The Tom Pollard roadster

I bought my first stack of small-sized magazines in 1979, after getting some money as a christmas gift. I cherished those little books, reading them cover to cover, over and over again. My favorite was the june '57 issue of Car Craft. It had two similarly painted cars on the cover, both done at the Barris shop. The roadster grabbed me, with the louvered cycle fenders and the flames who went under the windshield grabbing the gauges.

It wasn't the first time Tom Pollard's roadster had been on magazine covers. It appeared in Rod & Custom in 1954 and in Hot Rod in 1955, painted red and with a more traditional look. It was originally owned by "Cosy" Simonian in '47 and most of the work was contracted out to George Karabedian. "Cosy" had to sell the Cherry Coke brown roadster in '53, and that's where Tom enters the stage. He adds a healthier flathead, and repaints it in a '54 Pontiac red.

As the car gained some fame, George Barris stepped up and offered to repaint the car in Lime Gold and Bronze for a measly 60 bucks, knowing that would be some good promotion for his own business. It was also he who suggested the cycle fenders and three-piece hood. Later on it was striped by Von Dutch.

From the Car Craft story:

A casual bash at the Santa Ana Drags revealed a consistent ability to break the "century" barrier, running in street trim.

3/8 x 3/8 mill by Tom Lewis sports K-H Bonneville .400 cam, H & C mag, Edelbrock heads and manifold. Custom headers by Sonny's Mufflers take care of exhaust.

The roadster still exists today, proudly wearing its battle scars. A small-block Chevy replaced the flatty, and a fire necessitated a repaint. It stiil looks fantastic.