Charlie Olson

I am very very thankful that I wasn't injured in my car wreck, on 9/16, and am happy to report that my 1946 Plymouth Woodie car, PLYWOOD, is now 90% restored, from the crash, and that I shall be driving it soon. I just got back from checking on the progress and on my way home, I stopped by the United Food Bank and gave them a check because I am sincerely grateful for everything. In the near future, I'll have repair/restoration photos to share. I am improving PLYWOOD with rechromed bumpers, a new trunk handle, very nice driver taillights with NOS Blue Dot lenses and stainless steel rear fender gravel guards; which will make PLYWOOD a better car than it was before the wreck. Driving these old vehicles thankfully is another way to receive God's gifts to our humble lives. Amen and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I do not know anything about this car or owner; just FYI. If I had the money, I would definitely go take a peek at this one. Charlie, almost driving that PLYWOOD http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/2065996553.html

I think I might go up to the garage on Friday and take a few as is photos. Good idea, Tom

Yahoo!!!! Yesterday, Art drove PLYWOOD two blocks to a local, good paint and body shop, to get an estimate to repaint and blend the front clip; so as to match the lovely old patina on the rest of the body. It was a site to see; no headlights, grill and hood trim, front bumper or big fat Yankee Clipper Fog Lights. She ran as good as ever, purred like a kitten and got a few horn honks and thumbs up. I delivered the long time, secretly hidden "blue dot" original taillight lens, along with the more pretty, old taillights, to Art, as well. On a sad note, we realized that the 1949 rippled front and back bumpers simply just won't fit; too narrow and the bolt holes don't line up; so rechrome for the front bumper and maybe replace the gnarly back bumper some day. So, if somebody wants to buy a nice set of 1949 rippled Plymouth bumpers. let me know. One thing we discovered is that the steering column shaft had been pushed right through the steering box upon impact; so now we have a totally rebuilt steering box. No wonder my arms and shoulders hurt, after the wreck, because I was holding on to the wheel so tightly. The good news is that PLYWOOD is back on the road, even if a little unfinished and dusty.

My sincerest best wishes to all Veterans and a big Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corp. Our country is becoming way more patriotic and appreciative about the sacrifices and courage of those who served and it is good to see. Charlie Olson US56386295 US ARMY Medic

I really like those 49 bumpers. I may have a set to put on PLYWOOD, as we move forward to repair it.

Hi All, just a little update on repairing PLYWOOD. My friend/mechanic Art found a very nice set of 1949 Plymouth, front/back bumpers; which we are going to put on PLYWOOD. I also have a nicer pair of driver taillights to put on it and I have been holding onto an original, still in their NOS boxes, Blue Dot Lynx Lenses, which we'll be installing. I am also installing a NOS, still in it's oil paper box, trunk handle. lastly, we'll also be using the very nice rear fender stainless gravel guards from the donor car.

Here is my 46 PLYWOOD; soon to be "on the road again".

My mechanic/auto repair friend Art, found this complete 1946 P15 parts car; which has virtually everything I need, on it, to finally restore PLYWOOD. I went up, to the garage in PHX, to see it today and was really excited to see how many items are in such good shape. On the way home, I stopped at my local grocery store to buy some stuff and paid with a $10 bill I had in my pocket. The gal at the register asked me if I really wanted to give it to the store, since it seems like a really old bill, but in very good shape. I looked at it and realized I had a 1950 Series C $10 bill, in very good condition. I can't remember where I got it, but it was sometime yesterday. I exchanged that $10 bill a new one and looked on Ebay for similar $10 bills and found out that they range from $15 to $65, depending on condition. I am going to put it in PLYWOOD's glove compartment for an additional good luck charm. Anyway, here is a link to the ad with the parts car, here in PHX. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/2014114167.html

I pretty much thought I was all done with old cars and trucks, when, in 2003, I was surfing the web and came to a site called the North West Classic Auto Mall. I was scrolling through their photo ads when I discovered a 1946 P15 four door sedan that a "tinker man" had made into a 1946 Nash Suburban 'wannabe'. I contacted him and when I heard his story about how he had designed and fabricated the car, I just had to have it; mainly because it was the least expensive "woodie type" car I would ever find. I have been a Furd/Chebbie guy all of my post 14 years of life and once I obtained the lowly Plymouth, I soon realized it was probably the most fun/unusual/attention getting car I have ever had. Since 2003, PLYWOOD and I have had many amazing experiences. The car has been published twice in the National Woodie Club, WOODIE TIMES, including this month's (11/2010) issue, which is about my Route 66 Fun Run and an epilogue about the famous crash in CA, on 9/16; and once in the POC The Bulletin, the same month as Young Ed's wedding article. I am not personally aware of any Woodie in the entire world that has been in a featured article, in the Woodie Times, more than once. PLYWOOD is the most fun, all around, vehicle I have ever owned, simply because it is such an unapologetic, humble realization of some one's Woodie creative dreams. My two Ferraris, my six Chevies and my four Fords never received the attention, thumbs up, horn honks and friendly conversations that PLYWOOD has. That is my story...............

Found an exact picture of my new old Bunsen Auto Motor Heater: http://www.lampguild.org/QandApage/archives/Q0002445.htm

These cold weather photos make me real happy I now have an old, new Bunsen Auto Motor Heater, for when the cold weather gets here, to Arizona. This is exact picture of the heater I received, as a gift: http://www.lampguild.org/QandApage/archives/Q0002445.htm Now, where is that Kerosene????

Thanks, Randy, upon further investigation, I believe this particular "auto motor heater" is actually from the 1910's - 1930's time span because it was made by the original Bunsen Company and labeled as such.

Today, at my Senior's Social Club, weekly breakfast meeting, I was approached by a nice, friendly lady, Gloria, who asked me if I would like something old, for my PLYWOOD, and not be offended because it was a used item. I assured her that I would not be offended, so after breakfast, we went out to her car and she gave me one of these: http://www.endtimesreport.com/Auto_Motor_Heater_Instructions.html I can hardly wait for it to get down to freezing temperatures, here in AZ, so I can use my new, old motor heater. I axted her why she decided to give me this antique and she said it was because I provided PLYWOOD as a prop during the car show fund raiser, for the AZ Humane Society. She was given the heater, 40 years ago, by her Grandmother, and had forgotten she even had it, until she participated with my senior's group at the car show. A very nice surprise to start the week with a big smile on my face.

WOW!!! I Google Yankee Clipper, SEMA APPROVED FOG LIGHT and found one at a polace called Dons Bulbs. Evidently he handles all sorts of oldie type illumination stuff and just happens to have one used exact match of my remaining good fog light. There is Plymouth God, after all!!

Hi All, well, PLYWOOD was finally delivered back to it's PHX home today. I removed the good remaining fog light, in hopes of finding a duplicate;before having to buy another pair of fog lights. The curved Amber lens is approximately 5 3/4 inches in diameter. Raised lettering across the top of the lens reads MADE IN USA; just below that it reads TOP. In the very middle of the lens, there is a "W". At the bottom of the lens it reads FOG. On the upper right corner of the lens it reads, vertically: M F 1 9 On the top of the metal body/bowl it reads: YANKEE CLIPPER SEMA APPROVED Does any one have any ideas, as to where I might start looking? Thanks! Charlie, repairing that PLYWOOD

Excellent, my insurance company has finally officially let me know that they will pay to repair/restore PLYWOOD. My ol Woodie Sedan will be back in PHX, Thursday, October 7th.

HHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMM, maybe we should get some wood put on that nice P15................

Well, today, I drove down to Desert Valley Auto Parts, in Casa Grande, AZ; to see if they had any P15 Plymouths in their yard, for possible parts. When I got there, they told me they had a mostly complete P15 four door being sent to them, with in a few weeks. They showed me pictures of the car and it has everything I need to repair PLYWOOD. I am including the link, in case, any of you need parts from a fairly complete, rust free (mostly) P15. Seeing the photos of this car really made my day. Let me know if you need anything, from this car. http://www.dvap.com/parts/display/6680 Charlie

Thanks dezeldoc, for checking on that fog light (amber). I am still waiting to hear from my insurance company (Grundy via Philadelphia companies), as to what they will do for me. The at fault driver has no auto insurance, nor does her mother who owns the wrecking vehicle; the girl driver also didn't even have her driver's license with her and just lost her job. My insurance said they will go after the driver and the owner to recover their costs in paying me, whatever that amount will be. Thanks for all of the good wishes. I am deeply grateful not to have any injuries or pain. Charlie

I have no pictures of that loser girl's big, speeding white F*****g Expedition, which ran a stop sign and hit another lady's car first and then crumpled PLYWOOD. I was too busy making sure I wasn't unknowingly injured and trying to make a clear headed statement to the CHP. I do know that the CHP impounded their vehicle because they had no insurance and the idiot girl didn't even have her driver's license, with her. I am guessing their vehicle was "totaled" because both sides were smashed. I expect my insurance company will play real "hard ball" with the guilty parties. The before "crash" photo is from May 2, 2010, to show the difference and the goal to make PLYWOOD whole again. Anybody ever seen these type of 'fog lights' anywhere? I need one. Charlie in Hot-Azona

Here are a few pics, of the damage to PLYWOOD's front end, drivers side. So far I have been given a stock 15" rim, bought a matching red painted, hub cap, found a donor car, at Hidden Valley Auto Salvage, which has a perfect front left fender and inner fender, headlight, some grill pieces and all suspension/steering components. Put nice head light covers, left front fender trim piece, small grill bars, one bumper and a front splash apron on "watch".

Thanks, Every Body, for your kind words and encouragement. Yep! Not getting hurt was a major blessing. I have already bought a replacement hubcap on Ebay ( # 300470275794 ), that matches the remaining three, as to condition and appearance. I am looking forward to seeing what the insurance people will be offering/suggesting. Drive defensively, All. Thanks again. Yeah, Tod, that Route 238 is real pleasant to drive; lots of nice curves and dips; if you have time, and are traveling through M - Sat, you might stop in at those huge "junk yards". Charlie

I decided to drive PLYWOOD to this year's Annual WaveCrest Woodie Meet, at Encinitas, CA., this past weekend. I left home at 4 AM to avoid the heat ( Thursday, 9/16 ); although I did have to keep adding fluid to the radaitor, during the big hills, in eastern CA. I stopped in Alpine, CA, to gas up, buy some more coolant and stretch my legs, after eight hours of driving. Twelve minutes after I had filled up the tank, I was leisurely driving on an adjacent to the freeway surface road; when I came to a three way, all stop, intersection. I was heading West, facing up a hill and waiting my turn, after a lady was finished making a legal left turn, to be headed up the same hill, in the same direction I was heading. All of a sudden we all see a large White Ford Expedition coming down the hill, heading East, and speeding. The 19 year old driver of the Expedition did not slow down, for their stop sign; instead, the driving was honking her horn at the lady who was making the legal left turn in front of her. The Expedition hit the front, left quarter of the left turning ladie's mini van and then bounced right over to PLYWOOD and struck PLYWOOD at a side swiping angle. The Expedition driver did not have her license with her, did not have insurance, had just lost her job and she and her Mother, who was her passenger were facing eviction from their home. These two gal's lives were a real mess and now it had all just gotten worse for them. PLYWOOD's engine was still running, so I turned it off, tried to exit the driver's door, but could not open it. I am happy to report that I have no injuries, cuts, bruises or real pain; just some mild soreness and stiffness in my arms and shoulders. Without a more thorough appraisal of the damage to PLYWOOD, I can report that the left front fender is toast, the left front grill area is toast, the bumper is toast, the rim is really bent up and I am not sure about any of the steering, suspension or other front end concerns, yet. None of the wood was damaged and with a little prying of the jammed fender, the drivers door works normally. Grundy's Ins, has the Philadelphia Company assisting me and their appraisers will view the car tomorrow, in Santee, CA. I did manage to rent a car and attended the three day Woodie meet, where I was awarded this year's HARD LUCK STORY AWARD; a very nice $150 Vinyl Banner of this year's WaveCrest poster. Jeff Olson, a Woodie guy from Encinitas, gave me a perfect stock 15 inch 1946 Plymouth rim, before I left, to return home, this morning. Art Butler who stores and works on PLYWOOD with and for me has already lined up a reasonable transporter to bring PLYWOOD back home to PHX, so we can restore it and get it back on the road. I shall add some photos tomorrow, once I get them downloaded. I am not spooked, but I may just stay with in a 100 mile radius of home when I do any future road trips, unless I trailer most of the longer distances. Just too many break downs lately, to want to venture out too far. I decided to drive the rental car back on the same route to enjoy the scenery I didn't see when I was driving in the dark, in PLYWOOD. As I was heading East on Route 238, from Gila Bend to Maricopa, AZ, I drove right past two huge auto salvage companies, that I didn't know existed. They were both closed, but I did manage to peak over the walls and saw hundreds of old cars, at both locations. Something tells me that there is going to be all of the parts I need to get PLYWOOD back on the road again. I am grateful I wasn't hurt and look forward to driving my Plymouth, ASAP.

Thanks Bob, I'll go to NAPA in the AM. Really appreciate the help, Guys.