Jim Papworth's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster

Jim's roadster at a 1948 or 1949 dry lakes event. Photo from the Jim Papworth Photo Collection.

Jim racing the roadster at a 1948 or 1949 dry lakes event. Photo from the Jim Papworth Photo Collection.

Jim’s roadster and a Screwdrivers '32 roadster at a dry lakes event in 1948 or 1949. Photo from The Jim Papworth Photo Collection.

Jim Papworth's 1927 Ford Model T Roadster at El Mirage. Jim ran the roadster in 1948 and 1949, so this photo must have been taken in 1948 or 1949. Jim achieved a top speed of 129.56 mph with the roadster in 1949. Jim Papworth is the guy in the white overall, while Joanna Quesnel is the lady wearing a scarf in the photo. Photo from the The Chuck and Joanna Quesnel Photo Collection.

1927 Ford Model T Roadster owned and raced by Culver City Screwdrivers member Jim Papworth. Before the roadster, Jim ran a 1932 Ford 3-Window coupe. The coupe was hard to handle at fifty and above, so he sold it and bought the roadster in 1948. The roadster was already channeled when Jim bought it. It came without an engine and transmission, so he built an engine and a transmission he could use for street racing. Later on he decided to modify it for dry lakes racing. Jim ran the roadster in 1948 and 1949. Top speed in 1949 was 129.56. Jim's stripped down roadster was fit with a 1932 Ford grille shell.