1945 Fran Bannister Roadster 

Lent by Larry Hook

Fran Bannister’s distinctive 1932 Ford Roadster, characterized by its ’39 Ford truck grill and Ford accessory bumperettes, is considered one of the most well recognized hot rods in New England. The car gained national attention in 1950 when it was featured in the March edition of Hot Rod Magazine.

A fair amount of craftsmanship went into mating a ’39 grill with a ’32 ford cowl by using a hand fabricated aluminum hood, but Fran’s roadster wasn’t just about style. Powered by a hopped up 258-cu.in. 1942 Mercury engine with Weiand heads, triple Stromberg carburetors, a Harmon & Collins magneto all directed through a Columbia two-speed rear end, this car was a state-of-the-art performance machine.

In 1950, Fran set out from his home in Massachusetts, with his infant son and young wife nestled in his roadster, on a 2,500-mile trek across the country. The trio were accompanied by their teenage friend, Fred Cain who followed along in a ’39 Ford, with a spare engine and a tripod in case an engine swap was needed. Fran’s trip was a complete success, his car achieved a top speed of 127-mph, officiated, and documented by the Southern California Timing Association.

Fran Bannister and his brother Ralph were amongst the earliest New England Hot Rodders, along with their friend Jack Hartney. Their contributions promoting hot rodding and drag racing is well known throughout New England. Larry Hook of North Smithfield, RI gets the credit for locating the Bannister roadster and you can see the results of his 25-years-long painstaking restoration. Larry searched far and wide for the original parts needed to complete this car and being a true historian and a stickler for details, he successfully returned Fran’s car to its 1950 stature.