Yahoo Autos Our Modest Car Collection: 1932 "Gone-Or-Hea" Roadster
One of the most famous hot rods in the world resides in, yes, Our Modest Car Collection. The "Gone-Or-Hea" Roadster is based on a 1932 Suffolk County Sedan De Luxe Club Coupe Roadster, which was famously advertised as "The Car That Kept The Commies OUT!" It sports many of the popular modifications of the era: windscreen cut down, fins and fenders removed, doors replaced with surplus industrial sheeting, 48-star American-flag convertible top embroidery, asbestos lining flame-proofed for extra strength, and the "mother-in-law" seat ditched for a "step-sister" seat, with thinner padding to prevent unwholesome thoughts.
The owner, a Richard "Dick" Johnson of Surplus City, Iowa, truly defined what American ingenuity meant. Shortly before the war, he bought the Suffolk sedan from a pawn shop in nearby Des Moines, with money he had earned from a successful franchise of lemonade stands. On the way to the soda fountain, as he tells it, the distributor cap caught fire. He was able to put it out with the dress of his then-girlfriend, Mary Sue Elkins, later fashioning a rudimentary fan belt from her garter straps. When he returned from the war, the car was awaiting him faithfully on his grand-pa's farm. The big-block flathead V8 was hopped up with an 0.08" bore, 0-18 shims, 12/75 fins, and a compression of 6. He dubbed the car the "Gone-Or-Hea" Roadster, commemorating his time stationed in Boston while serving with the Merchant Marines. Soon, the cornfields of Iowa rustled with Dicky Johnson's name in illegal street racing, albeit in a wholesome, good ol' fashioned manner.
48-star American-flag convertible top embroidery, asbestos lining flame-proofed for extra strength, and the "mother-in-law" seat ditched for a "step-sister" seat.
A symbol of one man's taste and tenacious dedication, there is the influence of Old Dick all across this car-the Hawaiian-shirt seat pattern upholstery, the dazzling chrome wheels with working bottle openers etched onto each spoke, the hood louvers painted with individual flames, and the custom air horn that plays a 35-second looping clip of "I'm Proud To Be An American" as sung by a 12-year old Brian Wilson. (True to such constant upgrades, the "GOLDWATER '64" and "Obummer Ain't My President" bumper stickers can be considered period modifications.) We acquired this car from the estate of the original owner after he passed away from endoscopic cardio-evacuation at the ripe old age of 97. A true innovator, "Tricky Dicky," as he was known, will be missed by many within the hot rod community.
