Day One

These pictures were taken the first day I got the car and started to dismantle it.

The Dodge is originally from Huntington Beach in Pomona California. It was purchased by the original owner and driven sedately for about 80,000 miles. When he passed away the car was left sitting outside in the California sun for 15 years or so until it was spotted by an astute Mopar fan who purchased it immediately. After installing a new set of points and a battery he was off and around the block where the brake hoses exploded upon first application. New hoses and it was off to the docks and into a container bound for New Zealand.

This is about where I joined the picture. I saw the car at a local swap meeting and swapped it for a handful of magic beans a couple of day's later. It was in no state of repair and needed lots of attention to get it looking like a vehicle worth driving again.There was no paint on the top half of the car because it had been sunburnt and it looked like it had a two tone paint job.

The floor was rusty but I had no idea how rusted it was until I got the seats and carpets out. I managed to get three buckets full of loose rust and ex metal off the floor revealing gaping holes held together with little bits of good American steel. The hood lining was resting on the seat backs. The cross ply tyres were rotten, suspension was worn and most of the rubber components were perished.

^{Copyright © 1999 Bruce Cresswell}