(Model Body Number, not Chassis)

(####-#### Format)

1937

15th

1090

138-CD

One-Twenty Deluxe Touring Limousine

1090-1279

339910

*MISSING*

Current Owner

Pleasant Hill, MO

09/01/2022

Original Survivor

Don B

Pleasant Hill, MO

Average

Reid-Ward Motor Company

07/08/1937

1477

X

Black Body And Wheels, Old Ivory Stripe

Tan shadow stripe broadcloth in rear. Black Leather in front. Tan mohair carpet front and rear. leather.

Black body Black wheels Old Ivory Stripe Wheels. Stripe is Old Ivory.

282 (8 Cyl, 120 Hp)

X119374

3 Speed

Banjo steering wheel, clock, deluxe heater with defroster, dual side-mount spares,

Original dealer delivery was July 8, 1937 from Reid-Ward Motor Company in Kansas City, MO. My father bought the car from an individual in November of 1960 for $400.

I do not know the history prior to my father, but the owner previous to my dad claimed that he bought the car from an estate sale of Bryce B Smith. Bryce B Smith was the mayor of Kansas City from 1930 to 1940. I do know that Mayor Smith did have two chauffeurs…one employed by the city and one personally employed. I have not been able to confirm if he or the city owned the car previously and Missouri will not share any information. If this story is true, then Mayor Smith or the city of Kansas City would likely have been the original owner. I do have the name of the owner prior to my dad and I actually have the newspaper add to which my dad responded. I was able to confirm the add conclusively by confirming the address listed in the add was in fact the address for the previous owner.

My dad drove the car from 1960 to 1965 as his only car. It was then garaged at his home from 1965 to September 2022 when he passed the car on to me to get restored.

I got the car running in the fall of 2023 and am had fun getting Mom and Dad out for drives while working on projects. A lot was done to get the car to driving condition. At this point, the steering system has been gone through, though I do need to do some work on the right side king pin. The fuel system has been gone through and I “upgraded” from the Stromberg EE14 carburetor to the Carter WD-0 carburetor. I have also taken care fo the suspension, including new coil springs, new leaf springs, and rebuilt rear shocks.

The car is currently in the shop for body, paint, and interior/upholstery. Up next….remove and re-coat the exhaust manifold, fix the heat riser valve, and replace the head gasket.

The air cleaner was replaced with a paper air cleaner in the early 1960s and a manual choke was installed prior to 1960. Otherwise, the car was all original when I got it. The car also has an electric fuel pump as a back up.

As October 2023, the car has an original oil bath air cleaner.
In December 2024, the Stromberg EE14 carburetor was replaced with a Carter WD-0 and the manual choke was removed.

Ultimately, I will be making a few modifications. An electric fuel pump has been installed, but is only used to prime the system after sitting a long time. I have also added a Gano Filter in the top radiator hose to facilitate monitoring the coolant and keeping debris out of the radiator. I will be wiring the front and rear cigar lighters to a separate 12V negative ground battery so that standard chargers for phones can be used. I will also have the shop install front and rear seat belts (lap belt only). Then, I will be adding a turn signal kit that does not involve cutting into the wiring harness as well as a third brake light. But, probably the biggest modification I will be making is to install a 23rd series transmission with R11 overdrive. All of these items will make the car a better and safer driver.