Charles Mayenschein's 1931 Ford

Charley's old roadster as it sat when Tom bought it in 1987. Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

An ad from the auction. Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

After Tom had brought the roadster home he tore it apart and got it running. Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Charles' old roadster as it appeared in 2013. Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

Photo courtesy of Tom Mayenschein.

1931 Ford Model Roadster owned and restyled by Charles Mayenschein of Fairborn, Ohio. The build was started in 1959, and Charley was going to use the car to haul his other hot rod, the Fabulous Phaeton, around to shows. The roadster was widened 2 inches and a torsion bar suspension was installed. The original drivetrain was replaced with a 371 cu. in. Oldsmobile drivetrain and engine. Charley constructed a chain drive power steering for the car as well. A 1959 hard top convertible motor and screw was used to operate the rumble seat electronically. Charley did also make 6-way power bucket seats with heat and air conditioning for the car, and he told his son Tom that when the car was done it would be better then the Phaeton.

In 1961 Charley and Art Arfons started building the Green Monster. He got tied up with that and chasing salt flats records, and he was not able to finish the roadster before he tragically was killed in a motorcycle accident September 7, 1966.

In 1970 Charley's widow sold the phaeton and the roadster project. In 1987, Tom Mayenschaein, one of Charley's sons, was able to buy the roadster back at an IRS auction. It had been sitting outside under a tarp all those years and it was in a very rough condition. All parts, except for the power seats came with the car. Tom brought it home, tore it apart, and got it running again. The roadster was the restored back to how it looked when he was a little boy playing race car in it.