston)