1932 Frank Maratta's "The Rake"

Lent by Dean Schimetschek, Haddam, CT

This 1930 Ford Coupe known as “The Rake” was originally owned by Frank Maratta, founder of the historic Connecticut Dragway and lead promoter of the Hartford Autorama auto show. Raced extensively on the New England drag circuit and at NHRA national events around the country, “The Rake” serves as a rare survivor from a New England hot rodding icon who was active and well known throughout the region.

Frank Maratta was heavily involved in the New England Hot Rod scene in the 50’s and 60’s, and one of the pioneers who helped to grow the hobby in the region. Frank organized the Hartford Autorama which one of the biggest hot rod and custom car gathering events in the 50’s and 60’s, a five-day event that drew some of the most iconic cars from hundreds of miles away. Maratta also owned New England Auto Body in Hartford, CT, where he worked on “The Rake.”

“I’m good with my hands,” Maratta noted in an interview with Rodding & Restyling magazine in 1959. Frank’s hands were so good, in fact, that he would receive letters from around the country requesting his skills. Maratta bought the ’30 Ford for $40, and invested more than $3000 building, customizing and preparing it for the drag strip. Originally powering The Rake was a 352 C.I. Chevrolet V8 which provided more than enough horsepower. Polished ports and heads along with six Stromburg 97 carburetors made the engine bay as attractive as the rest of The Rake.

The current caretaker for The Rake is Dean Schimetschek, and he does not have plans to over-restore the car. Dean has prepped the car for the road with a 1958 283 C.I. V8 with a Weiand intake and 4 “deuces” with Spalding ignition and a powerglide transmission. The interior has also been updated by Dean to resemble the upholstery Frank completed in the 50’s.