trimacar

I'd say go for it, the Rolling Stones say "Paint it Black..." Sorry, stuck in California on business and feeling silly...

I must say that's a neat concept. Never thought of that at Hershey, but it may have a place. I admire the originality. The problem is going to be the negotiating and logistics. "OK, I'll take the head at seventy-eleven dollars, but first I need to carry it to the Gosh Darn Digit space 31 to have it checked out...." Interesting....

Interesting question, but I think you're overthinking the whole thing. If you didn't KNOW about dielectric grease, would the question even be asked? When the car was built, no way they used dielectric grease. Clean the terminals and install per original. And, of course, it's fun just to say dielectric. Rolls off the tongue....

Mark, you are correct on a few levels. In fact, the '32 Pierce club brougham was made in large numbers, and a corresponding large number of them survive. It's a beautiful body style, a two door close coupled sedan, and for sure one of the nicest "production" closed bodies of the early 30's. The President is much more rare, if that's correct English (I know, it's either rare or not, something can't be more rare), and this one is beautifully understated, as stated before......

And, people talk about "the Model T". Henry Ford never put "the" in front of it, it was called Model T. Period writing called it Model T. So, "The Model T put America on wheels" is not correct. "Model T put America on wheels" is correct. Just had to post that, think I have before.....

One beautiful car, and the kinship with the Pierce Arrow's of the era is evident. Studebaker owned Pierce at this period of history, and there's always debate about which engineers were working on what.....let's say that a Studebaker head will fit on a Pierce engine (even if cosmetically slightly different), and it wasn't a bad marriage of marques..... Although the price may seem steep, for a car of this calibre, quality, rarity, and acceptance into numerous clubs, not so much..... Am sure it'll find a good home, now if I can just wipe this drool off my computer....

Reminds me of an older gentleman who'd passed away, and I was visiting the widow (through a mutual friend) to see what it would take to purchase a car she had. Asked if there were any spare parts that went with the car. "Oh no," she stated, "my husband didn't believe in spare parts, he just fixed whatever broke and went on...." I've done it that way too, toured with no parts, but a set of points or a fuel pump in the trunk doesn't take up much room, and can mean the difference between a cool beer by the pool, or stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck......

Wow, a barrel hood Franklin.......no, wait, that's a REAL barrel....looks like a nineteen-seventyeleven Whatsit to me.....

Remember the basics. Two things make your car go, gasoline supply and electrical spark. Screwdriver and a file or sandpaper for points. Extra coil. Make sure generator is A1 condition. Spare belt to keep it genning. That should cover electrical. If fuel filter on car, have a spare. A spare carb kit is handy, I've taken a carb apart on a tour and sure wish I'd had some spare gaskets. Spare fuel pump is nice. There's your gas. Big stuff, bearings, etc. leave at home, and get it towed home or fixed on road if an issue, 140 miles isn't far, and as so truthfully mentioned, no matter how much you take (short of a spare chassis towed behind car), you won't have what you need....

How do you keep plexiglass from cracking and crazing? It's amazing that it appears to be in such excellent condition. A bargain for a well-funded museum, wonder who bought it.....

OK full circle John. I was asking this question for Greg and his Dodge Brothers touring. I'll tell him. thanks. dc

I agree, there was a lot of work that was done on the sheet metal to make it look like this, there was an experienced body man involved. I'm not crazy about the car, but you have to admire the time and the overall concept, and the fact that it has fairly good lines. Many times neither the concept nor the execution match the outcome....but this is a reasonably pleasant design............ Neat find, congrats.....

OK thanks, will do.....

One thing not mentioned about Ethanol in gasoline..... The Ethanol is added to the trucks that deliver the gasoline, NOT in the pipeline. Thus, they are relying on the truck sloshing, and adding the gas to the underground tank, to mix Ethanol and gasoline. You may get more or less than 10%, depending on the mix while traveling and unloading, with short runs to a service station from oil jobber being the most likely to have uneven mix....

Hi- looking to have some original style serge binding done on a 20's automobile carpet, this is where thread is sewn back and forth with a special machine to bind carpet. Anyone know who does this, where you can send cut carpet and have bound? thanks

I once drove my 1910 Hupmobile runabout to work. I had the windshield off the car, and no top, and of course the car was made without doors. My secretary at the time walked out, took one look, and said "David, it's a shame you can't afford a whole car!'................... It's almost finished, upholstery done since this picture....

Hi- Actually, a wire wheel doesn't go into compression, as you mention. The support for carrying the weight of the car comes from the spokes above the hub, thus the car is suspended from those spokes, and those upper spokes are in tension. A wooden spoke wheel is just the opposite, with the spokes above the hub (as a car sits on wheels) doing nothing but keeping the rim in place, while the lower spokes, in compression, support the car. Your questions are interesting, though. Wire wheels developed from the knowledge gained of building bicycle spoke wheels in the late 1800's, with adjustments for weight to be supported. Let's see if a wire wheel expert is out there!

Fellow in Auburn California makes them, may be pricey, I don't know, but gotta be cheaper than searching forever. Search google for John's top irons. Or go to Top Sockets & Top Bows for Antique Cars by John's Enterprises Don't know his prices, but when it was run by previous owner they were very reasonable....

These are great sets, the problem is that you need to find someone close to you, as shipping the set is very expensive. Where are you located? Selling the set might not bring you as much total dollars, but it will not bring you the pain of selling piece by piece. Ah, family planning for the family treasures. Or scam. Who knows these days? Good luck if family....

Why don't you take dimensions and contact Snyder's, the Model T people? They are very good at making new spring sets to your dimensions, they have the springs, edgewire, connectors et al to do a great job, very reasonable.

Just tell them thanks for the offer, you appreciate that THEY appreciate the car and what it is, but it's just not for sale. I had a friend offer me a very good price for one of my cars, I believe more than I had it insured for....and I told him no....simply because that particular car is my favorite, I have a long history with it, and it's just not for sale as long as I either don't need the money to live, or my birth certificate becomes worthless (my brother tactfully calls it "being room temperature...")

The film that Marty mentions was a flop from a distribution standpoint, although at the time it had a very talented cast. Filming is slow, tedious work, however. We'd set the old cars up for a scene, then (as extras) take our place. This was in New Orleans, and the extras were walking or riding bicycles, all period correct to 1912 or so. I still remember being amazed at one bicycle the production company had found, it was a tandem bike, side by side......never seen one since. So, you'd set up, they'd shoot a scene, and you'd stand around for 2 or 3 hours while they set up for either another shoot of the same scene, or a different scene. I walked up to Jack Warden and we chatted. "Is movie making always this slow"? I asked...he replied "Yes, usually it is, but it has its moments!!" The glamor of a movie star is definitely not when working........ Not long ago, I was asked to have one of my cars in a movie, as the prime car for the lead person. This movie, too, was a flop, "Loss of a Teardrop Diamond". They wanted my Pierce, and offered big money (15K) if I'd bring it down to Louisisana for 3 to4 weeks of shooting. This wasn't practical with my job, but one comment from them would have killed it anyway. 'We'll have to weld brackets to the frame of the car, so we can mount a camera for side shots"........that wasn't going to happen. As Marty stated, unless it's a non-profit, you should get a few hundred a day minimum, and also get paid and fed as an extra. Remember too that once you accept the first dollar for use of your old car in any event, in all probability your insurance coverage instantly becomes null and void. If you decide to do any movie, stay with your car....you're the only one on the set who cares about it........ It is fun, though, and you'll have a lifetime of memories and bragging rights, if it's a good movie and you're treated correctly.

What a bargain, sure price will go up with bidding but a nice looking little car for short money! Sure are lots of good cars in California.....

Reminds me of a mid-50's Cadillac that was in a local show, belongs to a local AACA member. Very nice original car, just the right amount of patina. Walked around to the front of the car, and the front bumper and grill were new chrome. Also, the valve covers (on an otherwise untouched engine) had been removed and newly painted. To me, the car had gone from a very nice survivor to a partially restored car. I know that sounds extreme, but once you restore one thing on a car there's no stopping point.

I think you'd be pleased with both cost and quality. Give him a call, that's free. A new correct set will also save time in putting a top on. I've spent as much as 8 hours getting old, bent, irons to line up correctly, before even STARTING to put the top on.....