Greetings all. Over the weekend I acquired my Grandfathers 1950 Champion. It has been in my uncles possession for the last 15 years, since my Grandfathers passing. My uncle very rarely drove it, and had it maintained by a shop who also stored it. That shop did a poor job with the storage, it was essential a mouse ridden pole barn. So the car has acquired a bit of that stink, but the interior is rather aged and a bit tattered anyway, so I am considering having the seats recovered/rebuilt, and the door panels redone as well. I searched around the web and didn't find much about these cars in regards to interiors. So question #1 is where might I find a provider of the pre-cut materials to do the job myself? I am not set on doing it myself, but I do not know what kind of cost I would be looking at to hire it done?
I am not sure as to how long I am going to keep the car. I mainly just wanted to drive it for a little while to reminisce about the times when I was a teenager in the 80's and my Grandfather would let me drive the Studie on short trips, and how cool I felt driving such a neat car. Amazingly the car has only 29,000 original miles on it. I can remember the car having 26,000 back in the 80's, so it has not racked up to much mileage since then. My Grandfather bought the car in the 60's. I have too many cars, and not enough places to put them, so that is the main reason why I wont just keep this car forever.
Question #2:
There are a few knobs missing inside(shifter, wiper, and a couple of dash knobs) that I would like to replace. I am hoping to find used parts as to match the patina. I also would like to find the front end chrome, again in hopefully used condition but nice, as putting fresh rechrome, or repro parts on it might clash with the original paint.
Question#3:
The rear quarters have a gasket material where they meet the body. This gasket is rather deteriorated. I assume this is available, but how big of a job is it to pull off the quarters and replace those gaskets?
I am including a couple of pics from the moment I got it home. It was raining when I brought it home so it gives the car a nice "clear coat" that went away upon drying! The car has not been waxed in probably 30 years or more, so with a little polishing compound to get the oxidized paint off, and a good waxing, the car should shine nicely.
And wow, I forgot just how wacky this car is to start and shift!
I am not sure as to how long I am going to keep the car. I mainly just wanted to drive it for a little while to reminisce about the times when I was a teenager in the 80's and my Grandfather would let me drive the Studie on short trips, and how cool I felt driving such a neat car. Amazingly the car has only 29,000 original miles on it. I can remember the car having 26,000 back in the 80's, so it has not racked up to much mileage since then. My Grandfather bought the car in the 60's. I have too many cars, and not enough places to put them, so that is the main reason why I wont just keep this car forever.
Question #2:
There are a few knobs missing inside(shifter, wiper, and a couple of dash knobs) that I would like to replace. I am hoping to find used parts as to match the patina. I also would like to find the front end chrome, again in hopefully used condition but nice, as putting fresh rechrome, or repro parts on it might clash with the original paint.
Question#3:
The rear quarters have a gasket material where they meet the body. This gasket is rather deteriorated. I assume this is available, but how big of a job is it to pull off the quarters and replace those gaskets?
I am including a couple of pics from the moment I got it home. It was raining when I brought it home so it gives the car a nice "clear coat" that went away upon drying! The car has not been waxed in probably 30 years or more, so with a little polishing compound to get the oxidized paint off, and a good waxing, the car should shine nicely.
And wow, I forgot just how wacky this car is to start and shift!
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