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Do you know your car's history?
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57burb
Posted 2011-02-10 4:07 PM (#260450)
Subject: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 3966
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Location: DFW, TX
These cars are getting quite old now, and some of them have interesting tales to tell. So let's hear yours!

Both of my cars came to me with very minimal information.

My '57 2dr Suburban was built in the LA plant around 8/28/57 with the 230 six and Powerflite, and not much else. It was (supposedly) owned by a poor farming family in the Gainesville FL area. The ignition system died around 1988 and it was purchased by an artist that wanted to cut it up to make an Americana sculpture with it. Fortunately he didn't, and it sat under a shed until 2004 when I bought it and sent it to Texas.

My '57 New Yorker coupe was purchased new in Oklahoma City. I have the original owner's name and PO box, but no luck in locating him or a relative that remembers the car. Same as with the wagon, I don't have much information about the car until I came to find it. It was at a restoration shop in Alvarado TX, but had been sent there from a backyard in Oklahoma. The lady that owned it needed cash to expand her dance studio!

I hope your stories are more interesting than mine. Let's hear them!



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soiouz
Posted 2011-02-10 4:31 PM (#260455 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 3480
20001000100100100100252525
Location: Montreal, Canada
Very cool thread idea!

Here's what I know about our car:

This 1959 Dodge Mayfair 4dr sedan was sold new in late 1958 or very early 1959 at a small "Dorès Fontaine Dodge-Desoto" dealership in Acton Vale, Quebec. The garage still stands and still belongs to the same family, but it's not a dealership anymore. Attached is a picture of the original dealership, taken in 1954.

The original owner was a man named Dosithé Lépine. Mr. Lépine was well-known in and around Acton Vale, being the owner of a small general store and mastering a lot of other small trades (plumbing, etc.). He used the Dodge as his main vehicle for some years, but in 1964 purchased a pickup truck and the Dodge was stored in garage attached to his house, where it sat for 35 years. In the mid-1990's, Mr. Lépine became interested in old cars (he had a 1930's car too) and the Dodge was pulled out of storage in 1997 and put back on the road. Some work was done to the rocker panels and one or two small patches were made in the floorpans. The green was repainted using the original shade, while the white roof remained covered with the factory paint.

Once again, the car was stored in the same garage most of the time and it came out of storage again only in 2005, when the original owner passed away and his daughter put the car up for sale. She removed the covers from the seats when she pulled the car out for sale, revealing the untouched original interior under. The car had only 32 000 original miles.

The second owner bought the car from the Lépine estate only to do a couple of local car shows each year in the Montreal area, and arranged for the mechanical components to be gone through and tuned up. After a couple of years, and having put only a few hundred miles on the car, he put it up for sale again.

That's when dad found the car and we bought it in August 2009. It then had only 33 368 miles on it!

The car is equipped with the Canadian 313 c.i. V8 motor and PowerFlite push button automatic transmission. Its factory options are: V8, PowerFlite, rear stone shields, engine heater, inside vanity mirror, two tone paint with sportone, wide whitewall tires, radio, dual fender outside mirrors.

We have most of the original documents from the car, including the Automobile Club membership cards from the original owner from 1958 to 1964!


I hope we can preserve this Canadian classic for another 50 years!





Edited by soiouz 2011-02-10 5:56 PM




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rbmain
Posted 2011-02-10 6:54 PM (#260495 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



100010010010010025
One of my 56 Plymouth convertibles, imported from PA, was supposedly a famous dragstrip racer for many years in Pennsylvania in the 1960's and 70's. It had modified beefed up front engine mounts on the chassis, shrapnel holes in the floorboards around the bellhousing area, and a hacked up floor to accommodate a floor shifter. All real amateur. The engine and transmission were all long gone, as in my other two convertibles. (Odd, the engines would be missing on all three.)

Edited by rbmain 2011-02-10 6:56 PM
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d500neil
Posted 2011-02-10 7:07 PM (#260500 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
I found a photograph of Horrie's original owner, and his wife, which had been 'stuck' behind the dashboard area.

It had to have been placed there intentionally.





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spider89119
Posted 2011-02-10 7:48 PM (#260510 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Extreme Veteran

Posts: 475
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
57burb - 2011-02-10 1:07 PM

My '57 2dr Suburban was built in the LA plant around 8/28/57 with the 230 six and Powerflite, and not much else. It was (supposedly) owned by a poor farming family in the Gainesville FL area. The ignition system died around 1988 and it was purchased by an artist that wanted to cut it up to make an Americana sculpture with it. Fortunately he didn't, and it sat under a shed until 2004 when I bought it and sent it to Texas.





Doesn't he know that it already is a rolling Americana sculpture?
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DeSotohead
Posted 2011-02-10 7:55 PM (#260512 - in reply to #260500)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Board Moderator

Posts: 3186
20001000100252525
Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan)
My 1956 DeSoto was sold new to a rancher at the Wyoming/Montana border.
He drove it HARD. and broke TWO crankshafts before parking it out in a field near a creek.

The second crank I am sure broke quickly, as I was told by his nephew (who sold me the car) that the local "dealer" just stuck another crank in the engine after the first one broke.
No mention of align-honing the block, and I am sure the main caps were sprung from the breakage.

When I got the car, the interior was a mess, having become a long term dormitory for the field mice.

The car had sunk down in the soil so that the bottom of the engine's oil pan stayed behind when we pulled it out.

A lot of the die-cast was pretty pitted, and it was missing some emblems as I guess hunters need souvenirs.
Luckily, nobody used it for target practice, and the Solex glass was intact, albeit VERY dirty.

Oh, and the rancher parked it with only 39466 miles on it..........
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58sportsuburban
Posted 2011-02-10 8:41 PM (#260517 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Extreme Veteran

Posts: 449
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Location: jersey
I think most here know the story on my suburban:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21334&...
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ronbo97
Posted 2011-02-10 9:42 PM (#260527 - in reply to #260517)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?


Expert

Posts: 4034
2000200025
Location: Connecticut

Very cool thread !

My 58 Plymouth was sold new at Venanzio Motors in Windber, PA, which is about 2 hours east of Pittsburgh. Dealership was tiny. I've been told that they only sold about ten cars a year ! They went out of business in Sept '65. If anyone has any information about this dealership, PLEASE email or PM me !!!

The car lived in Washington, DC for a while before moving to northern California (probably) in the late 70s or early 80s. It had several owners before moving to Hayward, CA in 1987. I purchased the car in 1988 and have had it ever since.

Ron

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christine-lover
Posted 2011-02-10 9:58 PM (#260531 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 2996
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Location: Sept. 1958
My 58 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible was bought from Ralph Hickman Motors in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. If anyone here knows anything of that dealer, please let me know. The car was one owner while it was a driver. The couple resided in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. It was put away around 1970 and taken out in 2004/5, sold a few times. I contacted the grandson of the original owner through the Internet and he was going to ask his dad more information on the car but never heard back. Tried a few times, too bad. I believe the son of the original owner drove the car to Bowling Green College in Ohio back in 1969-1970 by the bumper sticker parking pass on the rear bumper. The original owner is in the Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame ('35).
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old mopar guy
Posted 2011-02-10 10:16 PM (#260535 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 1508
1000500
Location: new york
My 56 Plymouth conv, was purchased new by Manuel Fenton a CBS TV Executive.This was the only car he owned till his death in 1979.It was stored in the basement of his building on the upper east side.Upon his death his 93 year old sister sold it to me after a year of negotiation after selling his Building in Manhattan and his upstate country home.To settle his estate,For the pricey sum of $2200.(With her butler as a witness) The car was in perfect running condition (As he used it for traveling to his weekend home) however the right fender was in a bender and it was repaired and the hole car painted white by Earl Schribe some time in the early 70's. So we repainted it the original turquoise and white ,NOS front fender a new roof and seats and i was a happy guy with a nice convertible.(1980) I drove it that way for 26 years and we did the car again (Rebuilt motor,new paint,rechrome,rewire,new tires) Still has 30 year old interior and top. I love this car ,its a pleasure to drive and about 8 years ago I sold my 55 Chevy convertible (32000 original miles) and my friends said WHY! and I said the Plymouths a better car! These a million stories in the city, and this was mine. HAPPY MOTORING! Victor..



(php4vckb6PM.jpg)



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agirlandher58
Posted 2011-02-10 10:34 PM (#260536 - in reply to #260531)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Extreme Veteran

Posts: 369
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Location: buchanan,Ga.
It had to be at least ten years ago maybe a few more but any ways...I was working as a on site service fleet mech. I saw the car i have today inside a wire fence with alot of other old cars it was infront of a small old time mom and pop shop ...couldn't get no info . on it...so needless to say time passed by a i forgot about it....move up ten yrs or so .I'm listening to a Am radio broadcast called tradeline....someone comes on saying that they have a 57 chrysler for sale and they'er almost in my back yard. So i called and made plans to go see it .The first day i had off ,try to make a deal it was raining,in winter time ,cold just flat out nasty...but i went all the same i didn't want to car to get away if it was saveible...So i get there and there she sits the same car i had seen all those yrs ago.but now she wasn't in a lot somewhere in south ga. she was in a back field in the mud on flats.But what let me know is was the same car was that someone had made home made name markers big huge ones made out of wrought iron that said chrysler on the front fenders and saratoga on the quarters .It sorta blew my mind...sorta like the car looked me up...kinda thing??!!

Edited by agirlandher58 2011-02-11 1:01 AM
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imopar380
Posted 2011-02-11 12:19 AM (#260552 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Expert 5K+

Posts: 7205
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Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada
I don't know much about my 1960 Saratoga except that it was built in L.A., and sold new there, and lived there all its life until I got it 2 years ago. I have no idea how many owners it had but I was told it was garaged all its life - which probably is true given the condition of the body ( even LA cars occasionally get some rust, mine doesn't even have any in the trunk weatherstrip lip).

My former 1962 Chrysler 300 was sold new in Garden Grove, CA to a naval officer for his wife, sold for $4321.00 Can you imagine her driving a dual four barrel job? Anyhow his wife died at some point and a dealer friend of mine bought the car from the husband in 1980. I bought it from the dealer friend in 1982. It had the original bill of sale, and a letter from the owner stating he drove it to Las Vegas once and had it up to 130+ mph. I kept the car until 2008, the sold it to a friend who now has it for sale again.

My former 1960 Dodge Polara 4 door hardtop was built in Windsor Ontario, sold new in Victoria, BC where I still live at a Chrysler dealer that is still in town in the same place, with a different name now. It was bought new by the lady vice president of local CKDA Radio. She kept the car until 1974, and then traded it on a 1974 Buick Limited 4 door hardtop in the same color scheme as the Polara ( white with a red / black interior). It was wholesaled off and had a couple of more owners in 1974 until I bought it from a realtor who was afraid his son was going to kill it. ( I was the same age as his son at the time !) I kept the car until 1995, sold it to a friend of mine nearby who still takes care of it, so I get to see it regularly.

My former 1959 Chrysler Windsor 2 door hardtop was built in Windsor, ON, sold new in Winnipeg, Manitoba to a Hungarian immigrant jeweler who came out west to Victoria in the mid seventies. I bought the car from him in 1980, did a cosmetic restoration and sold it in 1982. I then sold it to a Canadian Forces serviceman who took it back to Ontario, and I have no idea where the car got to since then.

My former 1960 DeSoto Adventurer was built new in Windsor, ON. I bought it from a dealer in 1977 for $450.00 who had just taken it in trade on a new Subaru. The dealer gave me the owners name, turned out he bought the car new. I showed up at his door with the car and his wife was crying over selling it. She hated the Subaru. I sold the car about a month later to a friend of mine who kept it until 1986. It was a very good original car with virtually no rust. He sold it to a supposed collector, who ended up letting the car rot under a tree ( got this information from another FL member who has seen the car further up the island here).

My former 1960 Dodge Matador 4 door hardtop - I don't know where it was built but it was sold new at Dependable Motors in Seattle, and I bought it from the second owner in Seattle in 1980 while at a WPC National Meet. I kept it until 1982, sold it to a friend who used it as a driver for several years, then it went through a local WPC club members hands, then a couple of other owners and apparently it is stored somewhere in town in pieces. It was also a good solid car, four door hardtop, had the sky high rear window too. I wish I knew where it is in town.

My first car 1958 Dodge Custom Royal - don't know where it was built. It may have been a US built car, but not sure. It was my first car, and I only had it for 4 1/2 months in 1974 then bought the 60 Polara. Saw it once after I sold it, probably long been crushed.

So that's about it for my fleet history of Forward Looks.

Edited by imopar380 2011-02-11 12:20 AM
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floyd066
Posted 2011-02-11 1:44 AM (#260560 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Extreme Veteran

Posts: 347
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Location: Ocean Park, Washington
Pretty sad and short. Found my 56 Windsor in The Dalles, Oregon 5 years ago in a fenced contractors yard. It was only a few hundred yards from the Columbia River. The car was in Moses Lake, Washington in 1989. The lady that owned it there now lives in Boise with no information to give. Thats it!!
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Sonoramic60
Posted 2011-02-11 7:55 AM (#260569 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?


Expert

Posts: 1287
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The Big-Tailed Beast (my '60 Fury) was shipped from the St. Louis plant on 10-25-59, which is rather late for an early SonoRamic car. It is an early car as it has the ball-joint carb linkage rather than the slotted rods. It also doesn't have the fender well cutouts normally associated with ram cars. Ergo, it may have been a "mule" (or factory test vehicle) or possibly was damaged at the factory and not repaired until later. From St. Louis, it went to Bill Goodro Chrysler-Plymouth, but wasn't sold until 02-23-59 (the bill of sale was in the glove box). This four-month interval seems to be rather lengthy for a ram car to sit on a lot and when coupled with possible early damage gives rise to the speculation that it may have been a factory rep's car . The gentleman who bought the car was a rancher in one of Colorado's high mountain valleys who very likely came to Denver for the National Stock Show, made a few bucks and traded his '52 Chrysler for it (a receipt for his stay at Denver's Ambassador hotel from 02-14-60 through 02-18-60 was also in the car). He was allowed $960.20 for his trade-in off the total price of $3922.45. I think he used it only as his "Sunday-go-to-meetin' car" as it had only 43000 on the clock when I bought it from his heir in 2000. Since ranching up in that area is a 24/7 job, I wouldn't be surprised if it never left the state once it got here. He put that clear plastic stuff over the seat covers which kept the original in pristine condition.
MD2, or Moby Dick II (my 300C) came off the Detroit line on 01-19-57 and was shipped to Northwest Motors in Helena, MT on 01-20-57. The man I bought it from is about my age and he remembered seeing it in the showroom and being driven around by the girlfriend of the dealer. It was finally sold on 12-08-57 to its first retail purchaser who traded in his '53 Chrysler ($1500) plus $3943.40. The man I bought it from loved the car from day one and was able to buy it from this first owner on 07-01-99. I bought it from him in September, 2006.
My '65 fuel-injected Vette also has an interesting history, going from one end of the country to the other, but that's out of the purview of the Home of the Forward Look.
Joe Godec
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57plymouth
Posted 2011-02-11 7:57 AM (#260570 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 3577
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Location: Blythewood, SC
Yes, my great grandmother bought it in 1957. It has been totaled twice, once by a tractor trailer, once by a tree.

Photobucket

I dove it in high skrewl after I got it running in 1990. It was my daily driver until 2000.

Photobucket

I restored in in 2000-2001. Now I drive it most all of the Fall, Winter and Spring. Too hot here in the Summer.

Photobucket
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sparky7
Posted 2011-02-11 12:14 PM (#260597 - in reply to #260570)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?


Elite Veteran

Posts: 636
50010025
My 58 Custom Sierra came with a glove box full of parts and repair receipts going back to 1978, along with old registration and insurance cards with the names and addresses of the last 3 owners. The car spent the last 30 years in various parts of the L.A. area. I was able to Google a previous owner who had an unusual name, and reached him by phone. He worked for a film production company, and it turns out the car had a cameo appearance in the movie "Best Seller", in a scene shot at the Port of L.A. - Long Beach. I don't want to ruin the suspense for those of you who are now going on NetFlix, but let's just say there are TWO firearms that are pulled out INSIDE the car, and that thankfully no Solex was harmed in the making of this movie.

The movie-making PO first saw the car (1985) in front of an L.A. apartment building with a $1300 price in the window. He took a test drive with the owner, and they stopped at a gas station. While the owner goes inside to pay for gas, another dude runs up to the future owner: "hey I will buy this car for $1300!" to which the future owner replies "sorry it's no longer for sale". Lucky for him the admirer left before the owner got back to the car.

I wish I knew more about the car before '78, since it's a Detroit car. When I got my IBM card from Chrysler Historical, they did not decode the dealer ID (55686) which they have done for other 58 dodge owners

Sparky
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Bryan1960Windsor
Posted 2011-02-11 12:58 PM (#260599 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Elite Veteran

Posts: 689
500100252525
Location: Santa Barbara, California
I know history of most of my past cars, but my current 59 Windsor is a bit of a mystery. I purchased the car through Gesswein Motors up in Milbank, SD... something about an information privacy act prevented any shred of paperwork from previous ownership from conveying with the vehicle.
I do know that the car was originally built in Canada, somehow made it to Texas (had TX plates on it when I saw it in the photos at Gesswein), and then back up north to Gesswein Motors where I found her. I then took her to NC, and now to CA... this car has definitely made it around North America!!

peace love and fins
bryan




(Evelyn new pics 043.jpg)



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oldwood
Posted 2011-02-11 5:04 PM (#260621 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?


Expert

Posts: 2905
2000500100100100100
Location: little rock, AR
I bought my '60 4dr Savoy in 2006 from the original owner with approx. 17k actual miles. It was assembled in St Louis,MO. I have the original window sticker with options: 2 tone paint, heater only,back-up lights,glove box lock,undercoating anti-freeze = $2,521.25. The owner added: Radio,wheel covers,seat covers= GRAND TOTAL---$2647.35. He actually paid $1900.00 cash and was allowed $350.00 trade in for his 1954 Plymouth Plaza 2dr. All of this info came from the original car invoice from POE MOTOR CO. in North Little Rock,Arkansas. The deal was made on 12/9/59 and delivered 12/15/59. It came with ALL of the glove box documents that you get with a new car. Currently this car has @20k actual miles. This is the same car that took Mike McKenna and I to the 75th anniversary AACA car show in Louisville,KY this past July 2010. Its not perfect but its PAID FOR.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-02-11 10:24 PM (#260694 - in reply to #260621)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
My DeSoto sold new in Syracuse, NY. The dealer code from CHS is not "valid", according to them,
and so I do not know the name of the dealer. It was built in early January, 1958 ... 6th? ... 7th?
In 1960, the car was badly wrecked, caving in the passenger door and requiring a new quarter panel.
It also had extensive rust repair done at that time as well. The car was totalled and after repairs were
made, sold to a professor at the University of Syracuse. He immediately transferred to the U of W, Madison
and drove the car until 1968, when he put it in his garage and it slowly was buried under boxes and other
"garage matter".
The car came to the attention of Jim Crossen in 1983, purchased, and a cheeseball restoration was done
by his father-in-law, complete with pie-pan sheetmetal and pop rivets.
I purchased the car from Mr. Crossen in the early 90's as I searched for convertible parts unobtainium for
a badly pilfered 58 Adventurer convertible project car.
After giving the car a good refurbishing just to enjoy it "as is" until I was prepared to do a full restoration
on it, I was rearended in it while waiting for a red light to change and a major resto was forced on me early.
The car was stripped to bare body / chassis and then cut into components ... cowl, rear clip, etc. A nice floor
had been saved from a 59 and was used and the build-up basis to bring the parts back together again. Rust-
free doors, decklid, hood, fenders completed the parts swap. New quarter skins were fabricated using some
salvaged curves and new metal. Car is back together, but a divorce and such has delayed finishing the project.

The Dodge wagon was special ordered and delivered to Eddy's Garage, Deadwood, SD. I first saw the car in
1987 being driven by the original owner. We spoke briefly about it being a D-500 wagon and he informed me
that he ordered the car that way. I stumbled back onto the car in 2007, hiding in his son's garage just blocks
my house. In the interim, it had traveled from southern Oregon to Montana, and ended up in Spokane, Wa.
I plan to make this car just a fun driver until the DeSoto is finished.
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sconut1
Posted 2011-02-12 12:02 AM (#260702 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?


Elite Veteran

Posts: 782
500100100252525
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
I've submitted my paperwork to CHS. Awaiting details....
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rdtrpr
Posted 2011-02-12 11:55 AM (#260737 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?


Regular

Posts: 60
2525
Location: Connecticut
My '57 DeSoto Firesweep was purchased by a couple from Salt Lake City at Preece Motor Company
in Layton Utah (apparently an affiliate of Freed Motors in SLC). I have their invoice and order dated
April 27, 1957. The car was built on May 27, 1957 at the Detroit factory. The new owners chose to
pick up their car at the factory. I have two letters from the state of Utah to them, the first dated
May 25, 1957 issuing license plates for use on the drive home after getting the car on May 31. The
second letter dated July 6, 1957 provided them with registration certificate and title after the car
was brought back to Utah.
The car stayed with them until the early 1980's, when it was acquired by another resident of Salt
Lake City. Around 1989 it went to Arizona, where it was refreshed with new paint and rechromed
bumpers, and was then sold to a collector in the state of Washington. He cared for it for several
years, then I found it and brought it to Connecticut.




(57DeSotoFiresweep.JPG)



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1960DesotoAdventurer
Posted 2011-02-12 12:58 PM (#260742 - in reply to #260737)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 3588
20001000500252525
Location: Plymouth Spaceport
Both of my Forward Looks have very sordid pasts with history's to shameful to even speak publicly about.
The Plymouth is even in the witness relocation program and now is masquerading as a Ford!

Edited by 1960DesotoAdventurer 2011-02-12 2:25 PM
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Rodger
Posted 2011-02-12 12:59 PM (#260743 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?


Expert

Posts: 1506
1000500
Location: Colo Spgs
Vehicle History Bluff's

Back in yester-year Francis C. Ware Jr. meets Eva Marie. He is a very active Navy Pilot
and marries another ( that he met at another Air Station ). After a few years, The Navy Guy
is divoriced and gets stationed at Alameda N.A.S. . Guess who he again meets ! The two of
them get married ( she too had met another after she learned about that "other woman"
and it too had ended in the same manner.

After 35 years he retires ( he joined the Navy in June of 1940 as a Enlisted Aviation
Mechanic ) and returns to his boy-hood home in Colo Spgs ( at #10 Broadmor Ave ).

In 1998 Eva Marie told my wife that when her and Francis ( she never called him Frank )
got married she was driving a 1960 Ford "Star-Liner" that she was still making new payments
to the bank. As a Wedding Present he took her to a Dealer in Hayward ( this is Calif ) and
she came home that day with a Formal Black Le Baron ( his Pay Grade was now 0-7 ).

With this car we got the original Owner's Manual, The Pilot Control Information Leaf-let,
The Factory Service Manual, The Dealer's Sales Brochure, The Alum Keys, every
Registeration/Insurance Form and Three detailed Vol's of Vehicle Serv Log's.

When we paid her for the car, she then said we could have the Gla Blue Le Baron that
she also had ( no extra charge ).

Three days later I drove the Black Le Baron to work ... in style.



Rodger & Gabby
COS

Oh Yeah, my wife liked it because "it had baby fin's".

Edited by Rodger 2011-02-12 1:38 PM




(1963 Gla Blue Le Baron & Hot Aug Nights.jpg)



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C-300
Posted 2011-02-12 1:23 PM (#260748 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?


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My '60 Polara was bought new by a family-owned Funeral Home in Pennsylvania. The family kept the car in storage until the late 1980's. It was advertised in Hemmings Motor News and was bought by a man named Mike - who lives near San Diego, California. Mike drove the car for a few years and sold it to Scoey Mitchell, a stand up comedian, who used a huge discrimination lawsuit settlement against NBC to open up a restoration shop. Scoey bought the car to use as a parts car / drivetrain donor for a convertible project. I tried to buy the car at that time (1992)... but Scoey was dead set on destroying three good cars (a D500 Matador hardtop 3 speed stick, a Phoenix convertible, and my wagon) to create a Polara D500 convertible. Disgusted, I quit the job and lost track of the car.

18 years later I found out that Mike bought the Polara back shortly after Scoey's shop closed (which was just after I left). Mike drove it around town for a few years and then decided to convert it to a factory dual-air. He used two part cars to create the system, modified the firewall, restored the A/C instrument panel, and then got distracted. The car was almost completely disassembled when I saw it for the first time in almost two decades. My wife was horrified, but I knew how great it could be.

I made a deal with Mike and the car is finally with me in Los Angeles. I am taking my time and doing it right. It should be on the road this summer.



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bigears
Posted 2011-02-12 3:58 PM (#260759 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



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Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Well my 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca came from Ohio Warren Ohio, sold by Sanzenbacher Dealership Warren Ohio.
It was brought new by Custom Auto Wrecking 3159 Larchmont Ave Warren Ohio apparently the dealership was just down the road.
The wrecking company was a family business run by a brother and sister. I beleve when the business was shutdown or sold the car stayed with Grace Shields the sister part owner of the business she lived next door at 3187 Larchmont Ave, Warren. The car was transferred from the business into her personal name for the sum of $50 plus $2.50 tax on the 1st February 1990 I believe it spent the prior 25 years stored.

On the 25th May 2001 the title was changed and the car was gifted to David Shield who was Grace's brothers son
So she's a one family owner car. I spoke to David prior to buying more than once but still got the sucker ball, what he described as minor rust was being exceptionally economic with the truth. Learnt a heap with this transaction do's and don't's scammers etc but wont bore you with the details
She needs right hand side rust/salt damage work etc I've seen others fear a lot worse expanding foam/bondo and excuses for poor quality pictures etc buyer beware I guess hard when you live on the other side of the planet.

That said I'm 2 years down the track on chipping away slowly - I have rebuilt the suspension everything was stripped/replaced when I have the funds I'll deal to the rust passenger floors/door/quarters which will be a big job. As for the rest of her she's 34,0000 original everything works as it should including the factory radio - One Day ................

Edited by bigears 2011-02-12 4:14 PM




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1960DesotoAdventurer
Posted 2011-02-12 5:45 PM (#260784 - in reply to #260570)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



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57plymouth - 2011-02-11 7:57 AM

Yes, my great grandmother bought it in 1957. It has been totaled twice, once by a tractor trailer, once by a tree.

Photobucket

I dove it in high skrewl after I got it running in 1990. It was my daily driver until 2000.

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I restored in in 2000-2001. Now I drive it most all of the Fall, Winter and Spring. Too hot here in the Summer.

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Cool story Brian!
In addition to being one of Virgil Exners most beautiful Forward Look designs your car has a special family history to it.
Looking at the two last pictures you'd never believe it was totaled twice!
Most people would have not put the effort into a four door,I'm glad it was saved.
I hope my car Plymouth will look as nice as yours one day soon.
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di_ch_NY56
Posted 2011-02-13 6:48 AM (#260844 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Expert

Posts: 1527
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Location: ZH, Switzerland
I do not have any clue about the history of my Chrysli ('56 Chrysler New Yorker Newport). Only two information I got. The Chrysli was used daily until 1995 and all the time in California. After asking again my seller found a registry card from 1980 showing a name and address of a guy in South California. The dealer where my Chrysli was delivered to is not available anymore (out of business for years). So I guess I'll never get out who was the first owner and how many owner my Chrysli had until I got it. I bought it at a Chrysler dealer in South Dakota.

Happy Motoring!

Dieter
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ttotired
Posted 2011-02-13 8:24 AM (#260849 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Expert 5K+

Posts: 8443
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Location: Perth Australia
This is about all I know about my car except that I am the third of fourth owner since it arrived and the poor cars been got at from everyone
but never been finished. The car has never been licenced for road use in Australia.

I hope I am the one to get it out on the road again, but I do have my work cut out for me. In saying that, some of the resto work
I have seen done by people on here, make what I have to do look pretty minor

I have copied this from my members rides post thingy

I got the import papers today for my car and with that I finally have a vin number . I am now on the hunt for any other info I can get about it. I have decoded the vin, and it seems it is a fury and not a belvedere as i thought it might be. The exporter was "Americal Auto Tours" I guess they took people on car scavenger hunts. With my car came 10 others on a ship called Neptune crystal and was shipped from Seattle and left there on 13/04/1990. From the storage reciept, It arrived in fremantle (Perth Australia) on the 28/05/1990. I also have a title certificate with i think its old plate number on it and a guys name. The plate number was YAA268 and it seems to have lived in Washington.
Please chime in if you know anything about my car because what you see is all i got and i would love to find out more about it

Mick
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wild440
Posted 2011-02-13 10:35 AM (#260861 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Veteran

Posts: 204
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Location: canandaigua, ny
July 2009 my family and I were looking at a corvette junk yard in Webster NY and saw this old station wagon, "that's cool" so I got out to look.
My 13 year old daughter was was right on my heals, she was looking at that car, pointing out things, chrome the way the car looked the fact it was a 2 door
( I didn't even notice at first...dduuu)
History.... not much..I purchased it from Jim at Elmer auto parts, it came from Florida in the 70's, the previous owner collected ALLOT of 56 suburban parts, the car was packed full ( enough trim , interior and drive train parts to do another suburban)....I trailer full and 2 pickups full of parts.
Bought it in July drove it to the first car show in September....not restored but drivable
Its my daughters car, she calls the shots. it will be turquoise and white when she's done.




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spinout
Posted 2011-02-13 12:39 PM (#260873 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



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Location: Bjorneborg, Finland
My '61 DeSoto 2-dr Hardtop build date: 09-02-1960. Date first entered Montana: 9-20-60. Sold to the 1st owner 12-8-60 at Havre Motors, Inc. (went out of business '69) in Havre, MT for $3014.28, trade and contract. At this time DeSoto production was already discontinued. He kept it in Shawmut, MT until 2-1-63 when traded it at Olson Motor Co. in Livingston, MT.

2nd owners bought the car 1.5 months later and they kept it over 12 years in Livingston, MT. They probably never changed oil to the car, only added it and cared less how to keep it.. at this time it was in accident, hit to rear panel and right fender. 3rd owner from Belgrade, MT bought the car 4/75 and was last licensed in '76. 4th owners in Manhattan, MT between years 1980-86.

Then the car appeared in the yard of Freman's Auto in Whitehall, MT. The guy from Omaha, NE whose parents are Scandinavian origin rescued the car 5/87 from there. I bought it 5/90 from him and shipped the car over the Pond. Put it on the road again after 15 years... Only rust was found on trunk floor panel, otherwise rock solid body. Now 41% of its whole history consist of Finland. How the time flies.. Krooh zz. How did you awake to this point ♫ ?


Edited by spinout 2011-02-14 5:13 AM
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Kingsway
Posted 2011-02-24 2:04 AM (#262209 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Veteran

Posts: 253
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Location: Tampere, Finland
Dodge Kingsway 1958 4d sedan.
Sold as new in Finland, ex-taxi. After ten years of taxicareer it was sold to a raggargroup and few years after that in 1972 transmission went down and following years its destiny was to serve as a dog´s house. In 1979 young guy dug it up and repaired it, he really did a very great work. in 1990´s there was several owners, I bought it in 1999. I have met some previous owners, including the guy that repaired it in late 70´s and early 80´s. I know its history pretty well.

Occasionally some people comes to discuss and tell that they remember my car from 80´s. Once there was an older man who told me that the first owner, the taxidriver was his good friend and told that he´s been traveling my cars backseat several times in 60´s. Funny coincidences.
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imp610
Posted 2011-02-24 4:09 AM (#262217 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



Veteran

Posts: 129
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Location: Finland
My `61 Imperial has a shadow of it`s past, no one knows who was the first owner of this car. Many guesses has arised when asking around, but nothing seriously taken storys have been verified of it`s past. It has a km/h-speedometer, so it`s most likely intended/ordered for export. There have been speculations of that the first owner can have been the Finnish State, or then it could have belonged to an embassy of some country or state here in Finland. If so, the car didn`t appear in Finlands registry even if it was here, because the state had it`s own registry at the time. It is also possible that it may have come from another country in Europe, maybe Sweden? Who knows?

In Finnish Registery it "first" appears in 1965, parked in Finlands official Chrysler-dealer Berner`s used car showroom, owner then recorded as the same Berner Co. It didn`t lye there for wery long, it was sold to a company for reprecentative use and was also in use as the companys owners personal transportation. After a couple of years the car was sold to a mechanic which worked and serviced the car to the former owner. He had it for a year and after him there were like one owner per year, until 1971 when the car`s engine went dead due to various fuel experiments with petroleum. Price of gas at the time lead to this unfortunate event, after that it was put out of register and has been out of traffic since then. The owner since then kept the car in storage ("maybe I`ll fix it someday..."), until 2004 when he let it go.

One former owner was kind and sent me this old picture of the car in 1966;





Edited by imp610 2011-02-24 4:12 AM




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di_ch_NY56
Posted 2011-02-24 6:05 AM (#262221 - in reply to #260599)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



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Bryan1960Windsor - 2011-02-10 6:58 PM

I know history of most of my past cars, but my current 59 Windsor is a bit of a mystery. I purchased the car through Gesswein Motors up in Milbank, SD... something about an information privacy act prevented any shred of paperwork from previous ownership from conveying with the vehicle.
I do know that the car was originally built in Canada, somehow made it to Texas (had TX plates on it when I saw it in the photos at Gesswein), and then back up north to Gesswein Motors where I found her. I then took her to NC, and now to CA... this car has definitely made it around North America!!

peace love and fins
bryan

I bought my Chrysli at the same place. I got the same experience. History hidden. But it's not Jim's fault, that the dealer in California doesn't exist anymore or changed the brands and/or name. My Chrysli didn't have plates on it.
Happy motoring!

Dieter
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polara61
Posted 2011-06-03 8:28 AM (#275209 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



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Location: Bräcke,Sweden
My car was purchased by Charles H. Baker Jr who lived in Stratford Conn. June 23rd 1961. Dealer was Honeck Bros. Inc. in Milford Conn.(dealer 53668).
Then in 1963 June 26th my cousin bought her at Gaynor-Taylor Inc. 1345 Barnum Ave. in Stratford Conn. When he passed away in 2006 the car was in
Finland, he sent it there after he had restored (1985-1990) her.So between 1963 and 1990 the car was in Bridgeport Conn.I brought her over to Sweden 2007.
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3N57-2729
Posted 2011-06-04 3:51 AM (#275351 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



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Posts: 256
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Location: Kansas City
To start with, very cool thread!

My 1957 Chrysler 300-C was originally purchased by a Captain in the Air Force named John Gallien. I have tried to track him down, but have had no such luck. He was stationed in Salina, Kansas, but purchased the car from Friendly Motors in Shreveport, Louisiana. I have the original owners certificate issued by Chrysler with his name on it as well as the original title. I would love to find him or if he has passed a relative that could tell me more about the car's history. I can only imagine what kind of stories he would have to tell about the 30 plus years he owned. The only thing I do know, is that he had started to go blind and was having a guy do the restoration. As it would happen, the guy took advantage of him and he decided he couldn't deal with it anymore and sold it to the fellow I got it from. That's it....as mentioned, wish I knew more.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-06-04 4:14 AM (#275354 - in reply to #275351)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



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Location: Parts Unknown
The USAF should be able to tell you all you need to know about Capt. Gallien. If he remained
active in any way via the VA or other retirement program, they'll have all his info until his account
was completely closed out.

You may best find an active USAF personnel to do the requesting for you.
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crvsir
Posted 2011-06-04 8:16 AM (#275379 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?


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Posts: 967
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From day one.....



(Beach 250.jpg)



(Beach 160.jpg)



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carjock
Posted 2011-06-04 9:23 AM (#275382 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?


Account Inactive by Request

Posts: 1601
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I've had MANY FL cars...some I knew the history on and others I knew nothing about. But my current "barn find" (see thread in this section) is like an open book. One
owner bought new in Boise, Id. ('57 New Yorker 2-door). Driven until owner became ill and the car was parked in a barn. Bought from his son who knew the whole story
of the car. Built in LA with few options. I haven't looked yet, but fully expect to find the build sheet in one of the usual places. I don't know much about Chryslers as I
was always into Dodge, Desoto, and Plymouth, but this car is a treasure trove of originality!
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BarnFind57
Posted 2011-06-04 3:47 PM (#275424 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Elite Veteran

Posts: 957
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Location: Signal Mountain, TN
First of all... cool thread. I am thoroughly enjoying reading these.

The story I have gathered on mine, a 1957 Plymouth Savoy 4 door sedan...

Her scheduled build date, according to the data sheets I found in the car and the body tag was 7 June, 1957. She still wears her original colors of Silver Charcoal and Satin Gray. Option codes included:

102... 2-Speed Powerflite transmission
131... 7.50 X 14 4-ply whitewall tires
145... Back-up lights
154... Heater, hot-water, with defrost
178... Option Package, includes: Wheel covers, set of 4, Rear Quarter Stone Shields, Inside rear view prism mirror, Cigar lighter, and Glove Box Lock

The car, which can officially be considered a "little old lady car" till recently, was purchased new at Kabalan Motor Service, in Cape May, New Jersey by a woman by the name of Elnora Bishop, just before her 65th birthday, on June 17, 1958. After trading in her old vehicle, a 1940 Dodge D14 coupe, and paying some money to close the gap, she was left with a balance on her loan of roughly $700, the loan receipt was still in the car. The car seems to have been driven a good bit the first years of her life, evidenced by the road maps dated from the late 50s to mid 60s in the glovebox, but then she began driving it less and less. Also in the glovebox were insurance cards and safe driving certificates dating back to 1957. In January, 1975, Mrs. Bishop passed away, at the age of 81. The following month, the car transferred ownership to her daughter, Dorothy E Walker, herself 63 years old at the time, and the car remained at the same home, in the same detached garage the whole time. In the 1980s, the car saw progressively less use, and the miles reflected in the hand-written notes to and from the vehicle inspection station each year reflect an average of 100 miles a year for the last several years she drove the car. The last inspection sticker in the windshield is from 1993. At that time, the car was tucked away, and left to wither away under a growing pile of stuff in the garage. I would guess that she was having some brake troubles, by the old, yellowed Bendix and Raybestos boxes with never installed parts I found under the front seat. Fast forward to a year ago, in January of 2010. The car was part of Mrs. Walker's estate sale following her passing. The winning bidder had put a low price on it, but nobody else really had any interest in the car. They were looking at the contents of the house and could care less about what was parked in the collapsing garage. He dug it out of the barn, got the car running, and started some body repair work, but lost interest in it, and placed it in several internet sale ads, attempting to sell the old car, but again, nobody had any real interest in the car until I gave him a call. A deal was struck, and I became the new owner of the car earlier this year, shipping the car from New Jersey to Tennessee. As of right now, the car has a bit over 88,000 miles on it and she should be refurbished and back on the road by the end of this year if all goes well.





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57burb
Posted 2018-05-29 1:43 PM (#564172 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: Re: Do you know your car's history?



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Just wanted to bring this thread back to the top. We have a lot of new members and cars, and it would be great to hear more of these stories.
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SavoyPlaza
Posted 2018-05-30 6:50 AM (#564233 - in reply to #260450)
Subject: RE: Do you know your car's history?



Elite Veteran

Posts: 1172
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Location: Georgia
Great idea Danny! It was good to re-read these old tales.

I'm not a new member and my car is not new to me, but I'll post my story here anyway! ha ha

The tale I was told was that my '61 Suburban was one of 13 ordered new by the US Air Force without a back seat, that is a 3-passenger,
to haul camera equipment. This can only be backed up with the Government plate on the inner fender and her paint code being 999, her
original color being olive green. Also, I've met Derek here on the forum who has her sister car with the same setup. She spent the first
part of her life at Minot AFB in North Dakota. She eventually found her way to an auction house in North Dakota, sans drivetrain and
adorned with white house paint (pictured).
This is where the previous owner found her and turned her into a hot-rod of sorts, giving her wild paint, 'updated' interior, and wheels
(I let him keep the wheels). When I bought her in 2010, I spent the next two years making her more like she was when new, changing
the paint color to a standard 1961 color. I still might paint her olive issue green one day...
Pete



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