Layne Evans

Layne Evans' 1948 Ford four-door. After high school graduation Layne found a job that required having a car, as there were few other means of transportation in those days. "I asked around and believe it or not I ran into the proverbial little old lady with a car up on blocks whose husband had died several years ago and she didn't drive. I don't remember what the mileage was but it was very low and the original tires were still on the car I took it down off the blocks and it started right up. Next was the big question since my pockets were fairly empty so when she said $75 I grabbed the keys and was gone. As my dad knew nothing about cars only beating on us kids, I spent that summer learning how to change points, plugs, tires, etc. I even lowered the rear and installed the fender skirts. Drove the car all summer but when it was time to go to college I sold the car as I wouldn't be able to afford gas and tuition otherwise." Photo courtesy of Layne Evans.

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Layne Evans lived in Ogden, Utah from 1951 to 1961. He graduated from Weber High in 1957 and drove a 1949 Mercury coupe. In 2020 Layne told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that hot rodding was no big deal in Ogden at that time. He had a buddy, Dennis Murchinson, who drove a 1948 Ford Convertible. "Both cars were mild customs and the only other car in town was a 49 Chev coupe. We did red light drags but that was about it."

The Four-Door

After high school graduation Layne found a job that required having a car, as there were few other means of transportation in those days. "I asked around and believe it or not I ran into the proverbial little old lady with a car up on blocks whose husband had died several years ago and she didn't drive. I don't remember what the mileage was but it was very low and the original tires were still on the car I took it down off the blocks and it started right up. Next was the big question since my pockets were fairly empty so when she said $75 I grabbed the keys and was gone. As my dad knew nothing about cars only beating on us kids, I spent that summer learning how to change points, plugs, tires, etc. I even lowered the rear and installed the fender skirts. Drove the car all summer but when it was time to go to college I sold the car as I wouldn't be able to afford gas and tuition otherwise."

A coupe and two chicks

After completing the first year of college Layne needed to work for the summer to cover next year's expenses so he needed another car to get to his summer job. "I was lucky to find the 47 coupe and fell in love with it but didn't have time to do much with it during the summer, just work. I decided this was a keeper so I took it to college with me. After my sophomore year I needed to work for a while to build up cash before going back to school so during that time I did some minor upgrades to the Merc and at one point even painted flames on the hood. Then one evening after getting pissed at a girlfriend I went for a drive, when approaching an intersection to make a left turn an oncoming car without its headlights on nailed me in the front fender. The two cuties caught the eyes of the cops and guess who got the ticket! The car was towed home but in checking it out I found the frame was bent which in those days was a ticket to the junkyard."

Forty One

"Next I was looking for a 40 Ford Coupe but was having no success when a 41 appeared. ¾ race flathead, Lincoln transmission, white Naugahyde with green piping interior, and an ugly green paint job. Grabbed this baby up and started making some upgrades like dual carbs, electric fuel pump, black primer paint, Olds hub caps. I never ran the car at the drag strip as it had to be a daily driver and couldn't afford to lose a day's work so most of the racing was between stoplights much the same as with the Merc. The problem with these old fords was a week rear end and popping the clutch often caused a rear axle to come unglued I remember replacing one in an unheated one car garage/shack dirt floor during a Christmas holiday. I drove this car for about a year then I got interested in motorcycles probably due to my mom saying that if I came home with a bike I would get thrown out of the house so of course I sold the car and bought a Triumph 650 thankfully I didn't get thrown out. Eventually, I rode the bike from Salt Lake City to San Jose, California and dam near froze to death with snow patches around Donner Pass. My only regret was not being able to trade the 41 for a 56 Ford F100 that had won best truck at the Salt Lake auto show since I couldn't get anyone to co-sign for me, but now I have 55 F100 which I have had for 23 years and have done most of the work on it myself, funny how things go around."

Layne Evans' Cars

• Layne Evans' 1948 Ford Four-Door