The Yellow Essex
Owen Martin and His Prized Essex Hot Rod
My brother, Owen Martin, loved to tinker with cars. Over the years, he restored many old cars into showy street rods, but I think the love of his life was his 1929 Essex. He actually ended up restoring it several times, changing the configuration and once bringing it back to life after an accident.
He drove it to many rod runs and car shows in Kansas. He particularly liked going to the Osborne Kansas rod run each year.
(photo of Owen Martin with his Essex from the family album)
Owen Martin with the Essex Before Restoration
The Essex and Owen in their Prime
The cherry red color becomes a showpiece hotrod. Owen did a wonderful job with the exterior and the engine was admired by all his hotrod friends. Here you see Owen, a little older, hair a little longer but still with the mustache.
Here's the Same Essex, Only It's Red
After a Car Accident, the Essex Got Another Makeover
Here's Owen and His Essex - It's Turning Yellow Here, Fenders Not Painted Yet
The Essex Goes to the Wedding
When Owen got married, it was a charming outdoor ceremony near some tall trees. There was the yellow Essex and also the vintage Ford that Owen's father had restored.
Another time, the Essex served to ferry a car buddy's daughter to the prom with her date. Others might hire limos for such an occasion but riding in the Essex made her prom night special.
Owen Martin's Essex and His Dad's Model A Briggs Special
Read More about the Essex Automobile
- Car of the Week: 1928 Essex Sedan | Old Cars Weekly
It's only really been about three years since Larry Jarvis stuck his toe in the old car hobby waters and bought a 1928 Essex on eBay... - Essex (automobile) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Essex enjoyed immediate popularity following its 1919 introduction. More than 1.13 million Essex automobiles were sold by the time the Essex name was retired in 1932 and replaced by ...
The Essex Wasn't Owen's Only Restoration Project
Over the years, he acquired other cars and turned them into showpieces. He took his cars to hot rod shows around Kansas. Enthusiast turned out to see all the cars that dedicated "rod rats" developed from old junkers.
Owen's Essex and his other cars were featured at Arkansas City, Winfield, Wichita, and other shows.
Another of Owen Martin's Street Rods That He Restored - the Forty Ford
YouTube Videos to Learn More about the Essex
Take a Look at More Essex Hot Rods or Street Rods - Short Videos from Youtube
Are You a Street Rod Enthusiast?
Very cool car!
Owen certainly did a great job!
We have a good friend who loves old cars so I will be sure to share this page with him. Very interesting.
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@ZenandChic: I think a Valentine birthday (like my brother's) would be great.
- AUTHOR
@Nancy Hardin: I know nothing about engines and the workings of cars, but do enjoy seeing the vintage cars and hot rods on display or cruising down the road.
I was never a vintage car fan, until after I started aging. Now I see the beauty in all the antique cars, but my favorite non-antique that I still see occasionally here on the streets, are the classic cars like 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air and the 1949 Ford and 1955 Ford Fairlane. There's a classic car club here as well as the antique cars. They're all restored so beautifully. Wonderful story about Owen and his Essex and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nice cars! My hubby would like them. Today is my youngest daughter's bday also
wow - the ugly duck became a pretty yellow swan!
What a charming tribute to Owen and his Essex over the years. Congratulations on getting featured in Squidoo's Car Show winners circle!
Great to see your brother's dedication to restoring these old vehicles.
Wow. Your brother is sure talented. I love old cars. I'd have given my eye teeth for my Mom's first car - a 1941 convertible Desoto.
How fun to see the car repainted and your brother with his car through the years.
I love this lens. It contains lot's of informations about this oldtimer car. I like to design car models from paper. I have some nice cars on my shelf... Thanks for this lens!
Love your brother's Essex in black and red but the yellow suits it best. Lovable lens. Blessed.
This is a fun lens with the car changing as Owen changes. The Essex is beautiful.
Wow -- I hadn't ever heard of this but it's a great car. I love the grille!
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