Tom Webb worked on the assembly line for Chrysler for 30 years, retiring in 1998. After his retirement, he started looking for things to do to keep busy, and he found antique car restoration.
He also found a rust bucket of a Model A at a swap meet in Sedalia that he and his brother worked on for two years before they turned it into the work of art it is today. The 1931 four-door sedan is now painted black and gray with white-wall tires and brown cloth interior.
"It gives you something to do and it keeps your mind occupied," Webb said about his hobby.
The hardest part of his pet project with the Model A was working on the body, he said. He had to completely take the thing apart and cut out the rust, and then weld new sheet metal on to it. His brother painted it and helped with the body work. The brown interior is all new, but it is in the original style and color for the vehicle.
"There is enough metal in this here to make hoods for two or three cars nowadays," Webb said with a smile as he pointed to his antique automobile.
Aside from the body and interior work, Webb had to rebuild the frame, put in new brakes and make and place a new roof on it to get the vehicle to where it is today. He also had the motor rebuilt.
"It is fun to drive and it rides better than you would think," Webb said.
The top speed of the car is 45 miles per hour, but Webb insists it is not about the speed. He added that when this vehicle was manufactured there were not a lot of roads, so a lot of times cars like this were off-road vehicles and would be taken on paths and through fields.
Webb intends to put the vehicle in the upcoming Mid-Mo Old Car Club Round-Up and Show. He has already restored a 1965 Chevy pickup, and his next project is restoring a rare 1967 Dodge Dart. Look for him this weekend at the show, shake his hand and ask to see his pictures. He kept track of all the progress he has made with the Model A and anyone can see it all through the scrap book that rides shotgun with him.
Old Car Show set for this weekend
The 45th Annual Mid-Mo Old Car Club Round-Up and Show is scheduled for Saturday at the intersection of Dunklin and Broadway streets in Jefferson City.
The club members will be allowed to bring and show, but they will not receive trophies. Trophies will be awarded for best in show, the peoples' choice, diamond in the rough, roughest car and more. A panel of 10 judges will measure a car in 10 areas such as paint, interior, engine and a drive-through judging portion.
The show is free to the public, but there is $15 fee to register a vehicle. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dash plaques will go the the first 100 entries and more than $500 in door prizes will be given away. Also, there is free entry to any car built before 1945. The free entries are still available to win prizes.
For owners of old cars that are interested in becoming a member of the old car club, a $20 annual membership comes with a monthly newsletter and other benefits. Potential members can sign up for the club at the registration table during the show. For more information about the show, call Mike at 573-893-7802.