BL Features Cars

GVACS MEMBER'S CARS THAT WERE FEATURED AS THE

"CAR OF THE MONTH"

IN THE BRASS LAMP NEWS LETTER

CAR OF THE MONTH
NOVEMBER 2011

1932 DeSoto Roadster

Owned and Restored by Roy (Gene) Harr

In early 1972, my brother, who worked for a telephone company in Ohio, was working on communication equipment in southern Ohio. He saw the DeSoto in a farm building. He talked to the owner and was told he would be willing to sell it. My brother then called me in Fairport to tell me about it. The following weekend we went to see the car. At the time, I did not know that the 1932 DeSoto Roadster was a rare car. The car had the top assembly missing, broken windshield frame and glass, wrong headlights, the taillights were off and lying inside the car. The rumble seat was also missing. It had been painted in red Rust-oleum to limit the rust. The farmer was asking a fair price so I purchased the car. I was in the process of moving to New York so my brother and brothers-in-law went the following week to get the car.

After about 2 years, I was able to borrow a trailer and hauled the car to New York. I am sending a picture of the car on the trailer after it was loaded. For the next 20 years I traveled to flea markets and bought parts for the car.

In 1992, after 34 years of working for Otis Elevator Company, I retired and started the restoration in my garage. I finished most of the job in 2008. I guess I will never be satisfied to say that I am finished. The entire restoration, including finding the parts, collecting information, and doing the actual work, has been very enjoyable for me. I am very proud of the car and I love for people to see it at the shows.