I love the fact that you got most if not all the old records for the car, gives a real history of it. Did you happen to get a photo or two of how it looked in it's glory days? <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mO9vm955r8E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Great looking car. I have a 5W yet to be started and I really appreciate your "period correctness" by leaving it alone. At first glance I too thought you should change the headlights probably for the big '32's but reviewing the pics again, (and being a history teacher and viewing your car as an artifact) I'm glad you're leaving them alone. What is really cool, and others have said it as well, is that it is not a roadster. They are great in their way but sometimes i get the vibe if it ain't a roadster it is only a poor relative. Living up here in BC a cabriolet would make way more sense than a roadster it you wanted to drive an open car on more than sunny days. I'm glad I have a coupe for that very reason. Congratulations!
Code: Code: When I was first becoming interested in cars I would study the automotive section of the Sears and Wards catalogs for hours on end. You could order anything from spark plugs to rebuilt engines out of the catalog ancd folks who lived off the beaten path often did. In those days we would see people in Klikitat county of Washington state use 55 gallon barrels for mail boxes as they had packages delivered from Sears or other catalog stores so often. I sure like that little Cabriolet and it sounds pretty good in the video.
It does have a nice sound to it, funny how a sbc with the right exhaust and the right car can sound just right.
Great meeting you as well, I've always admired your roadster! The car was well accepted and I was blown away at the level of appreciation most folks had for the car.
Thanks guys! Took a shot of how the wiring was done in the day (well, at least in this car). The aluminum "buss" bar at the top was hot all the time. Drilled and tapped for screw connections. Below that, thin plywood panel with connections that look like oldie telephone connections (knurled finger nuts). These leads come from the switches. Been sorting them out, new fabric wire as needed, clean brass terminals and add a touch of dielectric grease. Working well.
Wow dont change a thing people spend a fortune to make a car look like this yep keep the fenders but not on the car a real timewarp car and one of the best
So cool!!! The ol' tail/stop light switch... I had one on my '36 Five window, and made the 45+ MPH left tyrn from the Alameda onto Newhall St., at the Carnation Creamery...with a San Jose Blue & White behind me. The Blue & White ('58 Ford 'Custom' series, 332" Interceptor) washed out in the corner, curbed it, stopped for a minute, then came after me. I turned left and hit the switch...on a short street that ended right at the freeway. Mashed the binders, skidded right up to the chain link fence. Blue & White went on by, lights & siren...LOL
A bit of an update now that I've been enjoying her an doing miles. Engine has been running nicely with just a few hiccups. Carb is an AFB from a 409, with an adaptor. Had it rebuilt with new parts and just runs great! Had to replace a section of brake line that had a shape that prevented an air bubble from coming out. Brakes are tits now. Window mechanisms are cleaned and lubed and I plan on installing new felt runners. Check the heads for ID and one is original, the other is a replacement. Original head is PN 3731539 with a C257 date code. ID's as 57 Vette, Flint, 283 hp. I was fortunate enough to find another on Epay for the other side. Hopefully McTim64 will restore the head for me. Have done a bit here and there but really she has been treating me right. Pretty much stalled on my 31 build as she gets all my attention. Oh yeah, regarding overheating. Her fan is trimmed down so much that she doesn't like to sit still on a hot day. Moving, she stays at 180 or below but can climb to 200-210 sitting at a light. Can't decide... deal with it or changed to a raised water pump so I can increase to size of the fan. Thanks for all the support guys and thought an update would be in order.
It's funny. Cabrios don't do it for me and I don't like the color of yours at all... Still, it's like all of that is thrown out the window for that car... It's perfect exactly as it sits. I'm in love with it.
So damn cool! I like your decisions: can the fenders but keep the funk of the headlight stands. Perfect.
You are a magician! You made your brakes..... into Tits?.... (LOL!) If that car was mine I would spend more time under IT!......... (serious now) Very cool car! I liked it before but without the fenders, it's Very,Very COOL! That wiring under the dash is a serious blast from the past. Imagine seeing that in a new car today. Hope you have a million miles of fun with it!
Damn, what an incredible find! Good call on the fenders as well... Like others have said, it looked cool with them on, but without the fenders it looks incredible.