Barn find

I found this car on Craigslist and thought it would be a great starting point for an easier project. The goal was to keep costs low while achieving that classic 1960s rocket ship aesthetic. This car fit the bill perfectly, and the price was quite reasonable for a running, driving vehicle.

Here are the pictures from the sales ad:

The metal is in fairly good shape, though someone has touched up the car with a mix of different materials and whatever they had on hand over the years.

The car originated from Strasburg, CO, and I was told it spent most of its life in Colorado Springs, owned by a retired veteran. It was found in a storage barn as part of an estate sale. The person I bought it from got it running by installing a new carburetor, fuel pump, filter, and adding fresh gas.

Everything was mostly untouched, including the original trunk mat, spare tire, jack, and washer bag. It’s advantageous to begin with everything in its proper place, as it makes the reinstallation process much easier if parts are disassembled and stored in labeled bags.

The car was in good enough condition that I drove it to the shop without needing to use a trailer! However, I noticed the transmission was slipping a bit during the drive back, so it will require some attention.

Exterior walk around

The original air cleaner and carburetor were in the back, along with another tail light “Q” for the rusted out one.

The right rear bumper Q had rust, and once the bumper was off the rust in the bucket was visible. There was also some rust hiding under the rear window cowl.

The battery tray had some rust as well, but that was it for the rust on the car. This is a lot easier then I usually take on for rust repairs. I can focus more on the car, than on all the metal work needed to build it into a car.

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