More Rebuilds

1. “…provided that it had modern suspension, wiring and brakes…” is problematic. It would kill 90% of the value of the thing in the minds, if I can call them that, of most old care restorers and collectors.

   I’m one of them. Sigh. I’ve a 65 Sunbeam Alpine that runs very when when Messrs. Lucas and Stromberg are in a good mood, which they mostly are not.

   An acquaintance of mine, a very good mechanic, has stepped forward and offered to replace the Stromberg Carbs with modern chip controlled fuel injectors for a very reasonable price.

   I finally gave up authenticity for reliability and told him to order what he needs and get it done. Summer is here in Canada and I’d like to drive the thing for all 2 months of it, for a change.

   1. is problematic. It would kill 90% of the value of the thing

      Not just the value, but also the driving experience. The further back you go, the more you’d have to change, until you get to the point where you have the old body on basically a new frame. It wouldn’t handle, drive, or evoke the same experience. Especially if you’re back far enough for those skinny tires and manual (non-hydraulic) brake systems.

      Now, if you’re looking at that Woody, it’s possible. Anything from the 50’s on can be modernized enough to be reliable and driveable without losing the old car feel. I know out esteemed host is very much not an appreciative fan of American autos, but I’d be looking at a 55 Chevy with a modern (well, kinda modern) 350 small block with fuel injection. Change the 14 inch wheels to 15 inch and mount some retro tires. Hide new disk brake system under the larger rims. The 55 could be a 2 door hardtop, 2 door post, or even 2 door wagon.

      Alternately, there’s this for the mandatory Texas truck
      https://www.motortrend.com/news/vintage-1949-dodge-power-wagon-restomod/

2. That Ford woody reminds me of one of my earliest memories. On my hands and knees, watching the road go past, through the holes in the floor boards. Literally dust in my eyes!

3. My maternal grandfather, born in 1899, was too young for WWI and too old for WW2. He spent most of the 1930’s as a railroad civil engineer in Malaysia, living on the cheap and getting paid like a prince. He came back to the states in 1939 with almost $40K in savings during the tail end of the depression. He picked up a near new 1939 Packard 120 convertible for half of what it cost and kept it until 1975. That car was the talk of the town for years. It ran like a Swiss watch. I never got to ride in it, but my Mom has a picture of me sitting in it in 1959. I don’t think he drove it twice the last 15 years he owned it, but he started it up every Sunday and kept it washed and polished until the day he sold it.

4. I’m not the car buff you are, Kim, but I’ve always been partial to the 1940’s vintage cars, seeming a little more modern than the 30’s but not too modern, as cars started to become in the 50’s. I don’t know that we can post photos in comments, but here is a link to an image of a Ford 1940 convertible coupe.

   https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotrod.com%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F21%2F2019%2F04%2F03-1940-ford-convertible-walls.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

   And one with the top down.

   https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsmclassiccars.com%2Fuploads%2Fpostfotos%2F1940-ford-2-door-deluxe-convertible-coupe-4.JPG&f=1&nofb=1

   I cannot articulate why I like the 40’s designs so much. I just do.

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