To get the car from San Francisco to Moravia, NY, (the Green’s home town), the General’s wife had to purchase a first-class rail ticket to Ithaca, NY.

     The first thing that grabs your attention when Pete Dudley’s 1940 Ford V8 Deluxe Opera Coupe is on display at a car show or cruise-in, is the large number of people standing around and admiring this un-restored and well preserved car.  The second thing is the extraordinary story behind this very special vehicle.   

     If only the car could talk, it would probably have so much more to say than the story board that Pete props up against the car for people to read.

     To paraphrase the story board, the facts and special interest about the Ford are that it was purchased new in the spring of 1940 in Alexandria, VA, by then Lt. Col. Thomas H. Green, who was soon to become a General in the US Army.  In July, 1940, the car was shipped to Hawaii aboard an Army troop ship.  The trip took 28 days.

     On the “Day of Infamy” – December 7, 1941 – when Pearl Harbor was attacked, this privately owned vehicle was put into service.  It was packed to the running boards with servicemen being called to duty as General Green picked men up along the way to Fort Shafter – US Army Headquarters.   

      After the attack, Marshal Law was declared in Hawaii and Gen. Green was promoted to Judge Advocate and acting Governor of the Territory of Hawaii.  In February 1942, when the women and children were evacuated from the Territory, the Ford was shipped back to the States.

     To get the car from San Francisco to Moravia, NY, (the Green’s home town), the General’s wife had to purchase a first-class rail ticket to Ithaca, NY.  From records that Pete has, the cost of the ticket was $90. From Ithaca, the car was driven home.

     The car was used by the Green’s as a second car for several years.  It was subsequently purchased from the Green’s estate in 1972 by a man in Syracuse.  In 1985, Pete (who resides in Eireville) was looking for a spare engine for his 1940 Tudor sedan when he ran across the Opera Coupe.  The car’s owner wanted to sell the car, but he was reluctant because everyone that he talked to wanted to make the car into a street rod.  Peter assured the man that this was not his intention and subsequently became the car’s third owner.

     After its purchase, the car saw very little road time.  It has primarily been in storage until 2005 when Pete decided to ‘dust it off’.  And since then, it has been generating a whole lot of attention wherever Pete takes it.

     There is a great deal of documentation that came with the car.  It includes personal letters that describe the events of December 7, 1941, with references to Gen. Green “picking up the boys”, the car’s trip from San Francisco and information on the 1938 Ford Thomas Green traded-in to buy the Coupe. 

     It is ironic, too, that Pete recalls seeing ‘his’ car at the New York Sate Fair in the 1970s.  It was on display with all the documentation that Pete now possesses.

     These Coupes are neat cars.  There is no traditional rear seat.  There are two facing jump seats, similar to what you would find in today’s mid-size extended cab pick-up trucks.

     The exterior finish on the car is faded and dull.  There are many spots on the car’s surface where the paint has flaked off and where surface rust has formed.  Territory of Hawaii registration stickers are still on the windows.  For the most part, this is a very solid and drivable car.

     The dilemma an owner faces with a car like this is to either continue to maintain and preserve it or to restore it.  When Pete and I talked, he was still contemplating what to do with this gem.  My recommendation is to continue to preserve this amazing piece of history.  Given enough resources (money, time and skill) anything can be done with a car.  In the end, what you have is another restored 1940 Ford.

     What Pete has is a one-of-a-kind car.  If attention is a desired outcome, I have seen this car generate more attention than the #1 and #2 cars it parks next to at car shows.  It is a tough decision.  And there is no right or wrong answer, but whatever the outcome is, the role this car played on the “Day of Infamy” will never change.

“Cruising speed is 25-30 MPH. Top speed is about 45 MPH. To reach these speeds, you have to be riding over a well groomed trail.” - Jim Waterbury, Mexico, NY.

By Gary Wilkinson

I am a ‘car guy’ who has come to know a little bit about and appreciate the hobby of vintage snowmobiles. This all started when I wrote a story a few years ago about a 1920 Model T Ford, with a Virgil White snowmobile kit attached to it.Last year, as I turned into the driveway of Jim Waterbury’s Mexico, NY home, I saw these two Bombardier snow buses (pictured) parked in the freshly fallen snow in front of his red barn. The blending of the collector car and vintage snowmobile hobbies came together, as these two expertly restored vehicles glistened in the early morning sunshine, just as if they knew they were on display, at a show, in the middle of winter.Jim is standing between these two big machines. He and his brother Doug own them, and they are the ‘cream of the crop’ in a collection of vintage sleds that Jim owns. Jim said, “I own 30-35 snowmobiles, and I really like the old ‘muscle’ (performance) machines.”

Jim has acquired his collection over the past 16 years. It includes some other big stuff too, like a 1950 4-seat Tucker and a 6-seat Tucker. These are aluminum bodied sleds that are powered by Chrysler engines.

The snowmobile to Jim’s right, is a 1942 Bombardier B-12. The one to his left is a Bombardier 1952 R-12. The 12 designation in their names refers to the number of passengers these buses will carry. The B-12 is a wood bodied sled. The R-12 has a tin body.

Jim and Doug bought these two snowmobiles (and one other) in Canada, just north of Detroit, MI. They found them on eBay, and the person selling them owned a total of six. It took the brothers three trips to bring them all home. Trailering sleds of this size is like transporting a car.

These are big vehicles. The R-12 weighs 4,500 pounds, and the weight is evenly distributed across the sled to aid in floatation over the snow. It is 17-feet, 8-inches long and 59-inches wide. Its endless rubber and steel track is 17.5-inches wide and 22.5-feet in length. The track rides on eight 4.5 x 16-inch rubber tires (4 per side). The front skis are 60-inches long and 12-inches wide. The front suspension is a set of coil springs. The carrying capacity of the bus is 2,000 pounds or twelve 166.6-pound people.

The R-12 and B-12 have similar specifications. To move them across the snow, they are powered by 251-cubic-inch Chrysler industrial engines. The transmissions are 3-speed manual (on the column). They also have a reverse gear. Jim said, “Cruising speed is 25-30 MPH. Top speed is about 45 MPH. To reach these speeds, you have to be riding over a well groomed trail.” Both sleds were in acceptable condition when purchased by Jim and Doug. They did, however, need some work. The wood doors on the B-12 had to be rebuilt. Wood trim on the inside of both buses needed to be replaced. Both have had their electrical system upgraded to 12-volt.
When Jim asked if I wanted to take a spin, my immediate reaction was “let’s go.” But first, like any finely restored classic vehicle, we had to protect the new upholstery with clean blankets before we could slide in.We ‘tooled around’ on the few hundred acres behind Jim’s barn. We reached nothing close to cruising or top speeds, because we were ‘breaking trail’ through fresh snow. This was still a great experience for me. It was not unlike that of riding in an antique car. There is skill required to pilot these vehicles.
In addition to snow travel, the R-12 has a conversion kit where wheels can replace the front skis. This allows it to be driven where there is no snow on either soft or rough terrain.

I think Jim got the better end of the deal in his partnership with Doug on these two Bombardiers, because Jim gets to store them in his barn, and as such, he gets to use them more often. They both provide a lot of enjoyment at family gatherings. They are also a huge draw at snowmobile events, too. At a vintage snowmobile event in 2003, the R12 took the Best of Show award. The award was well deserved.

There are not many of these big sleds around. Seeing them is a rare event. I am lucky to have finally seen, not only one, but two up close. Most of all, how many people can say that they have actually ridden in one of these great machines? All this fun in the snow, and I was in the comfort of a heated cabin - just like (some) antique cars?