CALGARY — Like father, like son.
That might not always be the case, but there’s clear evidence of the theory when one looks at four generations of the Murphy family in Calgary.
Meet Chad Murphy, proprietor of Lucky-U-Dezine. His father, Terry, and late grampa, Spud, have been involved with internal combustion engines and two and four-wheeled vehicles their entire lives.
Charles Gordon Murphy, better known as Spud, was born in 1918. He purchased his first motorcycle in 1935, and served overseas in the Canadian Army during World War II. He was in charge of a mobile motorcycle unit.
Spud’s son, Terry, clearly remembers helping his Dad in the garage – and says he was the only one at school who perpetually smelled of parts cleaner.
And Chad, Terry’s son, says he was four years old when he and his Dad were cutting apart and welding back together tricycles – essentially making choppers out of the three-wheelers.
So it’s no surprise that Chad’s three-year old son, Mason, loves to hang out with Dad in the family garage, where there’s a 1950 Ford Club Coupe.
“He’s taken an interest in the car,” Murphy says of his son. “He’ll say ‘Let’s go hang out in the car, Dad’.”
The car, Murphy says, was found for sale locally in the Auto Trader. He was originally looking for a truck circa 1934 to 1936, but his Mom found the Ford.
“She turned me on to something much more family-oriented than a truck, but I wasn’t thinking about family at the time,” Murphy says.
The Ford was on a farm near Stettler. Although it was a running car, it wasn’t safe for the highway so Murphy, his Dad and a friend arrived with a trailer. First, they took it for a quick drive.
“The car was right out of the barn, but we take off down the gravel roads and we’re all giggling because this old car is running and driving – and I was thinking ‘this thing is sold, it’s coming home with us for sure’,” Murphy says.
Once home in Calgary, the Ford was unloaded and Murphy drove it around the block and into his two-car garage – where it sat for only a few days while he thought about what he was going to do with it.
“I had a vision of building something like what the kids in their white t-shirts and rolled up jeans would have done back in the day,” Murphy says. “Just doing what they could afford to do without changing out a bunch of parts – they likely didn’t have much money to build, and neither did I.”
Murphy and his friend Dale Yamada of Mad Jap Kustoms modified the front end by reversing the spindles to drop the car some 4”. Out back, a set of lowering blocks allowed the car to settle just 3 1/2” off the ground. Ceramic brake shoes went into the drums, and Murphy and Yamada followed up with an alignment job using strings and levels.
“It’s one of the straightest and truest cars I’ve ever driven,” he says of the home-done alignment.
Murphy’s engine is the original V8 flathead, and it’s still running with the original spark plug wires and 6-volt electrical system. Apart from the battery, oil and antifreeze, nothing else has been touched.
For now, Murphy has no plans to refinish the exterior of the car – which was originally maroon.
“That’s nature’s patina,” he says, and adds, “At some point I might clear coat it, but I like it the way it is.”
He stripped out the interior, and the Ford doesn’t have a headliner, door panels or any carpet on the floor. The seats were reupholstered in black vinyl with cream inserts, and Murphy and his wife Amanda added a seat belt in the rear to accommodate a child’s safety seat.
Murphy’s glad he got a car instead of a truck, because his is now a family of four. Their second son, Lincoln, was born in late April and he’s sure to enjoy the car as much as his older brother Mason.
“When I put Mason in the car seat he’s asleep after three blocks; I think it’s the rumbling of the old flathead that does that,” Murphy laughs.
Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have an auto related item to share for the column or What’s Next? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or gregwilliams@shaw.ca. Visit his website at gregwilliams.ca.
WHAT’S NEXT
To see your event listed, email the details, at least three weeks in advance, to gregwilliams@shaw.ca.
June 15: From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Alberta Iron Indians Pontiac Club of Calgary presents their All Pontiac Show & Shine at ABC Country Restaurant, 11520 24 St. S.E. Proceeds go to the Veteran’s Food Bank, donations accepted. Spectators welcome, contact Bill Hunter at 403-650-5009, email bhunter@walter.com, or visit www.ironindians.ab.ca for more info.
June 21: Eighth Annual Al Azhar Vintage Car Club Show & Shrine at the Al Azhar Shrine Centre 5225 101 St. N.W. All makes and models, motorcycles welcome, too. Registration fee $10, free spectator admission. On-site food, mini-swap meet, vendor’s tables and children’s activities. Call Don Boyce at 403-949-3748 or email inga01@telusplanet.net
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