Page 55 - Panama City Living July-August 2019

Larry and his brother, Warren, dismantled the car and spent the next nine months rebuilding and customizing it. And it was done right. Larry learned the fine art of “lead swiping,” paying a local expert to teach him, using lead for all body repairs and modifications, including “frenching” (recessing) the headlights, tail lights, and license plate. He also contoured the shape of the fenders, hood, and rear of the vehicle. Attractive, smooth, sweeping curves are the result.
Larry says he built the car to be a comfortable drive and ride, with all the modern amenities Cam desired. He replaced the original V-8 flathead 239 engine with a 1996 port fuel- injected LT-1 Corvette motor with HPC headers and added a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and the suspension from a Mustang II. With power steering, 11-inch power disc brakes, a sway bar, and 17-inch Cobra wheels, the driving experience is that of a brand-new vehicle.
The car is an excellent example of craftsmanship and attention to detail in customizing. The truly extraordinary color is Larry’s creation, a triple pearl combination of orange, copper, and tangerine. It changes appearance depending on how the light strikes the exterior. To ensure the finish would be as smooth as possible once the paint was applied, Warren spent hours sanding the entire surface of the vehicle with a slim piece of wood about the size of a paint stick. In bright sunshine, the Ford looks like a ball of fire hurtling down the roadway. Larry also designed and installed the interior upholstery, working with seats from an Oldsmobile.
The Stewarts estimate they have driven the car 50,000 miles so far. Cam remains thrilled with her hotrod, and Larry acknowledges she drives it more frequently than he does. There is a rumor that Cam may have tested its speed on I-10 and reached 110 miles per hour, something she will neither confirm nor deny. Larry has his own tale of speed as he recalls the excitement of taking the 1947 Ford on laps around the Atlanta Speedway at 90 miles per hour. He sheepishly notes there
Cam took one look at it and remembers being so excited that her
“lenses fogged up.”
was no pace car at the time, and since there were other cars on the track behind him, it was imperative that he kept going.
Cam and Larry routinely participate in local and regional car shows, as well as shows and cruise-ins in Ohio and Virginia while visiting family. They often meet people who share fond memories of a car “just like that” from their youth. It is not unusual for them to come out of a restaurant and walk across the parking lot to find a group of people surrounding the 1947 Ford in admiration. It is a beauty, with or without a lead foot.
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