THE READIO ‘34 FORD SEDAN
to the Future” graphic starts with a Laurel and Hardy scene from the movie “Way Out West” and a bust of WC Fields to signify 1934, a scene of Japan under a mushroom cloud honors 1945 the year of Skip’s birth, a guy cruising the waves and a couple enjoying the sunset represents the modern times circa 1971, and a rendition of John Pitre’s artwork “Over Population” consumes the rear and makes grim predictions about the future. The inside of the white graphics has what Skip calls spider webbing, but I think the paint splatters were in modern art of the time. That theme follows over to the dash. The beltline is Kandy Tangerine over the white from the graphics with air brushed details. The rod then proceeded to wow friends and strangers at the inaugural Springfield Civic Center Car Show.
In 1966 the car was in an accident and after a long court battle Skip got his insurance payout and the car was one step closer to the rod you see here. The accident damaged the right front, but it was eventually ready to roll, now in red oxide primer. Life stepped in with an injury and then college, but in 1971 Skip got a great deal on a Dana 60 out of a ’68 GTX and the rearend was mounted on ’63 Ramcharger parallel main leafs with ’68 GTX leaf stacks. The now iconic paint scheme came in late 1972 when the red oxide four-door went to Smiley’s Auto Body. Smiley had just opened the shop and was super excited to make a statement piece. A few late-night sessions and they had decided on the “ribbon- through-time” theme below the beltline over Caddy FireMist Red with Kandy Tangerine on top. The “1934
36 JUNE 2025
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