File folder for the Frank J. DeMars, American Legion Post 235
And the "Leapin Lena"

File folder for the Frank J. DeMars, American Legion Post 235
And the "Leapin Lena"

The folder contains photos, newspaper articles and a history of the unusual car, "Leapin Lena" and other information, newspaper clippings and history of the American Legion.

2012.101

2012.446

c.1930 "The two young men (Frank Parks and Ray Carruth), legionnaires of Maynard's Post 235, shared their discovery with Joseph Dineen, Eddie Johnson and John Kapon... Together they bought an old Model-T Ford from John Dwinell in Stow and went about remodeling it into a stunt job. It wasn't easy. With the extra capabilities of two more enthusiasts, Walter Adams and Billy Barnes, the men worked spare hours rebuilding the chassis, shifting the rear wheels forward and bracing the frame with steel crosspieces. The area behind the rear seat was filled with concrete, in order to shift the center of gravity rearward while the tail struts were reinforce with steel studs to withstand the tremendous pressure that back of the car would take as it reared up on its back wheels. Even the interior was changed through the generosity of Dan Shea of Westford who contributed leather appointments from a foreign sports car. With ingenuity and powerful sinew, the men squeezed the front seats in the rear and the back cushions in the front. And then the final touch - a ten gauge cannon in the front to provide zestful sound effects."

VF141

SU10-3

American Legion Folder
Leapin Lena Folders 1 & 2