...at least enough to drive. I guess they are never finished.
Two years ago I discovered I had most of the sheet metal to build this coupe and while it wasn't good enough for me to restore and after seeing the wonderful unrestored cars on the Forum and elsewhere I decided to assemble a mechanically sound rusty car.
I re-wooded the body, made the drivers door skin, made new hinges and the heater cover and door. It's mostly made of things I have collected over the years but the major expenses were the aluminum trim molding, the glass, seat springs and upholstery material (Not original, something we found on sale).
The wonderful old pictures, detailed photos, help, advise and even some parts I found from members on the Forum are what kept me going and interested in this project. I want to thank you all.
I have some restored cars but I think this one will always have a special place. With the heater we can drive it to breakfast all winter.
Rich
That is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing.
Craig
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/283627.html?1335009157#POST425080
Here is a link to an earlier post on this car.
and on the heater.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/386580.html#MB
Whoa! Now, THAT car has stage presence! Beautiful!
Would you be willing to share how you got the patina of everything to match so well?
From the photos it all looks to be about the same age.
Richard,
I love it! I have the same "pantina" but with a '26 touring you don't have to do all the wood work.
Hear are the advantages I found with Rusty:
-don't need to wash him
-time saved on not doing bondo/paint can be spent on mechanical work (I enjoy that more)
-time saved from polishing can be spent on forum
-at shows people will stop a lot more than for the guy next to you that put 3x as much money and 100x as many hours in there car
I am sure you can add to the list!
Sure Dale. The sheet metal is all Idaho rust. I soaked the spokes with linseed oil and then put thinned flat black enamel on them as well as the new hinges, the heater and any wood that would show. I also daubed a little gloss black enamel here and there where there might have been more protection from sun and wear. The enamel dries enough in a few days to scrub it a little with water and dirt and a Scotch Brite pad. I also have a can of water I rinse my sand paper in when I wet sand rusty metal. It forms a paste in the bottom I can daub on things that are too bright.
The new sheet metal is sprayed with salt water and allowed to rust. However it is a lighter color and doesn't match well. When I can't find old fasteners I take zinc or cad plated fasteners and either heat and quench in oil or soak in vinegar for a month or two.
I washed the new top with dirt, water and a sponge. All of this will change in time. I plan to leave this car outside.
Rich
Mattthew, I see by your profile picture we have the same color scheme. I had two '15 Roadsters, one restored and one all rusty like this coupe. I enjoyed parking them side by side at car shows. Some folks are very interested to see the rust. Others are appalled. It's all fun
Rich
As someone said on another thread, every time you drive it you'll be in a parade and every time you stop somewhere it will be a car show!
That car will attract a lot of attention. Have FUN!!!!
Richard,
Great job! And a lot more fun for the grandkids etc. than the panels in the attic.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Thank you Richard. I'm working on an unrestored 1926 roadster and trying to make the new pieces match the rest of the car.
It's nice to be able to just blow the dust off and clean the windows rather than detail them for hours to go for a ride, isn't it?
Bob, I see we almost have twins only your doors open the wrong way. :+)
Rich
Richard,
You are one talented guy. Always enjoy seeing pictures of your projects. Have fun with this one!
Dan
If you are buying a car, it's rust. If you are selling a car, it's patina. Nice job Richard.
Richard is this like the first Model T Rat Rod?
Great job!
Wash with dirt. That is hilarious. Love the car.
What a wonderful car !
I would not be surprised if you got a call from Firestone regarding
using it fore advertising .
Super nice.
Rolf
I think we should have a gathering of rusty T's. My truck also seems to get a lot more attention than I'd think it would when parked at shows. Most people have to ask though "you're going to fix it up, right?".
Most vehicles that look like this were neglected. It never occurred to me to put one together without fixing it up. What a cool idea. I keep coming back to look at the pictures (need to save them to my hard drive).
Craig
I love it! That's an artist's coupe alright
Looks like a painting!
Nice car
What a great looking little car!! Must be lots of fun to drive around. Thanks for posting!!
Here are a couple more pictures that may be interesting. The wood framework and the heater logo. I free handed the logo taping the outside edges with masking tape and daubing thinned red paint and some white mixed in in areas. The fine black line is with a Sharpie and a straight edge.
We will see what the heat does to it.
Rich
This is outstanding. I wonder if I could get my wife to agree to let me keep my '26 in its "original patina"?
Here is a 25 coupe that I am planning to fix mechanically but leave as unrestored as possible. Engine turns over but I have not finish cleaning the fuel system yet.
The car has a 1956 Tx plate and inspection sticker. The past owner used the car in his school years and it looks like he was not a good driver and had a very tight budget. Engine, wheels and lots of items do not match the year but leaving it unrestored but driveable might still be fun. Yes headliner needs repair and I still have a little more rat poop to remove.
That is a great coupe Willie. I wish I could get some stains on my headliner like that. I tried but liquid just runs off that new Super material I bought.
We took my coupe to breakfast for it's first run this morning. It runs very well for an old engine with cast iron pistons and original babbit. I had put new rings in it and a previous owner did a fantastic job of truing up the rod journals on the crankshaft.
Rich
Richard
I like your work. Suicide door coupes are my favorite.
I haven't put on my doors.
Richard E,
That car looks perfect. I would not have guessed from any photos that it was assembled recently. I don't know if I could have guessed it if I looked it over up close.
I have occasionally considered putting together a rusty T. I see Terry H's Rusty around town and a member of the SCVMTFC has an early'20s Oldsmobile sedan that looks in about that condition. He drives it on their tours from time to time (it runs great). I have never cared for the butchered body beaters. However, decent, nice, straight cars that look like they have been around forever I like.
Thank you for sharing the progress!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Did the drawing in my wood to Coupelet 1918
Ake
Do you have the complete drawings in CAD? That would be great!
Willie if you need a front bumper to match the rear ones I have some fronts and rears danuser88@ktis.net
When you show up somewhere with a car that looks shiny new people expect it to run nicely.
When you show up with a rust bucket that runs like a clock people are immediately attracted to it and amazed "that old thing still runs"....... LOL .......
John, thanks but I think I will leave the bumpers "as is" even if they do not match.
Hope to see you in Chickasha next year for the pre-45 swap meet. (hope your health is better by than)