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Frantz

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Everything posted by Frantz

  1. My 79 Lebaron needs some work done. Its a mostly original car with 23k miles. I needs the following: Front Brake Hose Ball joints (Upper/lower) Tie Rods (Inner/outer) Pitman arm Steering gear How do I best preserve the originality of the vehicle? I don't want to just get replacement parts if they aren't original castings so long as I can help it. Are there companies you can just send your components to and they will rebuild what you have? How ambitious does one have to be to rebuild these parts at home? (I'm sure its an "If you have to ask you can't", but I always like to understand the process)
  2. I lived in Atlanta for awhile. My 94 Mustang didn't have AC. It wasn't too bad.
  3. Oh I know the odds. I know the car is actually at toaster. But.. I also know that there aren't many Anglia's out there, so on the off chance it is still around, it's a findable car. The more pieces of the puzzle I have the better the odds are of discovering the car's fate. I'm doing this because a nice couple who are not currently in the car hobby approached me. I was very realistic with them but felt it was both my duty, and enjoyment, to chase down the leads. I was an intel analyst in the Army, so maybe it's just remembering old times hunting bad guys, but it's fun for me. I also know the odds of getting useful stuff from a Forum, but the odds of getting somewhere without asking are even lower.
  4. Thanks James B. I suspected they did rolling changes sorta like other Euro companies. The family is going to see what they can find going through boxes. If their father didn't move much after selling the car then I'd put money on the idea that there is paperwork somewhere with the VIN.
  5. Yeah I felt all proud that I knew what the car was when they told me and then the one 20 year old girl that works here was like, everyone knows them, it was in Harry Potter. I think this picture is from 73-74 from what they told me, so if its a 10 year old car in PA, it looks fairly well cared for, so maybe an enthusiast ended up with it. That's about the only hope it's around. Worse case I'll try and help them find one just like "dads" and help them enjoy the hobby. They aren't currently old car folks, but would like to get this vehicle. Here is my current list to find info: Look for old documentation their dad may have stored in boxes Sweep the internet for registries Find fans of Anglia's who may have a handle on some local cars
  6. I work in the new car sales (commercial trucks mostly) and always wonder why the focus is so much on "mark-up". If someone gave me a diamond for a dollar I wouldn't sell it for $2 just because that's already 100%. Sure that's an extreme, but it shows the point. Any commodity business buys as low as they can and sells as high as the market will bare. With used machines, then there is often value adding as well. On our used lot, every car gets a new state inspection and emissions as well as wiper blades and an oil change. Most cars are returned to fully functioning order to the best of our ability. This all cost money, and that's before you factor other overhead such as facility, advertising, payroll and the like. Many folks prefer to buy from dealers because even "AS-IS" often gets some help simply as good PR and you get protection from most of the scams. The example of buying at $75k and asking $149k isn't horrible within the right context. Often times cars end up at dealers because the time it takes to properly market a vehicle isn't worth the original owners time. If it was easy to double your money, then everyone would do it. And do you really think someone walks in and pays $149k asking price on a daily basis? When buying a car, new, used, or classic, you will always be disappointed if you focus on how much the guy is making. Instead, consider the current and potential value for YOU. Work out a fair deal and then enjoy! Most of us are here because we like cars, it's hard to do if you are miserable that someone make a few bucks helping you get yours.
  7. I have folks who asked me to try and track down their fathers old car which he hasn't owned since the 70s. I told them that it was highly unlikely still around, but if it was then it might be easy to find. It's a 60's Ford Anglia. I didn't know if there was any way you all could think of to find a VIN as they don't have this. I told them to go back though boxes of old documents as I've found old registration cards when going through such things of my own family. We checked with DMV, they said they couldn't do anything. I've registered with an American English Ford Forum to see what I find there. I realize its a 100 haystack search with no guarantee of a needle in any of them, but it's a fun hunt for me to try and help em out. The car was owned in the mid 70s in Pottsville Pa. From the picture they sent me, it is on the 700 block of Laurel Blvd. I'm not sure on year yet, still trying to get an education on the car.
  8. Now that's a good idea! I can have my Ramblers on one side, my Mopar on another, my Chevy on the back and my Ford out front. Beer, food, and tools in the middle in the middle. Proactive ideas are often the most successful!
  9. I recently joined the Hershey region. I suppose what I'm trying to get at is, part of the hobby should be passing the experience, fellowship, and enjoyment of restoration. It might be faster to do most jobs alone, but it's enjoyable to have some like minded buddies over to drink your beer and watch you work. I hear discussions about "who is going to want my collection" but not so much about how to actually get young folks involved in restoration. Heck, I'm already hooked, and have been for years. But I don't want to be the only one at car shows in 50 years. One may be good at just figuring out how to put parts together, but that still leaves machine work, body work and upholstery, and understanding the history. I love Ramblers, but I don't have memory of ever shopping at an AMC dealer. My folks bought a new Chevy Celebrity wagon in '88. That's my first new car experience and I was five. The personal experiences aren't well documented in history books but are part of the hobby worth preserving. YouTube is awesome for "how to". You can watch just about any process, but there is no fellowship there. I've hung out at shops before and learned much, but enjoyed the friendships even more. It would seem it's an opportunity to expand our enjoyment of the hobby beyond the show-field and business meetings. Maybe I'm just being too idealistic.
  10. I'm 31, starting a family, work full time, and I love old cars. Sure I love fast and modified cars, but I'm a also history buff, and nothing makes me happier than seeing an original representation of a historic machine... well maybe restoring one would. I've been stashing parts and cars as good deals have cropped up, and I can fix basic stuff without any issue. I'm probably ahead of the curve, but there is still so much to learn. What would help new guys like me out the most is just being invited to some restoration weekends. Welding some patch panels? Show me how. Laying some paint? Yes please! Stitching some new seat covers, or a convertible top? Bam! I don't have much covered space, but I do have tools. I've come to the realization that a nice restoration outside is better than a collection of parts cars. I can't wait until everything is perfect or else I'll be too old to crawl around on my back and have fun under a car. Is there any efforts to pass on this knowledge many of you have learned? I can only learn so much from a book and don't have restricted scheduled time to take college courses. It'd be awesome if regional clubs put some efforts into workshops to help us new folks out who didn't grow up in a car family. I feel like we could get more young folks involved if we showed them how to get an old project back on the road and gradually get it to standards and enjoy every mile in between. Does that seem like a good idea or is there a better way?
  11. It is possible that FCA has to crush the challenger. Vehicles damaged in transport are often donated to school shops and written off as a loss. I remember seeing one of the last 100 Oldsmobiles (with the last 100 badging and everything) at the local community college in Harrisburg Pa years ago. The rest, is rubbish.
  12. The number of pictures we take at a dealership when "having fun", it's surprising that more mistakes don't get uploaded. I did get to see the original video here, but a number of very reasonable explanations can be thought of. I also find it interesting that folks view dealerships with such distain and high expectations, yet also have a feeling of entitlement to have us make as little money as possible. If everyone was willing to pay MSRP then pay roll would support many more "high class employees". You get what you pay for. You are paying x dollars for the manufacturer and y dollars for the dealership experience. Since it seems so vital to make Y as little as possible, what do you really expect in terms of quality? The direction things are heading I think you'll see it get worse, and it's far more consumer driven than dealership driven IMO. I'd love to provide a personal catered experience for each of my accounts, and I try my best. But, when you have the constant fear that if you don't close the deal right now then they bum down the street will beat you by $50 and get the deal, it's hard to give folks 100%, and less motivating to act professional when you're asked to make a video that will probably not have a direct benefit to you (and you get paid commission so unless you're the one who sells it you just worked for free). Sorry for the soap box, some dealers deserve a bad rap. It truly is a consumer driven experience though.
  13. The reminds me of my 9.5 hour trip from Atlanta to Harrisburg with similar motivation.
  14. Oh, I have some Penn traffic law books from the 1950's I think, and maybe a AAA guide or too. If I can dig them up, they might still reference laws from earlier times. Sorry I don't have much actually from the period, but maybe it would provide some leads to chase down if you're interested.
  15. I'd imagine quite like local police do now. Clock the time it takes a vehicle to travel a known distance. I have a book, I think from 1958, called "sportsman like driving" which has some sections in early traffic laws. I'll see if I can find it tonight and see if there is any reference worth while for you.
  16. What would constitute documentation for non-factory authorized regional modifications? Bills of sale from original dealer? Pictures? If it was established that it was indeed done regionally, would an individual be responsible to provide documentation that their specific car had the work done, or is it acceptable to just prove that it was in fact done on some cars, and their car may be one of them? At this time it seems from discussion that it's a known modification by regional dealers, but there is no AMC documentation. From AMC perspective it is a 440H. I don't know if enough documentation exist to support the car or not, just curious what would be required in order to seek it out, or discredit it. Perhaps best posed to a Rambler specific forum, but for here, I'm just trying to determine how we would judge such a vehicle. If things are as they seem, it would be a shame to suggest people restore back to factory conditions and risk destroying part of regional automobile history. Perhaps best comparable to a Royal Bobcat Pontiac on a regional level? I'm too new to all this to have experience on how AACA views such cars. Thanks for all the input, it helps!
  17. I would tend to agree when it's just a rogue dealer (edited to add pun), but in this particular case it seems like it was a regional push that several dealership in the northwest in multiple states did. It wasn't top down but rather a regional grass roots effort. So seemingly a gray area.
  18. I saw a fellow picked up a 1965 Rambler Rogue, only they didn't start making the Rogue until 1966. From general discussion I'd read there are several such cars in existence and they started as 440H cars which dealers added the later Rogue badging in order to move old inventory. This wasn't factory authorized, but would we mark it wrong? On either, how does AACA handle rolling changes where dealership would add updated hardware to a car to help it compete with recent (same or next year) factory offerings. These changes don't have factory documentation, but it was fairly common industry practice, and does represent preservation of a trend the mission statement of judging seems to defend.
  19. I just run out of money, space, and time and haven't ever had all of them long enough to worry about ambition. Windows can help, but you could also consider better lighting. Florescents aren't fun for anyone. Clean, organized, and warm workspaces help too. Maybe learn to do something you typically farm out to other folks? Radio, upholstery, etc, as that can be new, and you get an excuse to buy new tools!
  20. I'd say you'd be good. Although I'm not sure where to find a list of "Recognized body builder", or if that just means recognized via provided documentation. Page 18, non-authentic bodies b. Exceptions: 1. Precise identical duplication of a complete body or any part of the vehicle’s original body, as fitted to the chassis of the original vehicle when purchased new by the original owner is acceptable provided such duplication is reasonably required by the absence, destruction, or deterioration beyond repair. This would also include the duplication of a “First” body, supplied by a recognized outside source to a vehicle that was originally offered as “Chassis only”. Such an example would be the Commercial and Station Wagon bodies mounted on the Ford Model T Chassis. 2. A vehicle re-bodied by a recognized body builder during the era contemporary with the period that the vehicle was originally manufactured. (Example: Classic cars re-bodied during the Classic era by a recognized body builder.) c. The burden of proof as to the accurate representation of a vehicle is the sole responsibility of the owner.
  21. I'm very new to judging (Hershey was my first). It's daunting to judge a vehicle as original when you aren't too familiar with it. Judges are able to request specific categories to judge, but if there are limited numbers for some classes then it's best judgement. We learn in judging school not to deduct without knowing it's wrong. We can have a captain ask the owner, but then it's mostly honor program/ best intentions/ good documentation. If you find yourself an expert then I would suggest you judging a section that you don't have your own car entered in, the entire club benefits from better judges and history is better preserved. There are continuing training classes, but subject matter experts on specific makes can be hard to find when it comes to volunteering time.
  22. Do a little research on bringing an old motor back up to life. There is a good chance it will be fine, and a running car will nearly always be worth $500 more than a non-runner. If you do get it running don't get too ambitious with moving it around a whole lot, the brake lines may well be shot with a hard stop if they stop at all. E-brake could be gone too. Making sure the rodents are not still living in the car is the first step for cleaning. Remove as much nesting material as you can without causing further damage. The better condition the car is the more you'll want to clean it. Not that you want to misrepresent things, but if the car is a heap then it will show anyway and you won't gain much by having clean rust. But if the body and interior hard bits are in nice shape then hand washing may remove doubt and show off the cars better assets. The more information you have the better. Any old photos of the car would be welcome to a prospect. Which model Chiefton is it?
  23. http://www.hersheyaaca.org/fm_schedule.html I know the show and judging are Saturday, I was referring to the judging school and CJE which are tomorrow, starting at 2pm.
  24. Tomorrow will be my first taste of judging. I'm excited. Suggestions on where to park, and what time should I be at the Giant Center? I know the class starts at 2pm, but I didn't know if there were good reasons to show up earlier (you know, other than all the cars and parts).
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