I haven’t posted in a while but luckily that’s not due to a lack of progress on at least a few of the tasks and projects in the driveway. I’m particularly excited about the TI. It will never be a show car but I think I’m close to finishing a few things that will make it a solid and super fun daily driver.

Last Sunday I spent some time with Luigi figuring out how to tackle the driver side floors. The rear was particularly bad, but the front also showed a nice gaping hole around where the drain plug may once have resided.

The rear had bad rust -- most of this panel had to be cut out.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve now taken ownership of the great white beast. I have to say I’m pretty happy with the purchase. I’ve bought plenty of old cars from second and third owners (my Giulia Super was still in the same family, and lived barely 10 miles from where it was first sold), but until now had never had the experience of buying from an original owner.

Wayne, the original owner

In addition to the knowledge that an original owner has about the car, there’s a lot to be said for the emotional appeal of a car that’s been a very real part of a family. Wayne’s daughter, who was 2 years old when dad bought the car said, “you’re buying my life.” Maybe it’s silly, but it kinda makes you want to take extra special care of something when its walls have that many stories in them.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a while since my last post, mostly due to inactivity on the TI front (or floors, as it were), and a spate of busy weekends.

After some consideration I realized my little Datsun 411 was not going to satisfy the various uses I’d envisioned for it. I’m happy having a beater utility vehicle in my proverbial garage, but a) I only want one, and b) I want it do be capable of both hauling things and have enough internal space to actually sleep two people in vintage truck bed comfort. The Datsun is marginally adequate at the hauling (you’d never get a couch in it) and does not offer sleeping accomodations for two full-size humans.

Small.

My hunt for a replacement really focused on the mid-60s panel vans such as the Ford Econlines and Dodge A100. I like the short wheelbase forward-control vans. They would obviously do well hauling quite a bit of junk, and there’s just about room to stand up in them.

Read the rest of this entry »

Finally a spare afternoon! I was able to finish the passenger side today, at least the metal-work part of it, and celebrated by taking a quick drive around the neighborhood. This car is so fun to drive, it’ll be great when it’s fun AND comfortable.

Today’s exercise was more or less a repeat of the last time. I have no delusions now of anything being easy or particularly good. I do have delusions that exterior panels will be easier to work on, being on the exterior and all, but at least I can leave good enough alone for the floors.

Fitting the big piece. I left the weird corner piece out on the first pass; consider that a lesson learned from doing the front job.

Read the rest of this entry »

Well my little wagon’s twin is up for sale (again), this time on CL in Los Angeles. As original as mine is, this car is definitely more complete and ‘correct’ and obviously its paint is holding up much more nicely. Maybe I should spend an afternoon removing trim and sanding down the weird spots so I can get a $200 Earl Scheib special.

Original wheel covers are just about unobtainium. I have 3 of the 4, the 4th having fallen off the car somewhere on 880 while we were bringing it up to Oakland.

Read the rest of this entry »