Here are a few pictures of a car we are currently doing for a local business lady. She had the car stored in a shed for many years. A restoration had been started many years ago and then stopped for reasons unknown. (at least to me) When the car came to the shop it was covered in mouse poo and many layers of dust. The first job was assigned to my son, Alfred, to wash off the many layers of excrement. Then he helped me catalog the contents of 18 boxes of parts that ,hopefully, would go into putting this baby bird back together.

The engine had been worked on, but over the years a critter had chosen its insides to store his food and other "calling cards". I believe it gained entrance through the open manifold since there was no carburetor. Over the last several months we have replaced or repaired the chrome and stainless. We found some of the missing parts by scanning Ebay listings. Many of the new parts came from Concours Parts in Carson city. A new windshield was installed by our local glass guy, Dan Fletcher. The car has a 292 cu. in. "Y" block motor with a Fordomatic transmission. It has a hardtop which is being painted at Sierra Auto body. Ron Talbott is doing the interior using a kit we purchased from Concours. We hope to find a soft top to go with the car at some point. Thunderbird wire wheels were chosen and wide whitewall bias ply tires complete the 50's look.

Much of the work that had been started by the former unknown shop was of top quality. Many of the parts in the boxes had been cleaned and powder coated and then wrapped in plastic for safe storage. All of the many fasteners had been glass beaded clean and then stored in containers. The brakes are new and required no extra work to put into service, other than running the brake lines and adding fluid.

However, projects that get started and then stopped are not without their problems. We still have parts that we can't identify. The transmission refuses to shift out of second gear. The fuel tank required replacement because of rust that accumulated over the long storage. Some of the body work is suspect. It took two tries at installing a windshield because of body misalignment.

In the end though, another baby bird will be back on the road and that has to be a good thing. It has been said "All is well that ends well" and if Sam's expression from his first test ride is any indication this will be a fun car.