FJ - Legendary Wood Body Builder Ray Wells

[FreighTer Jim]

Friday was a good day.

I paid a visit to see Mr. Ray Wells who is working on the 1904 Model B Body.

Ray Wells was wiring new homes for cable in the 1960’s when he changed careers
and began making custom made office furniture for the San Diego market.

That led to a company that employed (11) people which he sold in the early 1980’s.

He had been making wooden car bodies for friends and for his projects all along.

He decided to do it full time.

To date he has crafted close to 1000 hand made early antique car bodies.

His website is:

@ http://www.the-craftsman.biz/home.html


FJ

[KimDobbins]

Love that body! Looks like Ray in doing a nice job on it.

[FreighTer Jim]

FJ

[John Warren]

Thanks Jim, I have heard of a guy in California that does things. Now I know who he is. There is hope for my 14 roadster.

[Sarikatime]

John, look on Ray’s website, he may have one ready to go right now. Frank

[FreighTer Jim]

FJ

[Raoul von S.]

Ford isn't stocking these bodies/parts anymore ???

[Quickm007]

I have a splendid 1911 body from Ray and it was made really well. I'm actually in the process to reassembled all parts and body together. I will post the final project when it will be paint in a month. Here bellow a picture to give you an idea where I am with my project. Apron and some body part were already paint this week. Next week it will be the body as well. I'm impatient driving this car this summer, I'm working on that project the last 8 years... A lot fun and hard work.

[FreighTer Jim]

FJ

[KWTownsend]

Back in 2010, I had Ray do most of the body work on my original 1911 touring body. He was able to use most of the original wood, but had to replicate the seat frames and the seat backs. Overall I was pleased with his work and it gave my son and me an opportunity to do a Portland to El Cajon road trip! I would recommend him for body restoration work.

Before

After

: ^ )

Keith

[TonyB]

I had a couple of hours free this morning so I went over to see Ray at his shop and look over the Midel B body.
It looks great, similar to the later Model T body but different. I was particularly interested in the fastening of the four body bracket to the body. The Model B uses three bolts on the four brackets with two at the bottom and one at the top. My Model T uses just two bolts at the front and three on the remaining four with one at the bottom and two at the top. Later Ts used three bolts on all six brackets.

[FreighTer Jim]

The 1904 Model B body on the car when picked up.

Under the red primer was gloss black paint.

Under the black paint were plywood patch panels.

John has to do quite a bit of work ....


FJ