Guest James Scott Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 So I have been a casual classic car guy doing the odd buy and sell over the past 25 years. I have always had what I consider a dream of mine that I have wanted to accomplish. This would be to find a barn/garage find and that happened this last week. I found out about this one being for sale from a local add that simply had a picture of the front grill. While I have never owned a car of this vintage, as soon as I saw the picture of the grill I knew I had to at least get over to look at it as soon as possible. Quite simply if this was any indication of what the car looked like I needed to take a closer look. I have had cars from the 50's through to the 70's but never one this old. Got a response to the email and made arrangements to meet with the guy at 730 am the next morning. I honestly could not believe my eyes when I got a look at the car. He picked it up in 1998 from the original owner and it became a one day car for him. Well the years had come and gone and his one day never came. As he works a strange schedule he had not been able to connect with the many people who tried to have a look at it. I cut a deal with him on the spot and made arrangements for pick up on Aug 2. I have never seen such an intact car this old. Other than the interior that was redone some time in the past this car is 98% complete. It is only missing the front icicle turn lamps, the turn signal chrome pieces on the back, the liscence plate mount and the badging on the trunk. Even crazier is that this car is pretty much rust free. I have so many ideas on what can be done with this car that range from modernizing the drive train and suspension to keeping it bone stock and rebuilding the engine. I have also toyed with the idea of selling it but have not reached that point yet because it is not everyday that you realize a dream of finding something like this. Here is a string of pictures of the car that I have thus far. I honestly feel like a kid in a candy store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest James Scott Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 I forgot to mention the guy had a stack of boxes filled with liscence plates from so many years he must have had at least 3000 of them. Here where I live you can actually register your car with a period correct plate for the year if you have one. So the car comes with a plate from 1941. And to the side are 4 brand new tires with tubes that have never been used so Barnfind Betty will look just spiffy with a set of rubber that is period correct and on rims from 1941. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 (edited) I suggest you start by carefully washing the car and cleaning the interior. As you do so, have a box and set aside any loose parts you find even if you don't think they belong to the car. That odd bit of metal or rubber will turn out to be some irreplaceable part. You can throw out the dried up ballpoint pens and cigarette packs lol. As you go along, have a clipboard and make a list of all the repairs it needs. Next comes getting the car running. I have revived many old cars that have been off the road for up to 30 years and have only been stymied once. 9 chances out of 10, that car will start and run. DO NOT start tearing things apart and replacing parts. My method is to change as little as possible until I have a chance to diagnose and see what it needs. Otherwise you get everything messed up and you don't know why it won't run. It is possible to start from scratch and check EVERYTHING but it is a lot easier not to tear things up in the first place. I won't go into detail at this time because I don't know your mechanical ability or experience, whether you have tools and whether you should tackle a job like that. I suggest if you are a beginner not to try to get it going yourself, it is too easy to mess things up and some parts are hard to get. You have a real nice car there and it should be possible to put it back in commission with a little work. DO NOT plan on changing engine, trans, etc it is not necessary. Go over it carefully and figure out what it needs then ask yourself if you want to commit to that amount of work and expense. If the answer is no, don't waste your money. Sell the car to someone who can do it justice. If the answer is yes, then it will be time to map out a plan to do the work in a systematic way. Edited July 10, 2016 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Great find! First of all, are the "4 brand new tires with tubes" actually new or are they New Old Stock (NOS). If NOS, they could be rotten and unsafe to put on the road, especially, if they are the old nylon bias ply types. As to the car itself, I'd clean it up and get it running and enjoy it for a bit, then decide what to do with it. It looks like the interior is not original. Is that correct? The car looks great, and my vote would be to leave it as original as possible. As to the license plates, try to buy them and put them up for sale on the AACA "For Sale" site. There are a lot of guys who would like to have a plate matching the year of their car, even if it went on the front of the car as decoration and not on the back as an actual license plate. By all means, save them from the scrap heap. Envious, I am, Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 ++ What Rusty said. Cheers, Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Here is an easy way to wash a car in the garage without making a mess. First blow off loose dirt with an air hose or gently brush with a dust mop or soft brush, something that won't scratch or rub in the dirt. For the next step you need some car wash soap, a large spray bottle, a couple of old towels and a 5 gallon pail of warm water. Fill the spray bottle with water and a few drops of soap. Soak the car one panel at a time and let it soak in. Then soak a towel in water, fold it to a convenient size and wipe off the well soaked dirt. Keep turning the towel over to a fresh surface. Be careful to go easy and not grind the dirt into the paint. You can wash the whole car this way and hardly get a drop of water on the floor. Once you get it clean some old sheets or a cheap car cover will keep it that way. For the inside you can sweep and vacuum but be careful. Any sign of mouse or rat droppings may indicate Hanta virus. Do not vacuum, the vacuum spreads the virus into the air. Spray the droppings with disinfectant and sweep up or pick up with paper towels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Check the date on the tires. If they are over 5 years old they may not be safe to use. They would be good enough to move the car around on but not safe to drive at speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akstraw Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 It is a beautiful car. I think I would have been taken by the first photo of the grill as well. Most on this forum would favor keeping the original driveline, etc.. Good luck, whatever you decide. I enjoyed your story and photos. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickelroadster Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 First year automatic. Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest James Scott Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 (edited) I plan to do a documentation of it from picking it up on Aug 2 and thereon forward. My life of old cars started with a 65 Falcon and went in this order. 79 Grand Prix, 75 Cutlass, 59 AMC Coupe, 53 Dodge Regent, 69 Datsun Fairlady 70 Monte Carlo, 66 Riviera GS (1 of 179), 57 Pontiac Laurentian, 58 Pontiac Pathfinder. I kept my 66 Renault Caravelle and am debating a franken build on it or to put it back together as it came. While I am not a master mechanic by any means, I can turn a wrench. What I like about the engine that is in this car is that it is a pretty straightforward one Most definitely looking to pick up some advice for other car guys along the way for sure. And THANKS TO THIS FORUM I have already found a clock for the interior. Edited July 10, 2016 by James Scott (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 A shop manual would help you out out many ways.. The interior and paint looks like a 70s/80's make over, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 First thing I would do is join the Oldsmobile Club. Look here: http://www.oldsmobileclub.org/ Then as noted above buy a service manual. I would vote to fix the car up as original. You have some very good advice to just clean it up, drive it and enjoy it. It would be the least expensive and least amount of work with the biggest pay back in enjoyment. After you have it running safe then drive it like you stole it and enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy. You will really have the opportunity to experience the car in the time it was made especially if you travel the back roads. It will transport you back in time. If you join your local club you should be able start touring with the car and you will get a lot more very helpful people. Also by not trying to modernize it you will be able to look in any parts book and find the correct parts from the factory for your car. Just IMO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest James Scott Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 4 hours ago, 28 Chrysler said: A shop manual would help you out out many ways.. The interior and paint looks like a 70s/80's make over, The interior no doubt someone loved blue velvet I wonder if they liked Bobby Vinton The Paint however from the going over I gave the car, if it is a repaint they must have paid a really big buck doing it because there is no evidence on the car of what the original paint was if this is not the original. All the places I looked showed me indicators of it being original paint. I totally do NOT dig the interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest James Scott Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 2 hours ago, Larry Schramm said: First thing I would do is join the Oldsmobile Club. Look here: http://www.oldsmobileclub.org/ Then as noted above buy a service manual. I would vote to fix the car up as original. You have some very good advice to just clean it up, drive it and enjoy it. It would be the least expensive and least amount of work with the biggest pay back in enjoyment. After you have it running safe then drive it like you stole it and enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy. You will really have the opportunity to experience the car in the time it was made especially if you travel the back roads. It will transport you back in time. If you join your local club you should be able start touring with the car and you will get a lot more very helpful people. Also by not trying to modernize it you will be able to look in any parts book and find the correct parts from the factory for your car. Just IMO Funny you should mention OCA that is one of the first fb groups I joined after getting the car bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarredKnightfan Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 So much potential.....wow. Nice find, congratulations! EVENT http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2016/06/21/tuesday-trip-66/ pigValve.paceMaker.cowValve | 1979 Caprice Classic (needs new owner) "I'm taking a chance" __ Lifehouse __ 'First Time' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted July 10, 2016 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Wow! What a find! Enjoy every step of the ride Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest James Scott Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 46 minutes ago, ScarredKnightfan said: So much potential.....wow. Nice find, congratulations! EVENT http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2016/06/21/tuesday-trip-66/ pigValve.paceMaker.cowValve | 1979 Caprice Classic (needs new owner) "I'm taking a chance" __ Lifehouse __ 'First Time' Funny thing you should have a route 66 link. One other thing on my bucket list is to drive a classic the entire Route 66. I am really tempted to get this car done up to road worthy state and make the journey . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 My wife and I have a VW Westfalia camper and our plan some day is to traverse what is left of the old highway. I have been on pieces of it in different states and what left is still very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarredKnightfan Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 On July 10, 2016 at 7:12 PM, James Scott said: Funny thing you should have a route 66 link. One other thing on my bucket list is to drive a classic the entire Route 66. I am really tempted to get this car done up to road worthy state and make the journey . I HIGHLY (bold, italic, emphasis!) recommend it. LOTS of old road left to travel & the people make it even better. I did the route in 2009, & sadly, some of the better people I met are no longer with us. BUT, if you're interested ... here are my pics from that journey: 09/2009, SOUTHWEST: DeKalb IL (LH) to Pontiac IL (Rt 66) to Springfield IL:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY1#slideshow/5427141662526110530 Springfield IL to St Louis MO:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY2#slideshow/5427153871443919250 Stanton MO to Joplin MO:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY3#slideshow/5427439268824317586 Joplin MO to Tulsa OK:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY4#slideshow/5427862154662426722 Tulsa OK to Clinton OK:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY5#slideshow/5428251162202783314 Clinton OK to Amarillo TX:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY6#slideshow/5428260359643080226 Amarillo TX to Moriarty NM:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY7#slideshow/5428654625398731538 Moriarty NM to Holbrook AZ:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY8#slideshow/5428980552494890642 Holbrook AZ to Williams AZ:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY9#slideshow/5429002721353620370 Williams AZ to Kingman AZ:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY10#slideshow/5429395440355434498 Kingman AZ to Barstow CA:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY11#slideshow/5430380559414678786 Barstow CA to Rialto/San Bernardino CA:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY12#slideshow/5431220758934833330 Rialto/San Bernardino CA to Albuquerque NM:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY13#slideshow/5431255586450476482 Albuquerque NM (Rt 66) to Kearney NE (LH)...:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY14#slideshow/5431261135177047330 Kearney NE (LH) to Elgin IL:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/RT66TRIPDAY15#slideshow/5431272549764120818 11/2009, SOUTH:http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917/DriveSouthTNAL112709112909#slideshow/5431282615925577026 2-DAY EVENT S Elgin IL, with restaurant & hotel discounts:http://www.oldcarsstronghearts.com/2016/07/12/tuesday-trip-69/ "We'll keep you close as always" __ Michael W Smith __ 'Friends' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Maine Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 Route 66 is on my bucket list as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Rt 66 is part of my dream to see the USA...slowly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 Congratulations on your great find James! I have always been interested in the 1940-41 Olds as the headlamp placement and front end appearance is very distinctive. You should take a look at www.fusickautomotiveproducts.com for a parts catalog, good luck, Todd C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave B. Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 I've always had a soft spot for '41 Oldsmobiles and yours looks to be a really solid barn find! Congratulations!! And, I hope you keep this thread alive with updates on your experiences with Betty. Not of any real help or importance, but I thought you might get a smile out of this photo... It's my late uncle, Glenn Webb, leaning on the fender of his brand new 1941 Olds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 ^^^^^^And a spanking new Barney Fife suit to go along with the new wheels^^^^^^^ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 There are good chances that the original interior is under that blue stuff. I bet regardless of condition it will look better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Henderson Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) 4 hours ago, Dave B. said: I've always had a soft spot for '41 Oldsmobiles and yours looks to be a really solid barn find! Congratulations!! And, I hope you keep this thread alive with updates on your experiences with Betty. Not of any real help or importance, but I thought you might get a smile out of this photo... It's my late uncle, Glenn Webb, leaning on the fender of his brand new 1941 Olds. That is a '41 that uncle Glen is leaning on, but it's a Pontiac. Edited July 19, 2016 by Dave Henderson correction (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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