Yes Dover fans …It’s True …The Original (Metal) “BLOWN HEARSE” has been Found 😯 and is Currently being rebuilt with original parts found in three differant towns By Bill Coleman / Bristol,Ct….He expects, it’s about a year off from completion (You guys COULD HELP OUT !) …just spoke to him on the phone and he filled me in on the project. Its Not the second one that got wrecked and scrapped with the Fiberglass body….This is the REAL Enchilata . He found the dash ,wheels, injectors , even the original headers ! Bob’s been recovering from some health issues ,Or we would have heard from him sooner. So watch the forum and he’ll fill us all in … AND Randy F. …he’s eager to get in touch with ya !
Yes it will…..just put some info on my new guys intro….just joined odf…..hope to correspond with anyone who has info….thanks Dino for this great site….Bill C
Have new photos of Hearse from Bill coming Via Dennis O’Brian…small world… Bill is Dennis’ son-in-law . And I’m sure Video Bob will be at Bill’s house to take pics, of the rebuild . V-BoB! ‘under construction’ stuff ….like they did of ‘Bad News’ !
UPDATE ON THE “HEARSE” Restoration
Originally Posted by hearse bill on Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:56 pm
My dad(Dick) and I are restoring the blown hearse…I will scan some pictures this week….car was pretty rough…but we are getting there….any pictures or info would be great….Dick Doyle was a Napa customer of mine when I found the car in 2002….so it has been fun getting to know some of the other Drag n run guys…they have all been a great welth of info for their stories….Brian Fedricks has given me tons of pictures from back in the day…..will keep you all posted as progress continues…..any one have any interior pictures????….those would help a lot….thanks…Bill Coleman….by the way
…*JUST Talked TO Bill …..Heres THE LATEST :
Bill’s got the Blown Stroker 409 In the Chassis, with all redone Front end…Says the Chassis is ‘an hour’ away froim being a roller ! Of NOTE !— When he got the Car and Contacted Doyle to get some original Parts …Doyle Said …I’m giving you this stuf ONLY IF YOU RACE IT.Well .Bill Is Building To do JUST THAT .All new Legal but right Look Ladder Bars…Legal Cage will go in, all chrome moly NHRA legal…with original Cage used as Photo ‘Rack’ when car displayed. New Chrysler 8 3/4 rear, and working on the Interior.Get This…Expects it to Run High 8’s Low 9’s!…Fastest it ran back then was 10:20. He IS planning on Bringing to the Nostalgia DRAGS! Hopefully RUNNING . . . .now if can get Hellzapoppin, Alley Opp, Bad News And Pat’s MG Together …we got the Start of a DOVER Display to Beat All, with Cars Like Skeet and others …why It would be Dover ALL OVER AGAIN!
Been awhile BUT …the work has not stopped…Billy called me for an Update for all you Guys…By the way use Search and put in “Blown Hearse” …you’ll find a ton of topics about it or referring to it. Bill and his Dad have been into a complete Rebuild on this Dover ICON.The rear door was pretty shot,so a lot of reconstructive metal work has taken hours and hours.NewHinges,replace missing stuff…but good news is …its almost done. Bill has aquired a complete set of fiberglass front fenders for it …Winning Them at a Rod Show!. Doesn’t know if he wants to ‘chop’ them the way the original ended up.That was done after an altercation of the “Hearse” driving into a toolbench. Quick fix was to hack off the damage. He’s got the ladder bars all done and the quarter panels completed.It’s now actually a Roller!.Dummy block and trans in for measuring stuff,and work on the interior continues. Get This…He plans to Bring it to the Dover Nostalgia Drags !…don’t know in what state of construction it will be in….for just show – Tow in Parade …running…or? depends on how far they get.
Wow….have not been on here in awhile….too busy racin …lol….well…I have good news…Richard Head lit a fire under my butt at this past years dover race. Dad and i have been workin on the heaerse alot….rear suspension done….all crassmembers and k members…done…fuel cell and battery mounts…done….fuel sytem mount…done….front end…done…..working on steering tommorrow….box is in,,,have to finish mount and make steering linkage….motor and tranny mount…done…..nose and radiator mounts….done…..looks lie a chassis finally…..been a roller for a while…had to wait to finish dads roadster…now my turn..lol…….have a goal of ct dragway reunion running….and race ready for dover race….workin hard to make it happen……i will have Lisa post some pics…u will be happy…..keep pics and info comin….still need a good pic of inside….even though some stuff is updated to race it….still trying to restore as much as possible…..thanks everyone who has sent pics and stories…..
dino.
hearse-bill
