A Rare Day Off

My son Tom and I don’t take many days off. Between running our vintage guitar shop, café, restoration shop, and flower farm, there’s always something that needs doing. But when the Hot Rod Nationals rolled into Essex Junction, VT, we made an exception.

The last time I was at the Expo Center was in 1990, watching Stevie Ray Vaughan play just days before his tragic passing. This time, I had a recreation of SRV’s ride along for the trip.

A Passion for Classics

Tom and his younger brother Adam used to wake up on Christmas morning hoping for guitars and Legos. The Legos eventually got left behind, but the guitars stuck.

Now, Tom’s a guitar slinger, and when he’s not playing, he’s wrenching. So, he took the wheel of our ‘31 Ford AA short wheelbase flatbed, and we set off across Lake Champlain on the ferry.

This was Tom’s first big car show, and it didn’t take long to see he’s got a taste for ‘66s—a chip off the old block for sure.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Find

The show was everything we hoped for, and then some. But the real magic happened on the way home.

We were still within city limits when Tom yelled, “Dad! Did you see that!?” At that point, I’d seen hundreds of hot rods that weekend, so my neck was already sore from turning my head. But Tom wasn’t letting this one slide.

I flipped a U-turn, and there it was—a super clean, all-original, two-owner 1931 Ford Model A Coupe. And the best part? It had a "FOR SALE" sign in the window.

The owner was an old-school kind of guy, the kind who doesn’t sell to just anyone.

“I won’t let this car go to someone who’s gonna cut it up,” he told us. “I don’t care how much money they’ve got.”

But Tom—fresh out of an all-original ‘31 himself—was different. His passion was obvious, and that made all the difference.

The owner saw it, and before we knew it, we were shaking hands. This car had spent 91 years indoors, and we vowed to keep that streak alive. We picked it up the next day.

A Master’s Touch

Back at Tres Hombres Classics & Customs and 22BREW in Essex, NY, the ‘31 Coupe started turning heads immediately.

One of those heads belonged to George Briggs, a local legend in early automobile restoration. At 80 years old, George doesn’t take on much work anymore, but he liked what he saw. He put a Terraplane in storage just to make room for our car in his shop that winter.

“The engine’s got a sound to it,” he told us. “Needs attention if you want to drive it.”

This is a guy who still puts hundreds of miles a year on his 1918 Dodge Brothers, so when he talks, you listen.

He sent our engine to his trusted machine shop of 60 years, and when it came back, it was running factory spec—all 40 horses pulling strong on flawless 150-mile trips.

Restoring a Classic

George didn’t stop there. He:

• Replaced all the wheel bearings
• Rebuilt the entire brake system
• Installed a fresh set of whitewalls

The interior, done by LeBaron-Bonney 40 years ago, still holds up beautifully. And the black nitrocellulose paint has aged like fine whiskey.

Other than that? This car is 100% original, top to bottom.

Even George himself called it:

“A righteous example.”

 

 

It Makes Everyone Smile

Since getting it back on the road, we’ve driven the Coupe several times a week from spring to fall. And let me tell you—this car gets everyone’s attention.

Kids, bikers, truckers, farmers, cops, the Snap-On guy—they all smile and wave.

There’s just something about this car.

 

Time for Its Next Caretaker

But now, it’s time for it to find its next caretaker.

We’re putting it up for sale to fund Tom’s ‘68 Mustang Convertible project.

That said, it’s gonna take the right kind of buyer.

If you’re looking for a chopped, overbuilt showpiece—this ain’t your car.

But if you’re looking for a survivor with history, character, and soul—this just might be the one.

Interested? Contact Us

If you’re serious, call or text:

Eric & Tom Sherman
? 1502 NYS Rte 22, Essex, NY 12936
? (518) 524-6083

? Tres Hombres Classics & Customs
☕ 22BREW
? Champlain Peony Company
22PAWN.COM