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My recent acquisition
In 1976 or thereabouts my brother reinlisted in the Air Force while stationed in Karat Thailand. Because of this he sent me a letter and decided to give me his 1954 Chevrolet Gasser 210. Since I was only 15 I had to wait till the following year to get my license and go retrieve the car at my Aunt’s farm located one and a half hours north of our home. The day finally came and me and two buddies rented a U-Hall trailer and went up to get the car. Only just the night before a bad storm had gone through her area. Meeting us in the driveway she presented the bad news to me that the barn where the car was stored had collapsed. Upon investigating it was determined that there was nothing salvageable about the car. For 35 years I have wanted to build a replica of the car but never got serious about it until about 4 years ago. At that point everything I looked at was either junk or WAY overpriced. A few months ago I placed a wanted ad on Yenko.net and within 45 minutes three people responded with leads, two of which were for this car.
The car had been purchased brand new by a woman in 1954 and when she passed away in 2004 she willed the car to her church. From there it was passed along to a parishioner in exchange for work he had done at the church. He kept it for 12 years, did nothing to it including not driving it and then sold it to the person I bought it from. He also did not drive the car but did a complete brake job on it. The car was located in Portland, Oregon where it had been it’s entire life when I found it and with only 57,000 miles on it. The car still retained it's original painted and pin striped wheels and center caps as well as it's spare tire though aftermarket wheels and tires had been added by the last owner. Based on his description and price I did not haggle and sent him a PayPal down payment that Sunday evening at 10:30 pm pending many more photos of the car and it’s undercarriage. After getting those photos it became a no brainer. I had full intentions of building the car as a replica of the one I was supposed to get but upon the car’s arrival and seeing it in it’s original paint, interior and drivetrain I was having major issues with that even though these cars do not command high dollar. I decided to pull the drivetrain and retain it but put a small block, Turbo 350 and an S10 rear end in the car and just drive it as is for the time being. I used an engine, trans and rear installation mount kit purchased from Walton Fabrication. Maybe next year we will turn it into a shop Pro Touring project with an all out chassis and LS swap. For this phase of the build I wanted to make the car look just like something I would have done back in 1977 in my dirt driveway so I degreased the used engine and trans but did not paint them, put on oxidized valve covers, stock exhaust manifolds and used almost all the parts off my inventory shelves. I did replace the carpet since the front carpet was missing and installed a Lokar shifter, a trans cooler and fiberglass fan but otherwise it is essentially stock. I did leave off the front bumper as it gave it more of a street rod look. This car has NO rust anywhere other than the parking light extensions but has several scratches and a few very small dents, better known as patina. Last night Ann and I took it for it’s inaugural drive around the block with the idle set at about 1500 since I have yet to fabricate an accelerator pedal assembly but a ride is a ride. When the car arrived off the transported Annie insisted I name “her”. I do not name cars nor did I intend to but her persistence paid off and just to shut her up I named the car. Soooo, since it is a green car with two tone green interior and carpet it only took seconds to come up with a name. With the help of Dennis Cumby I had him hand paint the caricature on the decklid and it’s newly acquired nick name. Hope you like it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5-img_1343.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...n_img_4471.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...n_img_0368.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...030_173901.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ej_600x450.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...n_img_1335.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9q_600x450.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...n_img_1332.jpg |
Re: My recent acquisition
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Re: My recent acquisition
Congrats Rick! Wonderful condition. Great story. Keep us posted as you make headway.
BTW, nice work (as per usual) DC!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] |
Re: My recent acquisition
Awesome stuff Rick...and Dennis...and Annie!
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Re: My recent acquisition
Sweet find Rick!
Send it to Mr. Tibor................I think he may have an opening [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] |
Re: My recent acquisition
LOVE IT! Cars like this are just plain FUN, and don't cost an arm and a leg to build. I appreciate the perfect restorations, but I decided I like drivers better for the way I personally prefer to use my cars. It's nice to be able to jump in and run errands in a classic / antique without fretting to much over stone chips and parking lots.
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Re: My recent acquisition
Very cool Rick! Enjoy it... and drive it!
Dan |
Re: My recent acquisition
Cool car!
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Re: My recent acquisition
Nice, tastefully done ride. I , too, would have had the same problem with messing up a "cream-puff", but I have always like this car as a Gasser. 54's, They are sharp either way. Congrats.
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Re: My recent acquisition
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: napa68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Send it to Mr. Tibor................I think he may have an opening [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] </div></div> Mr. Tibor and I have already have a few discussions regarding the letters "LS". Maybe next year. For now I need to concentrate on some possible new ventures...... |
Re: My recent acquisition
Neat car Rick, like the name too and Dennis artwork [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
You going to MCACN ? Mike |
Re: My recent acquisition
Wouldn't miss it! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]
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Re: My recent acquisition
Welcome to the 2 door post sedan family [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
Dan |
Re: My recent acquisition
Looks like you "picked a winner"!
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Re: My recent acquisition
Good score! Might wanna keep it clear of the Smails Kid, though ...
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Re: My recent acquisition
great cars, had a '52, the front seat was like sitting on a comfortable old chesterfield
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Re: My recent acquisition
My first car was a 54 Chevy two door. It didn't look as good as yours... even in 1969.
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Re: My recent acquisition
"The Booger" lettering is kinda kreepy to me. I like "Olive". When I first met my wife of 43 years she had a 54 Chevy that had been her Mom's. Her Mom taught her how to open the hood and pound on the shift linkage with a hammer when the trans would get stuck in gear. She said her Mom would park far away from the Church on Sundays so she wouldn't be seen having to go thru that routine if it locked up.
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Re: My recent acquisition
If I go old style it will be something like this.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics..._54_gasser.jpg If I decide to go to a modern LS and come into a sudden windfall then it will be something like this. Ultimately I think I would be more happy with this in the long run and fortunately for Charley I will then change the name to something more to his liking. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img] https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ro_touring.jpg |
Re: My recent acquisition
Cool car, cool back story...I vote for 'old school' and no speed parts newer than 1965.
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Re: My recent acquisition
Or ...
could go combo platter - part beater/part kwhizz 9000 series? http://www.icon4x4.com/derelict That booger character looks right outta Mad Magazine - be tough to scrap that rascal! Cool car. |
Re: My recent acquisition
Those old rusty with modern drive train builds are becoming the rage and are collecting insane prices. That has also crossed my mind. I am too busy building cars for others to ever take the time to do one for myself so I need to sit back and collect my thoughts and decide which direction to go with it.
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Re: My recent acquisition
Fantastic car Rick, and a good history to top it off.
I like the car just as it sits now, in fact, I think it deserves to be in the "stance" thread! Love the torque thrusts. Enjoy... |
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