After a month long pursuit of roadsters prior to the LARS, I was fortunate enough to be able to drive a long time favorite Boyd built roadster home from the show. I have found memories of the car from the late eighties and early nineties. It seems my friend Walt, who let me drive this particular Larry Murray car while he was the owner. We were in Pleasanton, CA at a Goodguy’s event where I was a vendor with Boyd. I am a straight axle very traditional person so I didn’t know to expect, but agreed to give it a try. I was very impressed and upon coming back with Boyd I told him to start on the chassis and order me a Wescott body (no steel bodies available). The project took about 6 months to build the shell, have Dan Fink do the metal work and be ready to be blown apart for paint. Boyd treated me real well on the prices and I decided that I would go ahead with the expensive part of paint and upholstery. Two weeks later I was promoted to the Western Regional manager and transferred to San Francisco. I knew my time would be limited with the new position so I sold the project to Jerry Ruskin who finished it for the 1992 Oakland Roadster Show and came in second.
My job was very demanding and I suffered a stroke which took my mind away from that beautiful roadster. During my position as General Manger of the Los Angeles Truck Center, which I built for GM, I borrowed the Larry Murray roadster from Boyd for our new GM Pro Shop in the parts department. We were the first in the country to have a full blown Pro Shop featuring GM Parts and several Hot Rod manufacturers products including Boyds and Dan Fink.
Fast forward to 2016 where I discovered that same roadster for sale on Craigslist and my heart started to beat a little faster. And telling Walt it was for sale. He purchased the roadster and hasn’t had time to enjoy it much in the last year and half. He offered to let me be the caretaker for a while and I jumped at the opportunity to drive it again after all these years. Hence the name Lucky was the name given to the Boyd roadster by my wife Jane — as I’m indeed a — “Lucky” man. Thank you Walt for your generosity!!!
My last roadster was named “Lucy” again named after what I call my wife. She is a real keeper just as any roadster should be! Boyd was way ahead of the curve and while not traditional by early standards is truly traditional for the “Smoothy Age” of Hot Rods.
Thank you Boyd for your creative genius and talent. You will be glad to know that the roadster is in very nice condition for being 29 years old and will stay that way while under my care.
Stay Tooned!
Lynn
click on photo for a larger image
This is the chassis for my clone of the Murray roadster in about 1990.
Here is the project ready for final paint and upholstery.
Dan Fink and Geoff did a great job on the sheet metal work, gas tank, and floor boards.
This photo was taken at Don’s Coffee & Kix last year when Walt first purchased the Murray roadster. Note the big smile.
This photo shows the rear end too high but it’s just the photo.
The under carriage is spotless and detailed as it was many years ago.
The famous Independent rear end with a Corvette center section and hand made components was as trick as you could purchase in the Boyd era.
His independent front suspensions are still the best design I have seen with very pleasing aesthetics.
Surprisingly, I fit in this roadster. Granted, it is tight, but I manage to drive without my shoes and do just fine. Note sure who did the upholstery in the roadster. Boyd was using Dan Drum during that period.
The truck is nicely done with the gas tank and battery beneath the square weave carpet.
The billet equipped engine and transmission is a 327/350 combination that runs as smooth as you could ask for. That is the late Jim Babb’s radiator.
Pepe loves her new garage mate. Deuces don’t take up much room. The frame jig folds up and doesn’t require much space for storage inside.
Boyd built all these units and we displayed them at our Grand Opening of the GM Pro Shop in our new facility. Wonderful memories are now in my garage for viewing daily.