|
Posted:
Saturday, December 20, 2003
ALL THAT GLITTERS
|
Click on any
picture for a bigger view
|
 |
By
The Kalama Valley Kid
Honolulu
Streets Magazine.
Photos: Ken
Kennedy
BRAIDWOOD, ILLINOIS
– It’s
been said, "All that Glitters is not Gold," then again, Ken
Kennedy’s little `28 Ford pickup could be the first one to prove
that saying wrong while also being perhaps the most recognized
pickup ever.
 |
|
After 25 years & 75,000 miles,
the Kugel built 327 Chevy small block motor is still runnin' smooth. |
First
built in 1964 then rebuilt three or four times after by the infamous Jitney
man himself, Jim "Jake" Jacobs of the old Pete &
Jake’s Hot Rod Repair
–
this golden legend found its home with Jake’s longtime good friend
Ken Kennedy in Braidwood Illinois 16 years ago.
The ex- Jake pickup last seen its rebuild around early `78 when it
was also painted a brilliant metallic gold lacquer inside and out by
Don Thelan. And later that same year gracefully decorated the
October pages of Street Rodder Magazine.
Kennedy
has since preserved "Goldie," as he proudly named her;
exactly the way Jake built it during those early years of the
1970’s. "Now after 25 years since Thelan’s touch, the paint
is well patinaed, chipped and cracked from about 75,000 miles,"
said Kennedy. Although Kennedy is completely capable of repainting
Goldie and still retains some of the original gold formula, Jake and
Kennedy both look at the bruises as road scars and couldn’t take
anything away from its history by repainting it.
 |
At
a time when cushy comfort components have become standard items put
into almost every street rod built today like, power windows, A/C
and plush six-way power seats, "this is the way they all
started out, said Kennedy. "The truck is a balls-out Hot Rod.
Quick, noisy - thanks to that damn quick-change and loud pipes. This
ain’t a street rod, It’s a hot rod!" Kennedy also said with
a smile in his voice that Jake’s truck is the one you always want
to touch, drive, or just even look at over and over again.
Surprisingly
even after all these years Kennedy still refers to Goldie as
"Jake’s truck." In many ways, the reason for that could
very well be because of a great common respect the two men have for
each other. Combine that with the ample amount of love that Jake put
into building the pickup some 27 years ago, and you’ll begin to
see a pattern of admiration emerge.
 |
|
Ken Kennedy & Roy |
Only
a great hot rod historian and observer like Kennedy could notice
traits that come with certain hot rods. He put it best by saying
every hot rod seems to always take on its own persona. "My
black `32 1-ton is a big ol’ guy truck. Rugged, hard worker, quite
and dependable. Not taken too good care of but always ready to do
its job- very forgiving."
On
the other hand Jake’s truck is more of a female gender,
"she’s tough but pretty, always getting looks or an
occasional whistle. And strangely those cars were mostly built with
fewer dollars and heaps of love, craftsmanship and with very few
bought parts." Kennedy has spoken like a true hot rodder from
days gone by, one who carries with him a genuine passion for what
Hot Rods really are.
It
maybe true, All that Glitters is not gold but perhaps it only
glitters because of men like Ken Kennedy.
=Thanks
for the paint chips Ken!
TOP
|
