I suspect this is the same Robert Whitehead who put together the Ardun Owners Registry sometime around 1980. Or maybe a close relative.

Fascinating MI article. I'm going to try and get it into a readable format.

Indeed it was quite possible to build a "special" back in the 1950's for $500 in full recognition of the fact that a good piece of the investment would have been in constructing a decent looking sports car body as opposed to a simple channelled early Ford roadster with cycle fenders or somesuch. (not that I demean such an effort having tried it myself)

You can still do that today for the same amount (converted into 2010 dollars) or even less). The trick, of course, is knowing how to wiggle through the process of obtaining a title and registering the project in the state/province/country where you live (some are easier than others). And also having some capability at welding fabrication, which is not all that improbable given the relatively low price of 120 volt mig welders, chop saws and cheap 4-1/2" disk grinders.

Ed Weldon