I never really believed that "barn finds" happened as frequently as they seem to...

A lot closer than I've ever come! My first rod was a 53 Chev: we had a heap of fun in that car. Got in a lot of trouble in it too if memory serves.....

The one thing about the early 50's Chevs is they look the goods whether you rod or customise them.

 

Just picked this up. It's been hiding for 30 years.

 

'And besides, I would PREFER a satin black paint job on it, and quite frankly... ummmmmmmmmmm it's my fuckin' car.'

i like

 

Rub it in, why don't you?!

 

i just like the attitude. sounds like something i would say.

 

These cars mean a lot to me, even though they were made long before I was. It's weird... from the time I was a kid I always felt like I was "out of place" in the world, like I just didn't fit in or belong. I actually saw my first car on a street corner in front of the hardware store in my hometown LONG before I got my license, but somehow I just knew that the old Buick was going to be mine.

I was 14. Just before my 15th birthday I bought the car with the money I had saved up from mowing lawns, shoveling driveways and sidewalks, and what-have-you. My Dad was sorta shocked that I wanted a big old 1966 model for my first car, but nonetheless, he drove it home for me one Saturday morning. We didn't get our licenses until we were 17 in NJ, so I spent the next two years doing a frame-off, learning as I went, busting my ass at a full-time job and a part-time job after school and on the weekends to pay for it. It wasn't quite finished when I got my license at 17, but it wasn't far off. I got to drive a show car to school every day of my senior year. I realized that despite feeling out of place everywhere else in the world, I felt right at home behind the wheel of that car.

To this day I walk around feeling like I don't belong anywhere, and like everything is alien to me... unless there's a classic car nearby. Junkyards (which, by the way, I HATE that word as much as this forum hates the double-R... I prefer "salvage yards", for reasons I'll get into in another post some day) are to me are like hanging out with old friends. I could spend all day just walking around looking at cars that had been neglected and tossed away like yesterdays garbage.

It's sad, really. I'm sure a lot of my decision to buy this 53 was based on the fact that, SOOOO many cars just like this one are past the point of being saved, will never be anything but rotted steel hulls, and here sits a 59 year old car that CAN still be saved before it gets to the point of useless.

Maybe I bought it because I was afraid that if I didn't, it too would end up parked in the weeds with a tree growing up through the middle of it one day. These cars symbolize so much of what America was when it was great, before kids were preoccupied with video games, before parents were too busy for their kids, before Corporations ran our Government, before terrorism, before school shooting, before technology put us in a strangle-hold... Subconsciously, maybe I believe that if we bring back the icons maybe we can get a little of the other stuff back.

Maybe families will take Sunday drives again, and take a map instead of a GPS. Maybe the kids will play the sign game from the back seat, and not a GameBoy (or whatever the hell they play now). Maybe Dad will teach little Jimmy or little Johnny (or Suzy!) how to change the oil, or tune the carb, or change a tire for Christ's sake! (I'm amazed at just how many people don't know how to change a flat anymore...) In reality, I know it's not going to happen. But wouldn't it be nice...

Sorry, y'all. I got off on a tangent, it spun out of control into a rant, and I forgot where the hell I begun. Goodnight all. Keep the rubber side down.

 

North Carolina could be different, but almost all states will, when you register a vehicle, require that the taxes/fees not paid on previous transactions be paid. They don't like being beat out of the money. So, if the vehicle had several previous owners that didn't register the vehicle, whoever registers it becomes responsible for all of the previous unpaid fees. If NC is different, I'd be surprised. If so, just disregard my post.

Bob

 

They would have no way of knowing how many times it has changed hands. NOBODY knows how many times it has changed hands, or for how much. The title was left open by the original owner when he sold it in 2005. He signed it, it was notarized, but the buyer information was all left open. I filled in my info, I signed it, had MY signature notarized, and all is right with the world. It won't even cost me $100 to register.

 

After all the talk about polishing up the patina, I actually searched for some pics of cars that had been done this way (see? FNG DOES listen...) on Google Images. I like it. In fact, the "Old Gold" post here in the H.A.M.B. sorta cinched the deal for me as far as whether or not I liked the idea. My only problem is this...

On the passenger side, above the rear door, from about the rain gutter on up (in the roof, obviously) there is a softball-sized dent. Now, I can heat it and pop it back out, but it won't ever be smooth without the B-word, which I HATE. I've always believed in all-steel repairs. It appears as though someone had previously tried to tap it out with a blunt object of some sort, and as a result, now has about the same surface contour as Delta Burke's thigh. (Ewwwww.)

Also, in the trunk lid, again on the passenger side, there is an 8" or so long (crease?) dent. Looks like someone backed up into something hanging lower than the trunk and didn't realize it for a couple of inches.

I would be open to TRYING the patina effect before laying any paint IF I could figure out what I'm supposed to do about the "damage" so that I don't have patches of pink in those few spots. If you can help me out there, I'm game for trying the patina look first. It'll take a bit of sanding to knock it smooth, and I'll have to take care not to damage any of the original finish still left on the car, but it might be worth a shot.

 

Don't you mean that you want your son to be calling you up twenty or thirty years from now and asking "Dad, you still coming to visit the grandkids today? Bringing the Chevy?"

In all seriousness, I'm jealous of your find. There's not too many scores like that up here...

I'll be keeping my eye on the build... I kinda prefer the four doors

 

Touche, good sir. Yes, I hope to be taking it to go see the grand-kids one day.

As far as being jealous of my find, lemme put it this way... There may be a registered "owner", meaning someone has claimed it as their own and committed to putting the blood, sweat, and tears (and money) to bring the car back and get it on the road again, but aren't these great cars really for everyone they pass to enjoy? If it adds a smile to someone's day, or gets their gears turning, or teaches some kid a thing or two about how things OUGHT to be done versus the way things seem to be done anymore, doesn't that really make it community property of a sort? So don't be jealous. It's just as much yours as it is mine. I'm just footing the bill and busting the knuckles. Your part of the ownership is the easy part... appreciate it, perhaps admire it, and above all else, enjoy it! EVERYONE on this board is a part-owner, and I welcome you all to be a part of my build.

 

I like that mindset Good on ya.

 

Man, came out swinging in the second round! Dropping the r-bomb on a moredoor so soon would've sealed the fate of any lesser fng. I need some of that moxie. I won't even post up my OT pos for fear of the flame over Centerlines and you throw some old Hurricane-looking rims up and say "deal with it". Dayum.

GREAT SAVE.

When can I come down and check out my car? Suds are on me.

 

That's too nice a car to turn into a "rat."

 

Anytime, brother. Anytime.

 

After some careful consideration...

I like the patina look. I really do. I'm going to try it. WCS, if it doesn't work out, then I paint it. I'll cross the "satin" bridge when I get to it, IF I get to it. Tastefully lowered, mostly in the rear.

Still want to pretty up the interior in oxblood, not sure what I'm doing with the seats just yet (anybody know of nice custom fit covers, since I'm on a real tight budget?) but the general consensus is that saddle blankets are overdone. Still an option though.

Could use a grill top bar if anyone has an extra laying around. There's a nice dent on my driver side and I don't know if I'll be able to straighten it enough to pass my own scrutiny. Also looking for a split exhaust mani, or headers. I do want to run dual exhaust, that much I know. I've got a bid placed on an Offy dual carb setup on eBay (certain I will be outbid), and there's a real nice finned aluminum valve cover, but that's well out of my price range. I'd like to at least dress the engine bay up a little, as well as the interior, especially if I'm going the patina route with the exterior. I dig the irony.

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone. Much appreciated. I'm already having a blast building my new car with friends hundreds and thousands of miles away. More pics tomorrow night, so stay tuned.

BTW, I've named her "Bettina"... sounds sorta like patina, huh?

 

That's right, bitches... It says Motherfuckin' Alliance Member, not FNG. Suck on THAT! Lol...

PS, y'all better learn when I'm kidding around and being sarcastic, as it happens A LOT. If I'm putting off an attitude, suck it up, throw it back, but do it in the same nature I am... all in fun. Public Service Announcement over. You may now resume browsing porn, or doing whatever the fuck you were doing...

 

Need some opinions, amigos. I swear, I will listen to every one of them, and weigh my options based on opinion before making a move.

Bettina needs new shoes. I'm not going to revisit the hate and discontent I received the first time I mentioned what wheels I am using, ahem, but I'm going to be checking out some good rubber tomorrow at a friend's tire shop. SO... Do I go black-wall, whitewall (skinny or wide whites?), white lettering out..?

I PERSONALLY have always liked raised white lettering out, but then, I've never done a 53 either. Whitewalls are awesome, but in my opinion, overdone. What do y'all think?

 

4X4 dually on a hot rod? Thats as bad as R-- R--.

 

If its going to be slammed or atleast lowered a fair amount, I really like wide whites. Paint some steelies and put on a trim ring. Possible spider caps. Thats ONE of many many ways to go.

 

The car that got me into early Chevs was an all-black '54 with chromies and baby moons. It had raised white lettered tyres and had a real tough stance on it: looked the goods! Go for it, for mine.

Cheers, Matt

 

No white letters for sure. Then it depends on what era/style you're going for. Remember the HAMB is about "Traditional Hot Rods and Customs", and that means cars as you would have seen on the streets in the early to mid 60's and earlier. That's why the wheels caught flack, they seem so 70's. If you're going for a "mild 60's custom" go skinny white walls, 50's would call for some wide whites.

 

You should probably keep reading past post 6 before commenting...

 

Make it safe for the road and drive it, maybe drop it a few inches... That 6 will do almost everything you want it to do.

future projects would be to drop in a 235 or 292 and a few speed parts...

 

In the north east that "damage" is known as character, you can leave it be. The issue up here is rot , and that generally is something that has to be fixed... the whole silent killer, never sleeps...

 

I had a neighbor in lakewood washington who has a "barn find" car, he bought a brand new 1982 corvette (yes i realize thats not hamb worthy) but he had it trailered home, rims removed, put on rollers and tarped in his garage. It has i believe 7 miles on it or so, it was under ten. Its his idea to sell it at some future date.

The guy actually thinks it will be a million dollar car in a few years. Maybe in 50 it will be but, even then..

He will probably die without selling it and the kids will have a fun toy, that or just sell it.

 

UPDATE;

Today was rather disappointing. Bought a new battery, battery cables and terminals, 3 gal. of 50/50 coolant/antifreeze, some Marvel Mystery Oil, 12' of fuel line, various hoses and hose clamps, brake fluid, and some more shit that totaled a little over 200 clams. Got everything installed, turned the key, and while the engine turned over, it turned sloooooooooowwwwwwwlllly. I believe the starter is tired.

I want to check all the ground connections first, but the cables got pretty hot after trying to get it to turn for a minute or two, so I have to go with a starter that is on its way out. Also, my water pump decided it no longer wanted to be a part of my build.

So, new starter, new water pump, and then its on to the brakes. I can't say I'm really surprised, but I can still be disappointed. Really wanted to hear her run...

 

Hey bud, I love this thread! Are your still 6volt?
Chuck

PS. I have a satin black 50 Buick

 

How about calling it an old car. You cant go wrong with that!

 

Hey brother! Thanks on the props to the thread. It will most definately get more interesting in the coming weeks as I begin to tear into it and get it all hemmed back up. I've only owned it a week! Yep, still 6V, and I'd like to keep it 6V for nostalgic reasons. I've got nothing against the 12V conversion, and I'm sure that in many ways than not it is beneficial. But I also believe in "if it ain't broke don't fix it", so for now the 6V stays. Things like brakes, on the other hand, need fixing simply because the technology at the time (and I use the term technology as loosely as I would use the term 'gun' to describe an M1 Garand) just wasn't doing it. Thanks everyone so far!