John Zedack

Michael Zedack in John's 1957 Ford This photo was taken while John was stationed in the state of Washington. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

A photo of the 1940 Ford John built for his son Michael. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

A photo of John's first 1936 Ford 3-window coupe, taken in 1982. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

A 1956 Borgward Isabella 2 door coupe that John restored in 1982. John restored it just because someone said who would want to restore it. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

In 1983 John and his son Michael built a 1941 Ford into a one of a kind street rod. The Ford had a past on the strip as a gasser. Michael still owned the car in 2013. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

John Sak's Third 1941 Ford Convertible of Syracuse, New York. Named "Barbie" after his wife, the build was started in 1957 and completed in 1960. "Barbie" was John's third 1941 Ford custom. John Zedack bought the old custom around 1985.

A photo of John's first purple 1949 Mercury custom. Over the years, John actually owned four 1949 Mercurys. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

A photo of John next to his Merc. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

John's second purple 1949 Mercury.. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

John liked the fat fendered 1940 Fords. And he built these two coupes for his grandsons. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

A photo of John with his blown cart. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

This is a recreation of the 1957 Oldsmobile that John drove around in Germany with while he wast staioned in Karlsruhe. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

One of John's latest projects was this International cabover that he installed on a short school frame and engine with a Peterbuilt sleeper cab. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

This 1932 Ford roadster was John's last project before he passed away in 2011. After completing the build he gave the car to his 4 years old grandson. Photo courtesy of Michael Zedack.

John Zedack of Clifton, New Jersey. John was nicknamed "3 Window John" after one of his favorite cars, a 1936 Ford 3-window coupe.

John was known for building cars from scrap heaps out of his one car garage on Paulison Avenue in Clifton, but he grew up in the mountains, in the small town of Belsena, Pennsylvania. While growing up he knew that he didn't want to be a farmer or a coal miner, and because of that he became kind of a hell-raiser. He purchased his first car, a 1940 Chevrolet Special Deluxe, at age 14. Unfortunately he rolled it over shortly afterwards. John was approved to graduate from high school early, with an advice from the local constable to join the US Army at age 17 1/2. He served from 1956 to 1965, spending most of his time stationed in Smiley Barracks in Karlsruhe, West Germany. While serving in Germany, John had several cars such as a 1957 Ford 2 door, a 1957 Oldsmobile 88 2 door and a 1957 VW beetle with hand pinstriped flames and beer can exhaust tips. John met his future wife in Germany. They got married, and had a son. John blew the engine in his 1957 Oldsmobile while speeding down the autobahn getting to the hospital to be there for the birth of his first son Michael. Later on, back in the US, John bought another 1957 Oldsmobile that he built into looking like the one he drove around Karlsruhe in.

John was a self taught mechanic, welder, body man and painter, and his son Michael would estimate that his father restored and drove well over 150 cars. In 1983 John and his son Michael built a 1941 Ford into a one of a kind street rod. The Ford had a past on the strip as a gasser. Around 1985 John bought John Sak's Third 1941 Ford convertible, an old Syracuse, New York custom named "Barbie". According to his son Michael, John had a relentless passion for cars, and his knowledge around 1940s and 1950s cars was amazing. Before parts were being reproduced, John would be seen at all local swap meets. Carlisle and Hersey were his favorites, and he could spot parts to restore for his latest and future projects from aisles away. He would move on to the next build sometime just starting with a grille shell he scored for a great price. He would also always be there to help anyone with a problem with their classic cars, even in his Sunday best clothes.

John liked fat fendered 1940 Fords, and for his son Michael he saved a 1940 Ford 2 door sedan for 15 years before he built it into a daily driven high school and college street rod. Later on John built two more 1940 Ford coupes that he gave to two of his grandsons. The third grandson got a 1932 Ford roadster. The roadster was John's last project before he passed away in 2011, and the grandson was 4 years old when he got it.

John Zedack's Cars

John Zedack's 1932 Ford Roadster
John Zedack's First 1940 Ford Coupe
John Zedack's Second 1940 Ford Coupe
John Sak's Third 1941 Ford Convertible - Barbie
John Zedack's 1949 Mercury