And so, the Conestoga project gets going

[Pat Dilling]

Today the Conestoga was rolled into the shop.


And introduced to its future 289



Every journey begins with a single step, right?

[Mike Van Veghten]

Hey Pat -

Put these up on the Conestoga site too...
Start your "build-up" thread like mine.

Mike

[woodysrods]

Hi Pat
Good Luck with your new project!
We have Sandi's Hawk back in the shop and it is just about ready for final primer, disassembly, and painting.
Picked uip the motor from the machine shop just before Xmas.
Happy New Year
Brian

[sals54]

Pat, It looks like a winner in the making. Good luck on the whole enchilada.

[fpstude]

Pat, I see a good drivers side mirror on the Conestoga that you can use to replace the one that fell off of Stu Cool! Problem solved.

[Pat Dilling]

Thanks guys, Perry I thought about that as I was pushing it into the shop. But, I have a better plan.

[clonelark]

Glad to see another Conestoga getting ready for the road, your gonna have fun with this wagon.

[jclary]

Will be looking forward to the transformation from the old patina to the new PATina!

(I couldn't resist.)

[41 Frank]

Pat
Your stuff you ordered for the Conestoga is being shipped today.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Hey Frank -

Do'n a lot of Conestoga sales lately ??

Mike

[41 Frank]

Correct Mike. Never sold anything to go on a Conestoga until the last few of months. <G> Your shipment and Pat's are sitting here in Omaha, next to each other, waiting to ship. Hope to see regular reports on your builds. You two guys can compare notes on your builds even though you are way ahead of Pat on yours.

Hey Frank -

Do'n a lot of Conestoga sales lately ??

Mike

[BobPalma]

Pat: I can't tell for sure, it looks like your project started out as a Champion Regal (D5); correct? Or is it a lesser D3 DeLuxe that has been tarted up along the way? Either way, it's one of fewer than 7,000 Champion Conestogas built in 1954; 3,910 Regals and 3,074 DeLuxes, to be exact.

(And with a Ford Mainline 2-door wagon listing at $2,029 and the Champion DeLuxe at $2,187, it's not hard to see why: At the time, the extra $158 for the equivalent Studebaker represented about two more monthly payments...ouch!)

Anyway, 'looking good; a solid candidate. 'Best wishes with the project. BP

[Pat Dilling]

Excellent news Frank, it will be a while before I actually use them, but good to have them ready.

Bob, You are correct it is a D5. As I start to take it apart it seems to be pretty much original condition.

My goal for this car is to have a car to drive anytime and anywhere. Something a car guy might have had as a daily driver back in the 60s. Concentrating on the chassis and drive train first. It has an interesting patina that I will leave alone for a while at least. Dick Steincamp shared with me the expression "Wabi Sabi" that is apparently a popular term these days.

"Wabi now connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness, and can be applied to both natural and human-made objects, or understated elegance. It can also refer to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which add uniqueness and elegance to the object. Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age, when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear, or in any visible repairs."

The quietness part may not apply as it will have dual Smithys

[jclary]

Hey, Wabi Sabi for your "kemo-sahbee" (faithful friend) as in Tonto's expression of the Lone Ranger! We could engage in all sorts of corny trivial associations. Shucks... you could even name her "Connie." Surely no one has ever thought to name their Conestoga that!

(too much caffeine this morning)

[Pat Dilling]

Today I gained a little extra space to work and park stuff. And maybe someday give me enough vertical space for a lift.



And the finishing touch

And the first occupant