Pictures of probably the only vehicle other than military equipment that survived the Pearl Harbor Attack, is this documented '40 Ford Coupe. It belonged to a military officer stationed there. He was driving this car with his wife when the attack occurred. They were going through a grove of trees, when one of the fighters came down at them. They both jumped out of the car and were not hit, the car was, but it was still running. He then ferried troops on the running boards to the battlefield. If you look in the trunk you can see where the damage was repaired. The officer kept the car until his death in Moravia NY. The current and second owner has all the documentation.
Wow. What a neat story. Thanks Dan.
That "repair" took away about 50k off the value of the car
I don't mean to be disrespectful to you Ed but the car is what it is. It's documented and from the looks of it the scars still exist. What would be really terrible if they did a restoration on it any more than what it is. The car is still, for the most part a time capsule. What would be a shame is if this is a current photo, some preservation didn't take place soon. I wish it was mine.
Ed,
At the time is was a repair on a running civilian car--a rare commodity in Hawaii at the start of the war--the car becoming an historical icon was NOT in anyone's imagination at the time. I'm with Mike, I hope someone does some preservation work only on it.
What an amazing piece of history!
Oh, and I doubt that it has detracted from the car's value today, as it is part of its history.
The owner of this car belongs to a Ford V-8 regional group that I belong to. I have been trying to talk him into leaving it in its original condition, including the original interior. The sad part of the story is: he bought this car about 20-25 years ago and stored it outside, until about 5 years ago when he started to drive it. In central NY, with our weather you just can’t do that. I’m surprised the car is in as good a shape as it is. Actually, this car belongs in a museum. As I side note I talked him into buying a Model T, but he couldn’t get the hang of driving it, so he sold it
Mike- It is a fairly current photo. It was taken at my farm during an All Ford Picnic, that a couple of V-8 Regional groups put on at my place every other year (we get everything from Model T's to Mustang's).
I think the car will remain in it's present condition.
Looks about like what I drove to school in '58. Sure would love to own it.........
Got my driver's license in its cheaper (Standard) brother in 1956
Ok, lets take up a collection and by it and put it in the Model T museum as a gift to the world. I'm sure anyone going through the museum wouldn't be too disappointed if it wasn't a model t. It needs to be in a museum. I gotta dollar.
My mom had a car exactly like that, except it was a Plymouth.
So what you're saying is it was the same but different?
I'm with Steve --
My first car was exactly like that except it was a 41 and was an opera coupe with the fold down seats in the rear.