oldcar Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 Hello againThe Dixie Flyer went off this morning on the back of a tilt tray truck. Destination Tony Mc Connell's trim shop. Tony is going to fit the seat, trim and make and fit the carpet over the next two or three days. With May just a day or two away depending where you live the pressure is full on! The car is due to be packed for shipping in less than three weeks and still lots to do.Bernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotWheels Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 What a beauty!After checking in a few times per week since you started its really exciting to see the car taking its final form! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 2, 2010 Author Share Posted May 2, 2010 Thank you TomWith luck I should have some even better photographs for you about this time next week.Bernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 3, 2010 Author Share Posted May 3, 2010 Hello againHaving just returned from Sports & Classic Auto Interiors I can report that Tony and assistant Paul Skerrey are working their fingers to the bone to get the interior trim completed. Here we see Tony finishing off the detail trim behind the seat while Paul is busy leather binding the edge of the holes in the carpet for the gear lever and hand brake prior to making boots for both levers.Trim is due to be completed by tomorrow mid-day. Bernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20Premier Posted May 3, 2010 Share Posted May 3, 2010 What type of wood did you use for your floorboards? Solid wood, plywood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 3, 2010 Author Share Posted May 3, 2010 Hello 20PremierWelcome to my post. I have used 12 mm (1/2 inch) structural grade exterior ply, sealed on both sides with 2 coats of clear polyurethane, & properly supported by frame cross members. I have used this for all my restoration floors including my Lagonda Rapier restored almost 30 years ago and travelled (actually driven) some huge distances both in Australia and Europe in all weathers since. I have never had a problem of any sort. Bernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 4, 2010 Author Share Posted May 4, 2010 As promised the Dixie returned home this afternoon and I am busy getting on with the electrical wiring. meanwhile Dave the painter is working away making the hood green and the platers have just about finished with the radiator surround. It too should be ready to collect on thursday then it is full speed ahead.Bernie J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 4, 2010 Share Posted May 4, 2010 Simply beautiful, Bernie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 5, 2010 Author Share Posted May 5, 2010 Thank you West I will have some more for you soon and of course Part 10 of "The Return to Louisville" is in the pipe line. Every day now we are getting closer and closer both to being finished if that is ever possible and to Louisville.Bernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jan arnett (2) Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 I hope you know how to pronounce Louisville. It is not pronounced the way it is spelled. Fantastic job, I can not wait to send the final product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Don't tell me there's going to be a pronunciation police! :mad:I've heard residents say both loo-ee and/or loo-uh. Which do you prefer, and what happens if we say loo-iss. Will we be ostracized and banned from local bars? Or just labeled, "tourist." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 6, 2010 Author Share Posted May 6, 2010 Thanks for the warning! We being Francophiles from way back would have leant towards the French pronunciation but even they have difficulties with whether you use the Parisian or the local acents so what hope do we Aussies have in the US. I even have to keep changing the spelling of words like Colour/color. and Specialised/specialized.Bernie /Bernard...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 Now that we have sorted out the differences in language, it is back to work! Just hang in there I promise to have the photographs that you all have been waiting for within the next two or three days. Believe me no one will be more pleased than me.Bernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 11, 2010 Author Share Posted May 11, 2010 (edited) The British call it "Sod's Law" right now I still cannot believe my luck. Just when I was thinking that I was on top of everything the starter motor decided to quit! Having removed the offending item and made some tests I discovered that one brush retaining spring had broken. Not a lot but just the bit that presses the brush into contact with the commutator. After striping down the starter and removing the offending spring I went into panic mode! Where the heck do you get a spring for a 90 year old Dyneto starter. Most people (unless you own a Franklin or an early Packard) have never even heard of Dyneto Auto- electrics. Somewhere there is a supreme being who is looking down on the Dixie Flyer. My second call was to a local Vintage parts supplier "Auto Surplus". They have been buying up new old stock for the past 50 or 60 years and never throw anything away. In reply to my request the answer came. We have a box of about 200 starter Brush springs, bring over your sample and have a look.Within an hour I was able to re-assemble the starter and after testing it replace it back onto the Dixie Flyer. Edited May 11, 2010 by oldcar (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Isn't that the most satisfying experience in the world!!!??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 15, 2010 Author Share Posted May 15, 2010 :)Night Time photographs are never the best but as I had made a promise I was not about to change a lifetime practice so here are this evenings pic of the Dixie Flyer. I will try for some better ones tomorrow.Bernie J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidAU Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Looks great Bernie. Beautiful job. I hope it runs as good as it looks and your trip to the states goes well.David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unimogjohn Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Wow! Can hardly wait to see it in Louisville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scottyz06 Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Cool !!! Thanks for share'n !!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Beautiful work! That really came together to be a gorgeous little fun buggy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotWheels Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Fabulous...your long hours of work have paid off in spades!Can't wait to see the daytime pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 At last some more Dixie Flyer Photographs. sorry about the old fellow taking up so much camera space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 You put us young guys to shame with how much you completed in such a short period of time, not to mention that in the middle of all this you spent a couple of months in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30 Hupp Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Beautiful car!!! Excellent work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Here is another that somehow got left off yesterday. The car leaves for the US to-day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 WOW Looks great:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotts_DG8 Posted May 21, 2010 Share Posted May 21, 2010 I was being sted fast patience for you to have the time to post proper pictures, not to say that the couple pictures taken in the evening weren't a good begining. To say that it is beautiful is an understatement, it's simply gorgeous. To have the eye, patience and the skill to turn a bit of metal bits into this things that looks oh so ready to motor down the road is just amazing. Just a great job and a great finish. I hope that all goes well on your trip... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 Hello ScottSadly we are not quite ready to motor down the road. At the eleventh hour the Magneto decided to go on strike. Even after four or five hours of frantic checking and rechecking it would provide a spark when on the bench but failed when re-assembled on the engine. I am about to take a spare apart and have its armature re-wound before rebuilding it. I will then bring it with me in my hand luggage and fit it in Louisville. Hopefully I will have two or three days to sort this out after we arrive. Meanwhile the car is on its way. The good people at Kentucky Trailer ( aka Kentucky Wagon Mfg Co) are providing transport from LA to Louisville in one of their "state of the art" Automobile Transport trailers. Bernie j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 The car & its driver looked good in the article in Friday's Melbourne newspaper : the Sun Hearld Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MochetVelo Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Is the Herald Sun article available online? I tried to find it without success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 24, 2010 Author Share Posted May 24, 2010 I believe that it is but you may have to try under "Herald and Weekly Times" either way there is really nothing new in the article.Bernie J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted May 24, 2010 Author Share Posted May 24, 2010 If you cannot find the Herald article attached is a similar photo to the one used plus as a bonus one of self and grandson & ace mechanic OTTO aged 4. This one has to be one of my favourite photos. The third photo shows Helen supervising the loading of the Dixie Flyer into the container for the sea voyage to the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rockpick Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Cannot wait to see the car here in Louisville! Incredible restoration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 Hi Rockpick Not too long to wait now! The Flyer is well on the way arriving in LA on about the June 18. It then travels by road to Louisville. We Leave Australia on the morning of June 23 and arrive in Louisville about 30 hours late at 11.45 PM on the same day. Talk about time travel! Something to do with crossing the International date line. Attached are two photographs of the Dixie Flyer being loaded onto a transport for the journey to the container depot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 I will try again with the photographs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotts_DG8 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Oldcar,You know I am already going through withdrawals. Seeing the last couple pictures you just posted just reminds me, maybe even all of us, just how much skill and determination it took to remake this car and how wonderful it turned out.I can wait while you take a bit of a well deserved break but at the same time look forward to your selection of your next project. Have a safe and enjoyable trip to the states and I'm sure the Flyer will be a big hit in Louisville. Scott... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rockpick Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Hi Rockpick Not too long to wait now! The Flyer is well on the way arriving in LA on about the June 18. It then travels by road to Louisville. We Leave Australia on the morning of June 23 and arrive in Louisville about 30 hours late at 11.45 PM on the same day. Talk about time travel! Something to do with crossing the International date line. Attached are two photographs of the Dixie Flyer being loaded onto a transport for the journey to the container depot.Travel safe! Look forward to seeing you on this side of the pond... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcar Posted June 19, 2010 Author Share Posted June 19, 2010 The count down has begun. By my calculations the Dixie Flyer should now be on American soil. It will still have to clear the US Customs and then be transported to Louisville. We depart Melbourne Victoria Australia 11.00 AM Wednesday June 23 and arrive In Louisville Kentucky USA 11.45 PM Wednesday June 23 after traveling for around 30 hours.WowBernie j. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scottyz06 Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 Have a safe journey across our beautiful country .... Luv'n your "Dixie Flyer" !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unimogjohn Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 We saw Bernie and the Dixie Flyer at Louisville. Here are the pics we took. The Firefly was a great hit and always had lots of folks looking at the car and talking to Bernie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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