1952 Special 2-dr hardtop project, Texas car needs adoption

[Pete Phillips]

Roy Faries and I went and looked at this car today. It is in Arlington, Texas near Fort Worth. Car has been in the same family since new, bought in Belton, Texas by the grandparents of current owner. He and his buddy were going to restore it in 1973--that's the last year it was on the road. They towed it home and it has been sitting in the yard under a tarp ever since. The buddy got a new job and moved to Calif,, leaving the grandson who had no mechanical skills with the car. Hasn't been touched in 40 years. Body is good except for rust under the driver's floor board (rubber floor mat traps the water and floors are rusty in front). Engine is stuck and fuel pump is off of the car so there is an opening for dirt and dampness and whatever to get into the engine block. No oil in the crankcase, and dipstick has surface rust all over--not a good sign. Intake manifold has a crack that someone tried to repair. exhaust manifold looks OK. Wiring surprisingly looks pretty good under the hood. Radiator is off of the car but present. No keys, so we could not open the trunk. They do have a title for the car. Side glass has some cracks but the curved front and rear glass are fine. Dynaflow transmission has nice, clear, red fluid in it. Car has original upholstery with minor rips in driver's seat, but not bad, and the rear seat still has the dealer's seat covers on it. Interior door panels and headliner look pretty good. Upper grille bar is cracked and broken in several places. some of the grille teeth are bent, too. Side stainless trim is good and the fenders and rocker panels are very good. Doors and hood open and close well. Bumper guards all have dents. Car has rare GM/Buick accessory fog lights on the front bumper and also has the side grille guards which are a rare accessory. Radio and clock and heater/defroster are the only accessories I saw inside. Looks like it has a little over 100,000 miles but could not read the numbers on the odometer. I have a spare 263 engine available at extra cost.

Needs new tires and lots of $$$ spent on it, but is a two-door hardtop. Will make a good parts car for someone or an ambitious restoration. $500 will buy it.

 

Not my car, but I can give seriously interested parties the owner's phone #, although they don't know a whole lot about the mechanical condition of the car. They would like to see it go to someone who will restore it, but I told them that the car's condition makes it more likely that it will be a parts car. Could be restored if you want to spend a lot of $$.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Leonard, Tx