Charlie and Vinita Hawthorne not only have an impressive collection of 1920-1930's-vintage Fords, they drive them. The yellow '30 Sport Coupe, for example, has been up Pike's Peak not once, but twice.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The Hawthornes' garage is home to mostly Model A's, but also houses the rare '32 Model B Ford pickup in the background. The yellow coupe is outfitted with a rumble seat and an external trunk; the black Tudor is perhaps their favorite road car because of its spacious interior.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Model A meets Model B. Hawthorne says although his buddies in the Wichita A's car club will probably give him grief for saying it, upgrades in the suspension and brakes on the '32 Model B pickup make it a better handling vehicle than the three Model A's now in his collection.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The Model A Sport Coupe has a padded fabric top accented by classic landau irons. Rich red pinstriping picks up the black trim accents on the bright yellow paintwork.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The cockpit of the '30 Model A Sport Coupe is snug, but comfy, done in a tight aupe fabric.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Hawthorne added the handbuilt external storage trunk that rides in a rack on the rear of the Sport Coupe. It can be swapped to the Tudor for longer road trips.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
For reliability, Hawthorne has converted most of his vintage Fords to alternators from the old 6-volt generators. He has also added overdrive units to the drivetrains of several vehicles, making them easily capable of 65 mph freeway speeds.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Space is at a premium in the Sport Coupe, so what better spot for a tool box than between the front frame rails?
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Hawthorne has staked out some classic vanity plates for his vehicles: the '31 Tudor is `A 1931.' The folding luggage rack can accomodate the custom-built trunk Hawthorne bought from a skilled craftsman in Oklahoma.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Not every bit of the Hawthornes' cars are examples of showroom restoration; the interior of the '31 Tudor sedan, for example, is dressed out in this wild upholstery pattern, which, despite signs of wear, is still very functional.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
In classic Ford black, with yellow wire wheels and wood stakesides, the Hawthornes' 1932 Model B pickup is a rare ride, indeed. Here, Charlie maneuvers it into place for a photo shoot.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
The classic 1932 Ford grille shell tells you this is one special pickup truck. Note the mandatory `Ahooga' horn on the driver's side fender.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Inside the cab of the '32 pickup is just as nice as the truck's exterior. Turn signals have been added for safety, along with some extra gauges to keep track of what the 4-cylinder Model B engine is doing.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Charlie Hawthorne thought all '32 Ford pickup bed floors were wood, until he bought his truck.
The earliest models came with steel bed floors and this one is in near-pristine condition. He figures Henry Ford realized he could save a few bucks per model by switching to wood floors.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Another classic vanity tag, `AHOOOGA' adorns the rear of the Hawthornes' pickup. The angle iron trailer hitch was a temporary addition mounted to tow a trailer in a parade and is destined for removal.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Temporarily out of the rotation, this 1929 Model A roadster sports orange wire wheels and whitewalls, as well as etched wing windows. The roadster is used when weather conditions are conducive to open-top touring, says Vinita Hawthorne.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Charlie Hawthorne's shop cat, simply known as `Kitty,' keeps an eye on the progress on his latest project, a 1930 Model A roadster in primer. Kitty loves climbing ladders and perching atop them while Charlie restores vintage Fords.
Link to image
| Buy this photo
Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle
Print edition: Subscribe | Manage Account | E-Eagle: Digital Edition
