1966 Ford Custom owned by Roger Decker
Roger's car was ordered new by Bobby Edge who lived in Oneonta, Alabama. Bobby had raced Fords for years. With his connections at Ford he was
able to order this car through Ford's Special Vehicle Center as a "purpose built' drag racing car. The car was built as a standard R code with radio clock
and heater deletes and, a rubber mat. From there, according to Bobby Edge, the Altanta assembly plant modified the car by installed a 4:57 geared Detroit
Locker with a nodular rear center section, moved the battery to the trunk, added a Thunderbolt style ram air system and, a fiberglass teardrop hood. The
car was then delivered from the assembly plant to Fred Peak Ford in Oneonta, Alabama where Bobby and Cecil took delivery.
Bobby was the driver and his brother Cecil was the mechanic. They were not real impressed with the performance and only raced the car until 1967.
The car was then sold to a friend named Joe Coggins who brought it to Akron Ohio. Joe raced it a couple years pretty much like he bought it other than
some engine work.
Joe then sold it to Gene "Butch" Daily. From what Roger has been told, Gene had Joe Schubeck install a straight axle and made it a Gasser. Also at
that time it was painted black and silver. Roger was also told that Charlie Gilbertson fabricated and installed aluminum door panels. Charlie makes custom
oil pans today.
Gene sold it to Dan Vince around 1972. Dan took the Gasser modifications further by cutting the firewall and relocated the engine further back with a
doghouse. Dan sold the car around 1974 to Bob Cottrill. It is unsure what Bob did to the car since he unfortunately and sadly passed away in a truck
accident.
The next owner that Roger knew of was Paul Calderone. He raced it in the early 80s. Paul did come and look at the car early this year. He could not
remember who he sold it to.
Roger then bought the car from Charles Burner in 1988. Charles has since passed away in a house fire. Roger is unsure if there was anyone between
Calderone and Burner but in that time someone painted the car turquoise.
When Roger bought the car he didn't know it was an R code. It was the following week when it was picked it up that he looked at the data tag and was
pleasantly surprised. It was not until 1991 after he had talked to the second owner, Joe Coggins, that he was able to trace the car back to Cecil and found
out the cars true history.
Roger has done a fantastic job of restoring his 66 R code Custom to its former glory. He was able to roll back the hands of time and bring it back to
pretty much the way Bobby and Cecil Edge raced it back in 1966.
Roger's car was ordered new by Bobby Edge who lived in Oneonta, Alabama. Bobby had raced Fords for years. With his connections at Ford he was
able to order this car through Ford's Special Vehicle Center as a "purpose built' drag racing car. The car was built as a standard R code with radio clock
and heater deletes and, a rubber mat. From there, according to Bobby Edge, the Altanta assembly plant modified the car by installed a 4:57 geared Detroit
Locker with a nodular rear center section, moved the battery to the trunk, added a Thunderbolt style ram air system and, a fiberglass teardrop hood. The
car was then delivered from the assembly plant to Fred Peak Ford in Oneonta, Alabama where Bobby and Cecil took delivery.
Bobby was the driver and his brother Cecil was the mechanic. They were not real impressed with the performance and only raced the car until 1967.
The car was then sold to a friend named Joe Coggins who brought it to Akron Ohio. Joe raced it a couple years pretty much like he bought it other than
some engine work.
Joe then sold it to Gene "Butch" Daily. From what Roger has been told, Gene had Joe Schubeck install a straight axle and made it a Gasser. Also at
that time it was painted black and silver. Roger was also told that Charlie Gilbertson fabricated and installed aluminum door panels. Charlie makes custom
oil pans today.
Gene sold it to Dan Vince around 1972. Dan took the Gasser modifications further by cutting the firewall and relocated the engine further back with a
doghouse. Dan sold the car around 1974 to Bob Cottrill. It is unsure what Bob did to the car since he unfortunately and sadly passed away in a truck
accident.
The next owner that Roger knew of was Paul Calderone. He raced it in the early 80s. Paul did come and look at the car early this year. He could not
remember who he sold it to.
Roger then bought the car from Charles Burner in 1988. Charles has since passed away in a house fire. Roger is unsure if there was anyone between
Calderone and Burner but in that time someone painted the car turquoise.
When Roger bought the car he didn't know it was an R code. It was the following week when it was picked it up that he looked at the data tag and was
pleasantly surprised. It was not until 1991 after he had talked to the second owner, Joe Coggins, that he was able to trace the car back to Cecil and found
out the cars true history.
Roger has done a fantastic job of restoring his 66 R code Custom to its former glory. He was able to roll back the hands of time and bring it back to
pretty much the way Bobby and Cecil Edge raced it back in 1966.
Feature Page
| Welcome to the Feature Page. Here you will find articles submitted by some of the owners of these awesome 427 powered cars listed here in the Registry. If you wish to have your car featured here, please feel free to submit your cars information along with some pictures. CLICK HERE to submit your car. |
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1963 500XL R Code Convertible Owned by Dave Walters
Well the page was getting a little stale so I thought that I would put my car up here to help spur the rest of you guys along!
This car was bought new in 1963 by Mervin and Ruth Fischer from Saginaw Michigan. They used the car as their daily driver and weekend warrior at
Edmore Dragstrip in Edmore Michigan. At first Mervin was the regular driver but, after Ruth had her turn behind the wheel he quickly found out that she
was the "hot shoe"!! Turning over the driving duties to Ruth, Mervin took his place under the hood as the tuner. Many weekends of fun were had by the
two of them at Edmore during the 60's.
Fast forward to the gas crunch of the 70's. The Fischer's also owned a 1957 Thunderbird. Making the decision to continue to race the gas guzzling 8
barrel 427 from the Galaxie was pulled and dropped into the Thunderbird. The Galaxie then received a much more thrifty 289 and an automatic
transmission in its place. From that point on, the Thunderbird was the drag strip enjoyment and the Galaxie was turned into a lowly daily driver.
Mervin and Ruth enjoyed the Galaxie until 1991 when it and the 57 Thunderbird were both sold to buy a new Dodge Pickup. At this time the Galaxie
and its original 427 engine, still in the Thunderbird, went their separate ways never to be reunited.
From that point on the Galaxie passed though many hands. As time went by, the value of the early Hipo Galaxies started to increase which caused
the car to pass through the hands of several collectors. Eventually, it wound up in my possession. The car was pretty much untouched from the time of
ownership of the Fischer's. Needing a total nut and bolt restoration the disassembly began.
As of this point the car's frame has been totally restored and detailed using NOS suspension and correct paint markings. The body has been
chemically stripped and repaired and is currently at the body shop where final body work and paint will be applied. A date code correct, 8V 427 engine
has been fully rebuilt and is waiting to be installed along with a date code correct, fully rebuilt, 427 T-10 transmission. All the chrome, stainless steel and,
aluminum trim have been painstakingly refinished (you don't even want to know what that cost...lol). Once back from the body shop the interior will be
next. Again, whatever was chrome, stainless steel or, aluminum in the interior was also refinished if needed. The beautiful original seats were retained
and needed only minor stitching, the seat foams replaced and, a good cleaning.
Its taken over 2 years to get the car to this point which is about a year and two months longer than I had hoped but the end is in sight. I'll post a few
more pictures once it gets back from paint.
Well the page was getting a little stale so I thought that I would put my car up here to help spur the rest of you guys along!
This car was bought new in 1963 by Mervin and Ruth Fischer from Saginaw Michigan. They used the car as their daily driver and weekend warrior at
Edmore Dragstrip in Edmore Michigan. At first Mervin was the regular driver but, after Ruth had her turn behind the wheel he quickly found out that she
was the "hot shoe"!! Turning over the driving duties to Ruth, Mervin took his place under the hood as the tuner. Many weekends of fun were had by the
two of them at Edmore during the 60's.
Fast forward to the gas crunch of the 70's. The Fischer's also owned a 1957 Thunderbird. Making the decision to continue to race the gas guzzling 8
barrel 427 from the Galaxie was pulled and dropped into the Thunderbird. The Galaxie then received a much more thrifty 289 and an automatic
transmission in its place. From that point on, the Thunderbird was the drag strip enjoyment and the Galaxie was turned into a lowly daily driver.
Mervin and Ruth enjoyed the Galaxie until 1991 when it and the 57 Thunderbird were both sold to buy a new Dodge Pickup. At this time the Galaxie
and its original 427 engine, still in the Thunderbird, went their separate ways never to be reunited.
From that point on the Galaxie passed though many hands. As time went by, the value of the early Hipo Galaxies started to increase which caused
the car to pass through the hands of several collectors. Eventually, it wound up in my possession. The car was pretty much untouched from the time of
ownership of the Fischer's. Needing a total nut and bolt restoration the disassembly began.
As of this point the car's frame has been totally restored and detailed using NOS suspension and correct paint markings. The body has been
chemically stripped and repaired and is currently at the body shop where final body work and paint will be applied. A date code correct, 8V 427 engine
has been fully rebuilt and is waiting to be installed along with a date code correct, fully rebuilt, 427 T-10 transmission. All the chrome, stainless steel and,
aluminum trim have been painstakingly refinished (you don't even want to know what that cost...lol). Once back from the body shop the interior will be
next. Again, whatever was chrome, stainless steel or, aluminum in the interior was also refinished if needed. The beautiful original seats were retained
and needed only minor stitching, the seat foams replaced and, a good cleaning.
Its taken over 2 years to get the car to this point which is about a year and two months longer than I had hoped but the end is in sight. I'll post a few
more pictures once it gets back from paint.
| Just back from the paint shop...let the fun begin!!! |
