Although the Jack Stewart 1941 Ford was never finished by Ayala – I feel Ayala had designed this custom and done most of the hard work so, it belongs in this Ayala section

Jack brought it to Barris to add the final touches and finish it since Gil had gotton some trouble with the local authorities after being driving a little to fast.

In 1948 Jack had the top on his 41 Ford coupe chopped by Kenny Lucas. But when he brought it to the Ayala brothers they decided it should be redone using different techniques. Ayala had been using pre-formed panels made by Californian Metal shaping and those where used to re-chop the top which now flows into the trunk very smooth thanks to the pre-shaped metal and the removal of the drip rail. Jack had previously channeled the 41 6 inches together with a friend to get it really low. The rather heavy chop approximately 6.5 inch resulted in a to small windshield, so it was decided to raise its top into the top so the windshield was better proportioned compared to the side windows. By doing so it appears like the roof is sectioned which works really well with the “sectioned” body.

The sectioning was done on the bottom of the car in combination with raised 1948 Ford front fenders and raised rear fenders. The full fade-away fenders where created once again using pre-shaped metal shapes. Apparently this time the shapes where to complexed for cardboard templates and the whole car was at the Californian Metal Shaping company so they could create the pre-shaped metal while test fitting it to the real car. This resulted in a series of metal shapes which where pieced together by the Ayala’s to created this unique molded body. Apparently the shapes where formed so well nearly no lead was needed for the final shaping. This says a lot about the skills of both Gil and Al Ayala and ofcoars the crew at Californian Metal Shaping comp. When the font fenders where raise it was decided the 41 hood needed to be replaced by a much wider unit so it was scratch built form sheet metal. It looks like the 1949 Hood was used for inspiration. The headlights where frenched and the whole front was modified to accept a 1949 Cadillac grille, most likely the first use in any custom car. The front bumper was replaced by a 1950 Studebaker unit (similar as what Gil used on his own 1940 Mercury with fade-away fenders.

At the front the ’48 Ford fender create was removed but they retained it at the back although it was rounded in shape to fit the molded fenders better. A rather strange modification is the flattening of the top of the front wheel opening, perhaps that was done to mimic the shape of the home made fender skirts. Personally I feel it takes away from the overall round shape of this custom. At the rear of the car Ayala created molded in taillight pods most likely to use 46-48 Ford taillights. But when the car was delivered at Barris the pods where reshaped and flared to the body before scratch built red Lucite taillights where fabricated. All corners on Jack’s custom where rounded. Ayala had done the doors with a gorgeous large radius to follow the side window opening, and Barris performed the others likewise. The rear bumper of a ???? along with 48 Ford bumper guards where used. Inside a completely chrome plated 1948 Dash was used and the upholstery was done in white and tan tuck & roll upholstery, most likely performed by Chavez. Barris painted the custom a deep bronze metallic, which looked like a dark penny with flakes. 1949 Cadillac Sombrero hubcaps on wide whites and Appleton spotlights can be seen in most photo’s although on some photo’s the car appears to have the Appleton spots removed and wire wheel hubcaps replaced the Sombrero’s.

The Stewart Ford still exists today. After first being sold to Jim Skonzakes who sold it to Bob Drake after it was hit by a train – and who did a full restoration – it now is sold to a person who has plans to put it into an early time Custom car museum.