Jack Thompson's 1933 Essex Terraplane

Jack Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina with his 1933 Essex Terraplane in the 1940s. Thompson modified the original straight-8 engine, and the car became known as one of the fastest on the streets of Charlotte throughout the decade. Photo from the Frank Spittle Collection.

The Terraplane as it looked when Frank Spittle bought it in 1968. By this time, the original straight-8 had been replaced with a dual-quad 331 OHV Cadillac V-8 and the top had been converted into a removable "Carson" type top. Photo from the Frank Spittle Collection.

1933 Essex Terraplane convertible with a documented history on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina stretching back to the 1940s. The car was modified by Jack Thompson in the 1940s, converted by Joe Mears for Bob Lawhon in 1958, and fully restored for Frank Spittle, who owned it from 1968 to 2009.

Jack Thompson

In the 1940s, the car was owned by Jack Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina. Thompson modified the original straight 8 engine, and the car became known as one of the fastest on the streets of Charlotte throughout the decade.

Bob Lawhon

By the late 1950s, the car was owned by Bob Lawhon. In 1958, Lawhon had the car restored by Joe Mears. The original straight-8 engine was replaced with a dual-quad 331 OHV Cadillac V-8 and a matching 3-speed transmission. According to the later owner, Frank Spittle, both the engine and transmission had previously been used in an Indy-style car that NASCAR ran in 1953 under the Speedway Division. Buck Baker drove the car and won the only Speedway Division championship. The body was not altered, but the top was converted into a removable "Carson" type top.

Jimmy Hobbs and Tommy Zeman

Lawhon sold the car to Jimmy Hobbs in 1962. Hobbs owned the car from 1962 to 1965, when he sold it to Tommy Zeman. Zeman owned the car from 1965 to 1968, when he sold it to Frank Spittle.

Frank Spittle

Frank Spittle first saw the car in 1961 when he was 17 years old. He purchased the car from Tommy Zeman in 1968.

The car had not been garaged in the 10 years since the 1958 conversion and needed a complete restoration. Charles John rebuilt the Cadillac engine and painted the car Sungleam Red Metalflake with black Spiderweb sprayed over it and approximately 7 coats of clear. Carl Turner restored the interior in white button/tuck, including the headliner and running boards.

When Spittle sold the car in 2009 after 41 years of ownership, it still had the original paint and interior from his restoration. The car was never left outside overnight except when at weekend rod runs.