Calvin King Prowler Member #35

I acquired my first car in Jr. High School and I have had some form of hotrod ever since.

My first car was a ’48 Ford Coupe with a bad engine. I dragged the block a mile down Nimitz Blvd. in Pt. Loma to have the valves ground. Then I took it to Hawley’s (still in business in 2018) and got a $25 paint job.

I would run home from School at Dana Jr. High School and drive the car up and down the alleys. I was 14.

I also obtained a ‘36 3-window…cool car. My neighbor helped me put a free Pontiac engine and drive train in it…his name was John Drumel, a Balboa Stadium racer.  

In high school I bought a ’53 Chevy which became my first legally driven car. This car was also painted for at Hawley’s (yes, for $25!)

Then I also built a ’40 Ford with I-beam axle and Plexiglas windows (but no engine).

Remember J.C. Whitney? They were my best friend then.  

I bought a ’57 Nomad which became a tow car for a Chevrolet Biscayne with a 427 engine that we raced at the Ramona dragstrip.

The Nomad was replaced with a new 1969 Z28.

The Camaro was sold during my Army time and being married with children.

After being married for some time my wife told me she thought “this car thing” was temporary and I would get over it in time.

It wasn’t long before I had a Packard to play with, and then a Franklin. Then I acquired a Bantam. The Bantam had a 454 tri-power and a 12” driveshaft.

Then bought a ’29 roadster pickup that was totaled but nicely remade. It was the family favorite but was sold for kids’ college expenses (then later repurchased).

I’ve had numerous Corvettes and took a ’67 through the Duntov level…this means a raw score of at least 97% for restoration quality. Then I restored another ’69 Z28 Camaro along the way just for sentimentality.

A good friend and I built a 332” Cad powered ’32 roadster together. It was his, but he passed away before it was done. This was my saddest day.

We now own a ’32 roadster, a ’36 3-window, a ’40 Ford sedan, a ’48 Mercury woody, a a ’60 Corvette, two project cars. a ’50 panel truck and a ’72 Porsche.

It’s great to listen to the older sages’ true accounts of their early racing and car building tall stories. After a lifetime of self-employment and serious work life it’s great to associate with guys on a light-hearted and fun basis. I really enjoy being a part of the Prowlers hot rod club.

Being accepted to run with the San Diego Prowlers is a privilege. This club has been an instrumental part of the hot rod hobby and has given many of us the camaraderie and friendship of like-minded guys with a unique interest in cars.

 Above all, being a Prowler helps one feel this lifelong interest in cool cars is normal.