Newbie On The Loose ....... Jumping In

[rb1949]

Good news for your eyes, I'm about done digging in papers. After this chapter you get a break.

 

Stupid Winter. Should be outside, working on cars. Or cruisin' !!! Oh well, good to have the keyboard time now and get this part of the project done. When beach season kicks in, I'm down there more hours per week than at work. Can't drink beer at work. Thanks to all who have continued to follow along. This part of the '49 story will make you gasp. I've got a hold of a Mopar with quite an unusual history. That word, documentation, again. Receipts are documentation. And there are a bunch of those too. Remember I said I was going to hold off on owner #2 in Arizona? He makes the history even more incredible. With a stack of receipts. Sit back, enjoy, and hold onto your chair for this. Best accounts are 1990 or so, and for whatever reason, Arizona owner #2 decided to RESTORE this 1949 Chrysler. Not a back yard, clean it up job either. Have NO idea of the mileage, or condition at the time. Let's start with receipts for a complete engine rebuild. That was nice. The old kitten should purr along for quite a while yet. In the pile are receipts for all new wiring harnesses. The whole car. Man, that's a lot of work. (There is a note, saying the radio works. But, not now.) Digging further, you'll find receipts for re-chroming the metal-work. All of it. If it had chrome, it's on that list. Holy cow. How bad could the chrome be in Arizona? That car must have sparkled in the sun. There is a receipt for some paint, but not a paint job. Minus the chrome, it would have been a good time. Maybe touch up? So hard to tell if this dark Ensign Blue is factory original or a re-coat. It has a nice old patina, and probably no reason to try and buff it out to a glossy shine. That pile is deep, not done yet. Up pop receipts for a complete interior. Note the word complete. Seats, headliner, door panels, kick panels, visors, carpet, trunk carpet, even a spare tire cover. I doubt anything close to original, but still VERY NICE, fabric. Down there is also the packet holding the fabric samples from Lebaron Bonnie(???) New wide whites were ordered from Cooker, and may still be the ones on the ground today. What else could this guy do, but enjoy it. Must have been a beautiful machine at the time. Have a copy of a professional appraisal, but I not going to shock you with the figure. I was stunned. Not sure what happened after Arizona, but what was there to do? Drive it! For what is was, I think it lacked the care to help keep it that way. The most recent additions were a rebuilt carb, new generator, starter and voltage regulator. The wheel cylinders were also replaced. New gas tank. The radio doesn't work!!!

So there you have it. A somewhat interesting story about my 'new' 1949 Chrysler Windsor and what it has been through. Did not know such documentation was coming with it. Now it's up to me to uphold the tradition. Today, it's far from that pristine condition in Arizona, (the interior is still excellent), and fits the bill for being the driver I wanted. Hope she likes her new home, getting some care in return. We will both be happy. Got to be honest with reality. All that was then, this is now. I'm sure there will be some surprises in store once the wheels start to move. Don't forget about me too quick. I haven't started on the questions yet. Great cruisin' to all, in your Mopar, or any old iron. It's more fun to be out there in classic shoes.