|
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
 
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | I bought this Windsor today, can anyone translate the serial number for me? It's W57L 4959.
The car has been stored in Finland since 1991 and it's a bit dusty and has no engine (the original engine is still around but disassembled 13 years ago)
The car is sold on 25th of September 1957 by "Seattle Automobile Co., Inc.", any idea if this kind of a dealer still exists?
 (chrysler.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 chrysler.jpg (40KB - 545 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
  
Location: Parts Unknown | I lived in Seattle from 1966 to 1997. I do not ever remember that name as a Chrysler dealership (or any other make, for that matter). LONG GONE !!!! |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | Got an address for that dealer ? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2824
Location: Snohomish, WA. | You know, I have been here my entire life, but I never heard of that dealership.
SL Savidge was the oldest Chrysler/ Dodge dealer I remember in Seattle. This is one I'm oing to have to ask my Dads about.
I'll let you know what he remebers. He's 84 years young and has a mind like a trap for he long-term memory stuff. In fact, I have a hard time keeping him off of towers and roof tops.
Mike |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | Glad to hear it worked out for you. Get a good price for what you expected ? I just love those crisp-edged fenders and buckets on the quad lights. Anyone else ever notice the curves and angles on these cars are very reminiscent of feline eyes and ears ? Wonder if Lord Exner was a cat lover ? |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | I found the Dealer's name on the service certificate dated 9/25/1957 and there's also a license plate frame that says "Seattle Auto". Unfortunately no address of the company found yet - there's still some papers I haven't looked so maybe I will find more information.
The original owner was Eddie G. Haavig, I wonder if he or some family members still alive with memories of the car they had from 1957 to late 1980's. I think it would be too difficult to search these people after all these years...
More pics of the car at http://www.usacarclub.net/chrysler/
 (servicecertificate.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
servicecertificate.jpg (80KB - 534 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 136
Location: Charleston, SC | Wow! What a car to have to restore!
I hope you have removed all the bird poop from the rear deck. The paint looks as if it will buff out and the interior looks more dirty than anything else. With a really good clean up job and a motor... you could go cruisin'!
Get the original motor, even if it is in pieces. You can rebuild it. I had to do that with mine and my motor came in two or three boxes!
Good luck!
Dean Mullinax
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | I will move the car to my own garage within' few weeks and start to clean it up. I'll post some "after" pics when I'm finished with washing and cleaning. I must say it really looks too good to be true.
I even found the address of the very first owner (I'm the third) and he's still alive and well in Seattle. I think I write him a letter and ask if he would be nice enough to write me back some stories, pics or background information about the car. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | here's a shot at the numbers HEIKKI------W-windsor---57-model yr.---L-la. plant---4959-prod. number------later |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | The original owner is going to flip when you tell him his old car is in Finland ! I see he lived in West Seattle - where my great grandparents lived for many years .... I think they were on 16th! S. L. Savidge was up north on Aurora. This dealer was probably out near where the owner lived (?) It is a long way around the water and across town from West Seattle to where S.L Savidge was. Are they still around ? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2824
Location: Snohomish, WA. | Savidge was on Westlake, downtown. Aurora Chrysler Plymouth may be the one you are thinking of.
Mike |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | Your are correct! Cut yerself an extra slice of raisin pie, my keen eyed friend!  |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Here's the data from the VIN-plate:
The first line says "SG: -", "M1: -", "M2: -", "M3: -", "M4: -", "M5: X", "M6: -" and "SEQ NO: 2407".
The second line says "SO: 0814", "NO: 0199", "MODEL: G751", "BT: 1145", "PT: XRX", "TR: 055" and "SP: -".
The third line says "WCO-LA". |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 693
Location: Kangasala, Finland | Great find! Looks good. Can't wait to see the 'after cleaning' pics.
|
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 65
Location: Highland Park, Dyno Cell 13 | brdtee - 2004-05-10 7:25 AM
Here's the data from the VIN-plate:
The first line says "SG: -", "M1: -", "M2: -", "M3: -", "M4: -", "M5: X", "M6: -" and "SEQ NO: 2407".
The second line says "SO: 0814", "NO: 0199", "MODEL: G751", "BT: 1145", "PT: XRX", "TR: 055" and "SP: -".
The third line says "WCO-LA".
WOW! That's a great find! Very rare to see a car as untouched as yours, congrats!
While I don't know that much of these early tags it looks like;
SEQ NO 2407 = Sequence number
SO 0814 = Scheduled build date August 14th, 1956 (a very early '57)
NO 0199 = ?
MO G751 = Model, should be C751 for Windsor?
BT 1145 = Don't know but I'd guess Body type = 4d sedan
PT XRX = Paint, Cloud White/Regimental Red/Cloud White
TR 055 = Trim, Windsor Tan/Beige cloth & vinyl
Maybe some of you numbers gurus can confirm/fill the blanks?
Hans |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Now there's new pics of the Windsor after the three hour "wash and clean"-session, pics located at http://www.usacarclub.net/chrysler/
The car has still dirt on it, but most of the dust and sh*t is gone. I have done nothing for the interior yet but emptied the garbage and other stuff from it. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 136
Location: Charleston, SC | brdtee,
I cannot believe the paint on this car! With some polishing and chrome cleaning it looks as if the body is ready to go!! Interior doesn't look to bad either!
What a great find!
Any luck on getting the original engine from the previous owner?
Dean
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | DeS4me - 2004-05-16 3:36 AM
Any luck on getting the original engine from the previous owner?
The original engine was part of the deal, I'm going to collect the parts next week  I hope every part still exists, I found only seven pistons from the trunk... a V7? :D
I'm not sure which kind of a condition the transmission or the rear axle are, but as far as I've been told there was nothing bad about these when the car was driven for the last time. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | Very nice looking car....wait, what I'm saying...did You got it from some sort of time capsule ? Such actions were opular then ;-) |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | I still haven't started working on this one, but I was able to locate the second owner from Stehekin, WA, USA. He was somewhat surprised when he got my message, but was happy to hear that the Chrysler still exists. He bought this car from the original owner in 1986 and used the car for his holiday resorts transportation needs. In 1989 he sold the car to a guy that told he was buying classic cars for Japanese collectors, but his wife remembers that this one was planned to be sent to Finland instead of Japan. And so it was
Today I sent a letter to the person who originally purchased this Chrysler in 1957. I was able to find his address from the year 2003 and he is still living at Seattle. I hope he will reply to me after hearing that the car he had for 29 years (1957-1986) is now in a far-far-away country in Europe
I will post more pics to my Chrysler Windsor website as the process on the car goes on
http://www.usacarclub.net/chrysler/ |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 147
Location: Milan, Italy | Heikki,
what a nice car you've found! Looks almost ready to be driven again. I've been in Finland a couple of years ago, in Tampere, nice city. It was early March but the teperature was always below 0.
I don't know anything about the story of my car. I've found no original paper in it. Where did you find name and address of the original owner?
Christian |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Where did you find name and address of the original owner?
I got the names from the documents that came with the car. I used mainly Google and Alta Vista search engines. Just typing in the person's name wasn't enough, but after trying different combinations of surname, city and street names I was able to find some documents that gave me some ideas for other searchwords that finally guided me to the addresses. I guess the task was easier because of the names that were not so common... finding a particular person whose surname is for example "Smith" would be hard The first owner was mentioned in one tax/property related list of the neighbourhood he lives nowadays and the second one was mentioned in a webzine article and from the article I pickep up few names that helped me to search again and finally I was able to figure out his e-mail address. I may sound easy but it took lots of time to browse around. I guess I used about a five or six days for this search project. |
|
| |
|
Location: Bjorneborg, Finland | >I used about a five or six days for this search project.
I found all names of previous owners of my '61 quite easily. I bought my car from Nebraska. I was aware, that previously my car had been in Montana. I inquired it from Department of Justice, motor vehicle department of Montana with VIN number and ordered history of the car. Search based on title number. They provided microfilm copies of all titles, assignments and applications from the very beginning. I'm 7th owner of the car so far. Some states still keep these all records after many decades. I once tried to contact couple the last Montana owners, but they never replied to my letters. I found their current addresses from AOL white pages. The car needed almost everything and lot of TLC when I bought it, so I assume previous owners had not fond with the car and no interest. Btw, I'm Finn too.
Edited by spinout 2004-09-08 10:52 AM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | There's been no progress in this project of mine since summer of 2004 as you may have noticed. I've been busy with my work on the Finnish automotive website Ovedrive.fi and I haven't found a decent new garage for the Chrysler. Don't worry, the car is in the very good place but only trouble is that there's no heating in that garage and since it can be even -30 degrees of Celsius during the Winter here in Finland, such a cold garage is not very inspirating place to start your work with the car.
Anyway, I'm planning to start project this Winter because I have found a nice garage with some heating and I think I'm able to move the car there in two months. The body and the frame of the car are rustless and the paintjob is good so there's just some polishing on the plated parts and the interior needs a good cleaning. The engine is still missing (I have found one 354 Spitfire which is for sale but the deal is still under negotiations) and the brakes, transmission and other technical parts need to be checked.
I will rebuild my Chrysler project website ( http://www.kromi.org/chrysler/ ) to a blog-like form during these two months before beginning the actual work on the car and I'll promise to post pics and news about the project there during the Winter. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Well yeah... there's no progress so far on the car itself, but now I have a 354 poly engine with 55 000 original miles and almost all the parts that were missing. I also got a pair of seats (back and front bench) which match the interior of my car and are in a great condition. Also the Windsor-script has been found but yet a molding for the passnger side is missing.
I'm really looking forward to finally start the actual work on the car next spring and hopes are high that I could go cruising in summer of 2007 =)
I designed a t-shirt with my Windsor on it and it can be found at http://www.choptopwear.spreadshirt.com/ for US customers and at http://www.choptopwear.com/ for European customers. I'm kind of a graphic designer so maybe I'll do some other FL related shirts too
My Windsor's website can still be found at http://www.overdrive.fi/chrysler/
Edited by brdtee 2006-12-07 6:51 AM
 (grafiikka1.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
grafiikka1.jpg (20KB - 490 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
| Nice Looking Design!
Now, If it were only a green-n-black 56 Dodge...
Seriously, you have some great artistic abilities.
Good Job!
-NM |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| Heikki, great Windsor and very nice website. My grandparents bought one new and since I grew up with that car its always a happy sight for me to see a healthy survivor like yours.
I'd been meaning to mention also that your animated profile image is just too cool! Watching it blink is almost hypnotic! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2011
Location: Ballwin, Missouri | It still surprises me everytime I see one of the old these "BARN BEAUTIES"
before and then after a simple wash and clean up. They look so much better
you would think these sellers would give them a wash job before they try to sell.
They could get another couple of thousand, they look that much better to me.
Of course, it's good for us purchaser because it gives us something else to
try and get the price down with. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | It's been awhile since last progress on my Windsor project. I have not had a decent garage and the one the Windsor has been storaged is not suitable for any restoration or other work on the car. Fortunately we found and bought a nice little house this Spring and it has a garage for four cars so finally I'm able to actually do something for the Windsor.
I have found matching engine, seats, radiator, alternator and finally this week a starter so I guess now I have everything what is needed to get Chrysler moving on her own power. The current schedule is to get her finished before the American Car Show which takes place in Helsinki on April 2009. I'll be posting new photos to my project website as soon as something happens. Mostly it's cleaning and putting parts back to their places so the project should be easy... should... |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 708
Location: Fredrikstad, Norway. (Europe) | Hi Heikki. I don't have much to add here. Great site and a beautyful car. You lucky sono***un.
The name Haavig is Norwegian (100% sure) I have relatives (an old aunt and a cousin) in Lynwood (Seattle). Been there a few times. Bought a '59 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer 4 door hard-top and a pile of '60 DeSoto parts from a guy (member of the WPC Club) who cheated me the worst ever, and kept both the car, the parts, and the mony I paid for it. Also bought a '62 Imperial Crown convertible for a friend of mine on the Vancouver Island (Ian knows all about that) that I imported first into the U.S. (Seattle) and then sendt off from Tacoma and imported it into Norway. This seller and the car was all up to expectations. This Imperial was later sold to Sweden.
GOOD LUCK with your Winsor. I own a '57 Saratoga myself.
Einar. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | oldefar - 2008-07-31 3:22 AM
The name Haavig is Norwegian (100% sure) I have relatives (an old aunt and a cousin) in Lynwood (Seattle).
You're right, the Haavigs have Norwegian roots. I guess I haven't updated this here but after I sent the letter and few photos to the address I found on the documents and Google, it took over 6 months to get an reply by e-mail. The original owner had passed away in 90's but his daughter sent me thanks for the letter and told many interesting stories about the car. I also got few old photos from the 1970's from their street with Chrysler and Eddie behind the wheel. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Well, it seems to be a good time to update this topic as I just updated my Windsor's website which can be found at http://www.redchrysler.com/ - new pics, new stories and also some 1957 brochures and stuff.
I hope I get the Windsor back on the road this year, it's been already five years when I bought it...
 (20091.jpg)
 (20095.jpg)
 (20097.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
20091.jpg (127KB - 467 downloads)
20095.jpg (127KB - 502 downloads)
20097.jpg (102KB - 489 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Inactive by user's request
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | brdtee - 2009-07-06 2:18 AM
I hope I get the Windsor back on the road this year, it's been already five years when I bought it...
Don't feel bad, Heikki. My '57 Saratoga sedan has been sitting at Big M's for several years. It is finally coming home next week if all goes well. 
I'll take some detailed pictures of it and post them in my album.
K.
P.S.- I have new tail light lenses and a good left tail light housing waiting here for the car to arrive!
Edited by Kenny J. 2009-07-06 5:05 PM
 (bigm0012.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
bigm0012.jpg (126KB - 477 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1819
Location: Vancouver, BC | Forwardlook - 2004-05-14 2:06 PM
brdtee - 2004-05-10 7:25 AM
Here's the data from the VIN-plate:
The first line says "SG: -", "M1: -", "M2: -", "M3: -", "M4: -", "M5: X", "M6: -" and "SEQ NO: 2407".
The second line says "SO: 0814", "NO: 0199", "MODEL: G751", "BT: 1145", "PT: XRX", "TR: 055" and "SP: -".
The third line says "WCO-LA".
WOW! That's a great find! Very rare to see a car as untouched as yours, congrats!
While I don't know that much of these early tags it looks like;
SEQ NO 2407 = Sequence number
SO 0814 = Scheduled build date August 14th, 1956 (a very early '57 )
NO 0199 = ?
MO G751 = Model, should be C751 for Windsor?
BT 1145 = Don't know but I'd guess Body type = 4d sedan
PT XRX = Paint, Cloud White/Regimental Red/Cloud White
TR 055 = Trim, Windsor Tan/Beige cloth & vinyl
Maybe some of you numbers gurus can confirm/fill the blanks?
Hans
Little late with this, but the Scheduled Build Date is 14 August 1957 - 1957 production did not begin until 28 September 1956 and ended in August, 1957.
Also, the VIN is W57L-4956, which makes it the 3,956th car built. As the last LA 1957 Windsor was W57L-5120 this car was very close to the end of production which was sometime in late August.
The "NO" was probably for the 199th car to be built on 14 August 1957.
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Still trying to put all the parts together... ;)
 (drivingcircles.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
drivingcircles.jpg (435KB - 466 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | It's been a long time since last update. The project has taken a LOT longer time I have expected but fortunately there has been slow progress during the years.
I have had to switch garage several times since 2009 which has delayed the work and meanwhile I have been working on a 1959 Ford too.
Here's pictures from 2017 when we moved Windsor to a new garage for a while.
Edited by brdtee 2017-09-24 5:13 PM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Cleaned the chassis with some high pressure boiling water today. 
It's the original sheetmetal. Some say that these rust easily.. well this one seems to have aged well.
 |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 537
Location: Upstate NY | It sure has! Thats amazing. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5006
| that's not rusty? thought you said this car was rusty>??? |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | 
While the frame was in good shape, it got new primer after powerwash with boiling water. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 121
| I have a parts car for this. 1957 Windsor 4 door sedan. Have nearly all the trim, original engine with 48k miles, transmission, rear end, all four doors still, etc. If you need anything, PM me please. Thanks!
Nice car! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Here's the build card of my car. Does someone know how to decode it?
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1819
Location: Vancouver, BC | Your car was built late in the model year, very close to the end.
The 1957 Chrysler Windsor in the U.S. was model number C75-1. Your serial number is W57L-4959, which it the 3,959th 1957 Windsor built at LA. The last car built at LA was 57L-5120 - 4,120 in total. Which also explains the high engine number - WE57-43788 - 42,788th WE57 built. A further 43,450 C75-1 Windsors were built at the East Jefferson plant in Detroit.
I have copies of Detroit-built 1957 Chrysler and Imperial IBM cards and this one different from these cards, even the sales code numbers. Lots of blank columns on this LA card.
The top two rows give the information on the car's make, model body style, colour, trim, and schedule build date (Shipping Order Number). The second group has three sections with the bottom of the three having the description of the option, the middle row has the first two digits of the sales code while the top box of the group has the third number of the sales code for the options installed on the car.
The next section has room for the items manually recorded as the car proceeded down the line - radio serial number, ignition and trunk key numbers, motor and serial numbers, date built (August 14, 1957) and date shipped (August 15, 1957).
The bottom section has the column numbers (first two digits) from 01 to 80 while the third digit of the code is punched into the card. Bottom row of punched holes is 9.
So, to go by the column numbers :
01-7: Tracking -
02 - Blank
---------
03-4 45 - State?
04-5
---------
05-0
06-6
07-5 - 06569 - Dealer Number
08-6
09-9
--------
10-2 - 23 - Region
11-3
--------
12- Blank
13- Blank
--------
14-0
15-8
16-2 - 08200 - Order Number
17-0
18-0
---------
19-1
20-1 - 1145 - Body Type
21-4 (Chrysler Windsor 4 door Sedan)
22-5
--------
23- Blank
24-0,7 - X - Cloud White
25-shift 9 - R - Regimental Red
26-0,7 - X - Cloud White
--------
27-0
28-5 - 055 - Interior Trim - Tan with Beige cloth and vinyl
29-5
--------
30- Blank
31 - Blank
--------
32-3 - 323 - Torqueflite ??
--------
33-1 - 331 - Basic Accessory Group
33-3 - 333 - Comfort Accessory Group
33-8 - 338 - Power Steering
33-9 - 339 - Power Brakes
--------
34-3 - 343 - Antenna
35- Blank
36-6 - 366 - Safety Dash Panel
37-4 - 374 - ??
38-2 - 382 - Outside remote mirror
39-4 - 394 - Solex glass
40-1 - 401 - Undercoating
41-blank
42-blank
43-blank
44-blank
45-blank
46-blank
47-blank
48-blank
49-blank
50-blank
51-1 - 511 - Tires
52-blank
53-blank
54-blank
55-blank
56-blank
57-blank
58-blank
59-blank
60-blank
61-blank
62-blank
63-blank
64-blank
65-blank
66-blank
67-blank
--------
68-0 -
69-8 -
70-1 - 08140199 - Shipping Order Number where
71-4 - 0814 - Scheduled Build Date - August 14 (1957)
72-0 - 0199 - Daily production number
73-1 -
74-9 -
75-9 -
--------
76-4 - 764 - ???
--------
77-blank
78-blank
79-blank
80-blank
Hope this makes sense. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Thank you Chrycoman!
The equipment in this car are as far as know by today's situation and pervious owners' info:
* torqueflite
* power steering
* power brakes
* handbrake warning signal
* whitewall tires
* chrome stainless steel wheel covers
* basic model radio
* rear seat speaker (at least previous owner remembers there was original style speaker on the driver's side on rear shelf)
* mirrors on both fenders (no remote though)
* front antenna
* heater
* rear window defroster (there is original switch on the dash and wiring but the actual defroster was throw away in 1990s)
* two-tone paint with Regimental Red and Cloud White
* tinted Solex glass on every window
* windshield washer
Maybe some go into "Basic Accessory Group" or "Comfort Accessory Group" and some into those ???s.
Dealer who ordered the car was Seattle Automobile Company, Inc. located in Seattle WA.
There was only 161 Windsors made in L.A. after this one. I wonder when did the production end, some say it was "mid-August 1957", somewhere August 15th 1957 was mentioned.
Edited by brdtee 2017-11-17 6:53 AM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | The 354 has 55,000 miles on it but as it was in the garage, we decided to peek inside and do a light overhaul with new timing gear & chain, new piston rings and new gaskets. One piston ring was broken and the timing chain quite loose so it was good we opened it.
 (20171130_3.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
20171130_3.jpg (297KB - 434 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Engine on it's way ... meanwhile also front suspension and brake overhaul done but no pics yet.
 (poly354.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
poly354.jpg (82KB - 406 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Lookin' good. Those 354 poly motors run pretty strong. I really like the one in my Windsor. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Uhh. back on the project again. Last winter we got it already going but then the garage owner needed the space and I had to pack Windsor aside and there was no progress in 2018.
In January we moved the car once again to a new garage, this time local car club's and hopefully now we have chance to progess.
Dash removed for new paint, new pad and new wiring.
 (20190110_121858299_iOS.jpg)
 (20190222_142055924_iOS.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
20190110_121858299_iOS.jpg (216KB - 390 downloads)
20190222_142055924_iOS.jpg (367KB - 389 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Today I started the sound dampening project. I'm planning to use "StP Black Gold" sound dampeners on the floor. After few hours I got half of the area made.
 (20190224_163317391_iOS.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
20190224_163317391_iOS.jpg (450KB - 393 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | brdtee - 2019-02-22 5:12 PM
Uhh. back on the project again. Last winter we got it already going but then the garage owner needed the space and I had to pack Windsor aside and there was no progress in 2018.
In January we moved the car once again to a new garage, this time local car club's and hopefully now we have chance to progess.
Dash removed for new paint, new pad and new wiring.
Great project and nice work!!
I made wiring for these cars for years and have closed my business. If you know someone in Finland who is now making them tell him to email me. I probably have materials left over he could use.
Thanks, Greg |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | LD3 Greg - 2019-02-25 1:48 AM
Great project and nice work!!
I made wiring for these cars for years and have closed my business. If you know someone in Finland who is now making them tell him to email me. I probably have materials left over he could use.
Thanks, Greg
Actually I just yesterday pulled a box of wiring MADE BY YOU from my storage and will start to install them. Great craftmanship - I'm happy that I got my set years ago because I think this quality of work is hard to beat =) |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | brdtee - 2019-02-25 3:01 AM
LD3 Greg - 2019-02-25 1:48 AM
Great project and nice work!!
I made wiring for these cars for years and have closed my business. If you know someone in Finland who is now making them tell him to email me. I probably have materials left over he could use.
Thanks, Greg
Actually I just yesterday pulled a box of wiring MADE BY YOU from my storage and will start to install them. Great craftmanship - I'm happy that I got my set years ago because I think this quality of work is hard to beat = )
Wow! I didn't expect a reply like that!!
Good luck with your project. Any problems let me know, I have to go by memory because all my harness boards are now gone! Too bad! Nobody wanted them!
Greg |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Dismantled the dash today. The old foam is truly a messy stuff!
Any advice on putting it back together again? What would be the smartest procedure to install it back with gauges, wiring etc.. 1) getting all ready and installing in one piece or 2) installing dash first and then do wiring and gauges while it's in place?
I guess the black parts should be semi-gloss?
Edited by brdtee 2019-02-26 2:09 PM
 (201906.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
201906.jpg (379KB - 394 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | I would completely restore and assemble the entire dash including the dash pad. Including all switches and wiring. I used to take the time to check all electrical function and circuits before I installed it in the car.
Install the wind lacing before rotating the dash up in to place. Protect it with clear tough plastic sheet. I like clear so you can see where it is binding. I always did it myself but it would be easier with two people!
I left the glovebox and radio out until later on the Chrysler.
Pics of a dodge and 300C.
Greg
 (image.jpg)
 (image.jpg)
 (image.jpg)
 (image.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
image.jpg (163KB - 401 downloads)
image.jpg (173KB - 386 downloads)
image.jpg (155KB - 389 downloads)
image.jpg (152KB - 383 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Thanks for the advice, Greg.
After years of fixing Fords I must admit that every detail, materials and engineering on Chrysler seems to prove why it was an upper class automobile and Fords were at low price range. Few years back I restored our Galaxie's gauges and when comparing those materials and engineering to this... whoa, what a difference in quality.
I'm not sure whether to repaint the bronze clusters or just polish these up. They have some scratches and a few bits of patina here and there...
 (201907.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
201907.jpg (398KB - 389 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Those chrome rings are glued into the pods and it's that glue which makes this gooey grey stuff ooze to the plexiglas.
Thanks to a experienced Forward Look friend I knew how to deal with the stuff: It dissolves to a basic household dishwash liquid. No need to scratch the plexiglas. I gave these parts a 24 hour bath in a dishwash liquid rich water and almost all of glue had gone and the leftovers where easy to remove gently with a dishbrush.
I also got the chrome ring from clock pod out just by dissolving the glue but the chrome rings on the two bigger pods are harder to take away. I haven't managed yet... |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Installation of the rebuilt 354 Spitfire is getting closer...
 (20191018_161412334_iOS.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
20191018_161412334_iOS.jpg (188KB - 342 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Looks good. Is that a 4bbl intake on there now? An upgrade to a 4bbl would be a very wise choice. The 2bbl carbs aren't very reliable from my experience, and they hold back the performance of the motor. You could have paid extra for that option on a Windsor so it wouldn't be completely out of place. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Powerflite - 2019-10-19 5:12 PM
Looks good. Is that a 4bbl intake on there now? An upgrade to a 4bbl would be a very wise choice.
Yes, 4bbl upgrade would be a wise move but at this time we're going with the original 2bbl setup just to get the car back on the road. I found a nice rebuilt 2bbl carb and didn't have 4bbl intake around. Keeping the 4bbl upgrade option still in mind. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Windsor's door panels were gold, green/grey and black when I got the car and after browsing the web I found many Windsors with similar colored door panels. The middle section seemed to be a bit different on each.
This was puzzling because the other interior color options I saw were more "color-keyed" to dash and seats than these and yet the sales literature told they are all color-keyed to perfection.
It took a while until I saw few old color pictures of a Windsor with similar interior and I saw the middle section was actually brown to match the seat cloth and gauge pods and the top section matched the dash metal parts. Later I found pics of one restored coupe with gold-brown-black door panels. And after I removed the door handles and moldings there was actually different shade of gold in top and brown in the middle section.
From these observations I figured out that the vinyl colors Chrysler used for this particular interior were aged to a different shades. The gold which was supposed to match the dash tend to change more reddish and the brown had changed to grey or greyish green over the years.
So now when I refurbished the door panels I did match the gold stripe to dash and "color-keyed" the middle section to seat cloth and dash pods. From what I learned form the original parts it seems that the top section was metallic gold but the brown in the middle was without metallic.
Here's few before - during - after shots of the door panel refurbishment.
 (doorpanels1.jpg)
 (doorpanels3.jpg)
 (doorpanels4.jpg)
 (doorpanels5.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
doorpanels1.jpg (233KB - 361 downloads)
doorpanels3.jpg (276KB - 344 downloads)
doorpanels4.jpg (233KB - 356 downloads)
doorpanels5.jpg (240KB - 343 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | This weeks agenda is dashboard. Re-painted all dash parts to match the original colors, polished the knobs and repainted the centers, cleaned and checked the switches, polished the plexiglas and now waiting for assembly.
 (dash000.jpg)
 (dash001.jpg)
 (dash002.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
dash000.jpg (176KB - 337 downloads)
dash001.jpg (130KB - 334 downloads)
dash002.jpg (166KB - 344 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Very nice color match on the silvery pink dash color. How did you do the gold on the knobs? You are right that the center section on the door panels was originally a copper color, but I think I like them better
in the faded gray. The gray is a nice in-between color for the black and pink.
Edited by Powerflite 2019-11-19 5:45 PM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Powerflite - 2019-11-20 12:42 AM
Very nice color match on the silvery pink dash color. How did you do the gold on the knobs?
The dash color should be as close to original as possible. Had few un-faded samples of the dash and we used several measures to get the right formula.
The gold on the knobs is is a gilt lacquer which contains gold-bronze powder. Should be more durable than normal paint but not 1:1 same shade than original.
The "copper-brown" stripe on the doors should also be pretty close match with samples underneath the door handles and it seems to be "color-keyed" wiith both gauge pods and the cloth on the seats just like dash color is color-keyed to top of the door panels and vinyl on the seats. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Is this what you used on the knobs? That looks really nice.
https://www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/schmincke-aqua-bronze-powder-20ml-...
 (Schmincke Reichgold.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
Schmincke Reichgold.jpg (30KB - 335 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe |
Looks pretty much the same product, I used "Liberon Liquid Gilt Varnish" brand. After painting the knobs with a small brush I smoothed them gently with a P5000 wet sanding paper. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7389
Location: northern germany | Great job!!! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Dash project went forward ..painted the frame with rosegoldishgrey-whatsoever-the-color-is and insert with satin black and tried on the new dash vinyl from RD Autoline ...excellent work.
There's full updated story of the project at http://www.redchrysler.com and also some project pics at my Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/workaholics.cc/
Edited by brdtee 2019-11-20 4:32 PM
 (201922.jpg)
 (201923.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
201922.jpg (229KB - 338 downloads)
201923.jpg (212KB - 340 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Next up: Manufacturing new package tray and kick panels and steering wheel restoration.
The car has both options: rear speaker and a rear window defroster. As far as I have studied brochures and pictures, it seems that if only one of these options were ordered, the package tray had only one hole in the middle. But if both options were ticked, then the speaker went to driver's side of the package tray and the defroster air inlet went to passenger side. Correct me if I'm wrong but at least this is how they were installed on mine.
Steering wheel is made from two different materials. Black bottom is more rubber-like and top part is a plastic of some sort. Bottom material has aged well and has no cracks but the plastic top is all cracked. I'm going to drill out the cracks and use epoxy paste to fix them.
What color should the top part of the steering wheel be? Mine is something between beige and grey and ivory but I've seen many steering wheels where the top color matches the lower dash color. Would it be all wrong to use the dash color on the top of the steering wheel?
 (201928.jpg)
 (201929.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
201928.jpg (238KB - 335 downloads)
201929.jpg (199KB - 333 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | The original color was a semi-translucent off-white. Look up pictures of '57 300C steering wheels to see some examples. This was the deluxe steering wheel. The colored versions came out later, and they didn't match the interior colors very well. Also, on my New Yorker, the rear speaker is still in the center even with the rear defroster installed.
Edited by Powerflite 2019-11-25 9:16 AM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | First time since 1991 there is an engine in the engine bay of our Windsor! Also brakes are once again functional and trunk area getting finished.
 (201937.jpg)
 (201933.jpg)
 (201935.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
201937.jpg (285KB - 319 downloads)
201933.jpg (260KB - 332 downloads)
201935.jpg (242KB - 326 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Grille assembly ..all parts refurbished with powder coating to match anodized aluminum look. Can't wait to get it back on the front...
 (IMG_6823.jpg)
 (IMG_6820.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
IMG_6823.jpg (249KB - 296 downloads)
IMG_6820.jpg (266KB - 311 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Am I correct that the belts should go as in this picture? Trying to mock-up the assembly to find all the correct brackets and bolts.
I don't have the original power steering pump which probably has double-pulley on it? I'm going to replace it with a 1962 single-pulley pump but will this work on the long run? Should there be two belts running the water pump and power steering pump?
 (belts.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
belts.jpg (309KB - 308 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | The way you have drawn it is correct. The danger of going to 1 belt on the power steering is that one belt is the only one coming from the crankshaft, and is effectively driving everything. So it will be more prone to wear. But it should work as long as you keep an eye on it. We drive these cars so little in comparison to how much they were designed to be used that you should be fine with it. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Got my alternator brackets ready today ...
I remember seeing a simple drawing how to connect the alternator using the original wiring, having amp meter still working and using the regulator just as a junction to keep the original looks ...just can't find that thread anymore. I know it should be simple but I'm no electrician so a guide for dummies would be handy :D
 (202002.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202002.jpg (321KB - 314 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Here you go. This is the regulator from my '57 New Yorker. You will need to cut out the resistors on the bottom side of it too.
 (Modified VReg.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
Modified VReg.jpg (127KB - 308 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Front end supports and shields in place ...next the bumper and grille I guess.
Today the seats are going to upholstery shop and radiator to the workshop to be rebuilt.
Steering wheel is gettin' ready too.
 (202003.jpg)
 (202004.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202003.jpg (243KB - 296 downloads)
202004.jpg (190KB - 297 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Your steering wheel looks amazing. Nice job! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Powerflite - 2020-05-14 5:47 PM
Your steering wheel looks amazing. Nice job!
Thanks! It wasn't an easy job but the outcome looks good. The chrome ring has little pitting in it but I guess it's ok to have some marks of history left in the dash :) |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Beautiful result. I thought I could do the steering wheel by myself, too. But I decided to send it to a specialist in sweden |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | ToMopar - 2020-05-17 3:12 PM
Beautiful result. I thought I could do the steering wheel by myself, too. But I decided to send it to a specialist in sweden
That one took a LOt of time ..so I think you made a good decision. And those Swedes do awesome work. Mine's nowhere near the quality. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Today got the front bumper assembly ready to be installed. Rechromed bumpers, chrome powder coated grill, new parking light lenses from KP Usabilar and new wiring from @LD3_Greg ...also replated the parking light housing with durable chrome foil.
 (202005.jpg)
 (202007.jpg)
 (202008.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202005.jpg (282KB - 303 downloads)
202007.jpg (252KB - 303 downloads)
202008.jpg (275KB - 286 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9894
Location: Lower Mainland BC | brdtee - 2020-05-17 11:38 AM
Today got the front bumper assembly ready to be installed. Rechromed bumpers, chrome powder coated grill, new parking light lenses from KP Usabilar and new wiring from @LD3_Greg ...also replated the parking light housing with durable chrome foil.
Heikki: They all look beautiful together. Congrats.
I have *NO* idea what "durable chrome foil" is and why you used it instead of having the parking light housing rechromed. Inquiring minds want to know
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | 56D500boy - 2020-05-17 9:51 PM
brdtee - 2020-05-17 11:38 AM
Today got the front bumper assembly ready to be installed. Rechromed bumpers, chrome powder coated grill, new parking light lenses from KP Usabilar and new wiring from @LD3_Greg ...also replated the parking light housing with durable chrome foil.
Heikki: They all look beautiful together. Congrats.
I have *NO* idea what "durable chrome foil" is and why you used it instead of having the parking light housing rechromed. Inquiring minds want to know
: )
Thanks. I used weatherproof chrome foil, the same kind they use to "wrap" cars these days. When you heat it, it molds well to the desired shape and has mirror-like finish. Rechroming the housings would have been a good option too but this one was a lot cheaper option to try out first. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | She's smiling again =)
 (202009.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202009.jpg (215KB - 329 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | fantastic job, Heikki |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1737
Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada | Wow!!! It's looking amazing!!! :D |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: California | You’ve done some fantastic work! Glad to see a 4dr Forward Look getting this level of attention. That steering wheel looks incredible,how long did it take you to repair it? |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Thanks!
The steering wheel project took several months as I gave the putty time to settle before sanding and adding more where needed ..it also took several layers of primer and paint with lots of sanding to get acceptable result. I think it might have been better but this was the very first steering wheel restoration I've ever done. I think it wasn't my last one though.
Yesterday I got the front lights done... I got rid of the H4 setup made by previous owner in 1990 and installed original style sealed beams after cleaning the housings and applying new red paint to the covers... the headlight moldings were rechromed.
 (202012.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202012.jpg (213KB - 298 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: Victoria Australia | I am constantly amazed at the ability of some people. Well done. |
|
| |
|
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Alberta, Canada | This is gorgeous!! Scrolling through your post has given me many new ideas!!. Thank you. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | A bit slow progress during 2020 and 2021 but finally the seats have been re-upsholstered to the original specs. Amazing work by Rockarolina, fabrics came from SMS.
 (202101.jpg)
 (202102.jpg)
 (202103.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202101.jpg (416KB - 113 downloads)
202102.jpg (450KB - 117 downloads)
202103.jpg (445KB - 106 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Always good to use the fabrics from sms.
and bring them to a local specialist. Yours is https://www.rockarolina.fi/ (I couln't read anything)
I have done it at the same way. But my local hero is in sweden :-) |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | ToMopar - 2021-10-28 1:41 PM
Always good to use the fabrics from sms.
and bring them to a local specialist. Yours is https://www.rockarolina.fi/ (I couln't read anything )
I have done it at the same way. But my local hero is in sweden :- )
Yes I got this tip from the veterans: Never order ready-made stuff from SMS, just get the fabrics and everything is smoother with local specialists.
The Finnish Rockarolina did awesome work with my seats. She is very talented and a true professional. Also a MoPar person herself as far as I know.
Now I have to keep busy with the project because I really want to get those seats installed as soon as possbile ..still the headliner to be done... |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Rear bumper and tail lights assembled today.
Bumper, tai light housings and trim were re-chromed.
Filler trim between bumper and body was chrome powder coated.
New tail light lenses from KP USA Bilar, Sweden.
 (202104.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
202104.jpg (210KB - 111 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1157
Location: D-70199 Heslach | Kent & Peter are really nice guys. I have some (repro) scripts from them. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1889
| .
Looks like code M5 - 1 on the cowl tag means UNDERCOATING AND UNDER HOOD PAD (order code 401)
 (cowl tag.jpg)
 (build card.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
cowl tag.jpg (90KB - 111 downloads)
build card.JPG (144KB - 100 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1889
| .
The windshield upper molding was standard on New Yorker and optional on Windsor and Saratoga;
But the built card does not contain it option;
The car does have roof rail drip molding; I guess this option should be showed in the «DRIP RAIL» column in the build card (the first column 37x, probably 371);
The antenna code 343 means dual rear antennas, isn’t it?
341 – Manual Antenna
343 – Dual Manual Antennas
344 – Power Antenna
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | frwl - 2021-11-01 9:31 PM
.
The windshield upper molding was standard on New Yorker and optional on Windsor and Saratoga;
But the built card does not contain it option;
The car does have roof rail drip molding; I guess this option should be showed in the «DRIP RAIL» column in the build card (the first column 37x, probably 371);
The antenna code 343 means dual rear antennas, isn’t it?
341 – Manual Antenna
343 – Dual Manual Antennas
344 – Power Antenna
:)
The car had undercoating and under hood pad.
But it has a manual antenna on front fender, no dual antennas.
I guess drip rail molding and windshield upper molding might have come within an option package?
This car is assembled in the very end of the production run in August 1957 so it could be possible that they have installed some extra moldings too?
Edited by brdtee 2021-11-01 3:52 PM
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1889
| .
Your car has two accessory groups:
No. 1 – Basic (not shown on the picture below and no info about it, but I guess it is contains: Light Package, Full Flow Oil Filter, Custom Steering Wheel, and Chrome Stainless Wheel Covers);
No. 3 – Comfort (see on the picture below);
The windshield upper molding was a separate option (see on the picture below as well).
Yes, your car has front fender mounted antenna now, but originally it was built with dual rear antennas, I believe.
It would be nice to check this by looking under the rear quarter panels and looking up with a light…
 (1.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
1.JPG (158KB - 106 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | frwl - 2021-11-02 1:25 AM
.
Your car has two accessory groups:
No. 1 – Basic (not shown on the picture below and no info about it, but I guess it is contains: Light Package, Full Flow Oil Filter, Custom Steering Wheel, and Chrome Stainless Wheel Covers);
No. 3 – Comfort (see on the picture below);
The windshield upper molding was a separate option (see on the picture below as well).
Yes, your car has front fender mounted antenna now, but originally it was built with dual rear antennas, I believe.
It would be nice to check this by looking under the rear quarter panels and looking up with a light…
Yes the car has all the stuff from Basic accessory group and the Comfort group. It also has all options of the Safety group. Other options include white wall tires, power steering, power brakes, Solex glass all around and electric clock.
It has always had only the front fender antenna, no signs of dual antennas. I have been in touch with the original owner's family members and got also old pictures of the car. I am 4th owner since 1957. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1889
| .
A little adding to Bill (Chrycoman) deciphering from his post on 2017-11-17, 1:15 AM on the first page of this thread:
He said among other things:
--------
76-4 - 764 - ???
--------
I guess it is a DELIVERY ROUTE: 4 = BOAT WITH TRUCK BEYOND
 (built card.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
built card.jpg (145KB - 122 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | frwl - 2021-11-02 8:43 PM
.
A little adding to Bill (Chrycoman) deciphering from his post on 2017-11-17, 1:15 AM on the first page of this thread:
He said among other things:
--------
76-4 - 764 - ???
--------
I guess it is a DELIVERY ROUTE: 4 = BOAT WITH TRUCK BEYOND
Thanks! This is nice piece of information. The car was made in L.A. and sold in Seattle so I guess they might have been shipped up the west coast?
The story from the first owner's family told that the nearby dealer Seattle Automobile Co. had ordered this particular car with some extra options for showroom purposes but the production of the car was delayed and it came a bit too late. The first owner had searched for a good deal for some time and spotted a well optioned Windsor sold at a bargain price in late September 1957 because the dealer wanted to clear showroom for 1958 models coming later and that is how he got to buy a upscale Chrysler instead of a lower scale DeSoto or a Dodge. This could be just a story and I guess there's no way to decipher the order date from the card, just the scheduled build date. I see the card says the car was shipped Aug 15.
As said before, I managed to contact the first owner's family and the second owner based on the documents I found from the glove box. And I know the 3rd owner whom I bought this car in 2004. So I have pretty much managed to document the whole story of the car. I guess when the project is finally ready, it will be featured in a Finnish classic car magazine with exceptionally full story about the car's past both in USA and here in Finland.
Still haven't found out what actually happened to the Seattle Automobile Co. which seems to have vanished sometime in the 1960s and no one from Seattle seems to remember such a dealer existed.
 (seattle_automobile_co_card.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
seattle_automobile_co_card.jpg (152KB - 124 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9894
Location: Lower Mainland BC | brdtee - 2021-11-02 2:33 PM
frwl - 2021-11-02 8:43 PM.
A little adding to Bill (Chrycoman) deciphering from his post on 2017-11-17, 1:15 AM on the first page of this thread:
He said among other things:
--------
76-4 - 764 - ???
--------
I guess it is a DELIVERY ROUTE: 4 = BOAT WITH TRUCK BEYOND
Thanks! This is nice piece of information. The car was made in L.A. and sold in Seattle so I guess they might have been shipped up the west coast?
My 1956 Dodge was built in the LA plant and shipped by boat to Portland Oregon before being trucked to a dealership in Anacortes Washington (well north of Seattle). (I don't know why they didn't just ship by boat to Seattle and then truck to the final destination. I guess Portland had better off-loading facilities back then (???). My car's IBM card has the "Route" as 4 so your car was likely shipped to Portland and trucked to Seattle.
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 256
Location: Pieksamaki, Finland, Europe | Gee! This project has taken a way longer than I ever expected! This summer it will be 20 years since I got this Windsor in 2004 
But after a few years break, the work still goes on. I removed the old headliner and old insulation from the inner roof which was in good condition, just a little surface rust. After getting rid of the rust, I painted the roof with anti-corrosion primer and installed new sound-deading heat insulation.
Now I am installing the wiring harness I bough years ago from Greg Leggatt and I must say the wiring kit is a true work of art! I will be adding wiring for two USB charging ports, one for the back and one for the front. I think those can be placed in a way they don't ruin the period correct look of the interior.
No promises but I hope THIS year will be THE year when the project gets fin(n)ished.
 (20240324_103821912_iOS.jpg)
 (20240331_143611415_iOS.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
20240324_103821912_iOS.jpg (195KB - 13 downloads)
20240331_143611415_iOS.jpg (146KB - 11 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 9647
Location: So. Cal | Nice to see it coming together. You need to make that last jump so you can start driving it. |
|
| |