Dad's Car and the Vermont Antique Car Show

Boomer

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Yep, the Imperial has once again taken a back seat to more pressing matters. In this case - bringing dad's car home to northern VA from VT. Dad got the car as sort of a father-son project after he retired from the granite industry so we'd have something to tinker on, drive around, maybe take to a show or two. I rewarded him a few short years later by marrying my wife and moving from VT to NC. That was 2008. Was up there a few years back so we could finally get the new radiator installed and get it back on the road. He tried to get me to take it then but I wanted him to get some enjoyment out of it. He drove it maybe 2 more times before his death in November 2016.

So last year I went up and got it out of the barn, cleaned it up, took it to the Antique Car Show in Stowe VT, which ended up being the last one there after 60 years (long, pathetic story there). Dad had always wanted to get the car to the show but didn't quite make it. Not interested in trophies, just wanted to let people see it. I got it to the show but had trouble with old gas and ended up getting towed home. Seems dad never burned the gas out of the tank, just topped it up anytime he drove it. And it sat for a few years.

Had the tank cleaned and sealed, rebuilt pump with 'ethanol-tolerant' parts in it (whatever that means) installed, lines cleaned, carb cleaned, new plugs, wires, cap, etc, new coolant and hoses after the kid who towed it home tightened it down too much on the flatbed and lost all the green juice.

Flying up tomorrow to take it the the same show this weekend, which is now held in Waterbury VT next to I-89. If any of you are attending, look for the big, black '50 Lincoln with the gray haired guy sitting behind it. It was the only one there last year.

But there's more: the following Friday I'll be driving it back down to northern VA from VT with a buddy from back home, Williamstown to Bennington VT to Troy NY then down the NY Thruway to Newburg, across 84 to Scranton, then down 81 to 66 in VA and home. That's the plan anyway. Car runs great, tires are good along with fuel, coolant, and fire. The vacuum wipers, eh.....not so much. Thank God for Rain-X. Just had it inspected, too.

Probably should've posted sooner and found out who lives along the route in case we need a lifeline, but hey - no one said I was the brightest bulb in the string.

Couple shots attached of dad's car taken this past April. Flathead 337 V8 with the optional GM (no, really) Hydra-Matic auto transmission. Ford had yet to build their own. Around 32K original miles. Aside from the radials and dual exhaust added by the hot rod dealer we got it from, it's original. Hope I can get it down here in one piece.

50 Lincoln1.JPG
50 Lincoln2.JPG
 
Wow.. I really like that.

I did not know about the GM Hydramatic trans being used in the Lincolns. I had to look that up because I didn't think it was so... 1949-1954 models. Learn something new everyday.
 
Wow, a great story and a very classy lookin' Lincoln! One should sport a fedora while commanding that behemoth, they allowed ample room for wearing hats inside in those days.
 
Thank you, guys. Thought you might enjoy seeing the old beast. Space? You could have a picnic in either the front or back seats. Plenty of leg room and head room. I posted some shots of it a few years back after we got the radiator in, complete with barn dust. The day I took these shots it was raining, didn't even need the proverbial CL hose.

Did think of something I need to have in the trunk with the tools and spares: a V-belt or as they called them back then, a fan belt. Think everything else is covered.

Will let you know how it goes once we get back.
 
Yep, the Imperial has once again taken a back seat to more pressing matters. In this case - bringing dad's car home to northern VA from VT. Dad got the car as sort of a father-son project after he retired from the granite industry so we'd have something to tinker on, drive around, maybe take to a show or two. I rewarded him a few short years later by marrying my wife and moving from VT to NC. That was 2008. Was up there a few years back so we could finally get the new radiator installed and get it back on the road. He tried to get me to take it then but I wanted him to get some enjoyment out of it. He drove it maybe 2 more times before his death in November 2016.

So last year I went up and got it out of the barn, cleaned it up, took it to the Antique Car Show in Stowe VT, which ended up being the last one there after 60 years (long, pathetic story there). Dad had always wanted to get the car to the show but didn't quite make it. Not interested in trophies, just wanted to let people see it. I got it to the show but had trouble with old gas and ended up getting towed home. Seems dad never burned the gas out of the tank, just topped it up anytime he drove it. And it sat for a few years.

Had the tank cleaned and sealed, rebuilt pump with 'ethanol-tolerant' parts in it (whatever that means) installed, lines cleaned, carb cleaned, new plugs, wires, cap, etc, new coolant and hoses after the kid who towed it home tightened it down too much on the flatbed and lost all the green juice.

Flying up tomorrow to take it the the same show this weekend, which is now held in Waterbury VT next to I-89. If any of you are attending, look for the big, black '50 Lincoln with the gray haired guy sitting behind it. It was the only one there last year.

But there's more: the following Friday I'll be driving it back down to northern VA from VT with a buddy from back home, Williamstown to Bennington VT to Troy NY then down the NY Thruway to Newburg, across 84 to Scranton, then down 81 to 66 in VA and home. That's the plan anyway. Car runs great, tires are good along with fuel, coolant, and fire. The vacuum wipers, eh.....not so much. Thank God for Rain-X. Just had it inspected, too.

Probably should've posted sooner and found out who lives along the route in case we need a lifeline, but hey - no one said I was the brightest bulb in the string.

Couple shots attached of dad's car taken this past April. Flathead 337 V8 with the optional GM (no, really) Hydra-Matic auto transmission. Ford had yet to build their own. Around 32K original miles. Aside from the radials and dual exhaust added by the hot rod dealer we got it from, it's original. Hope I can get it down here in one piece.

View attachment 204782 View attachment 204783

WOW ! I have never seen one of these in restored / as new condition. A great legacy has been left to you.
 
Probably should've posted sooner and found out who lives along the route in case we need a lifeline, but hey - no one said I was the brightest bulb in the string.

Couple shots attached of dad's car taken this past April. Flathead 337 V8 with the optional GM (no, really) Hydra-Matic auto transmission. Ford had yet to build their own. Around 32K original miles. Aside from the radials and dual exhaust added by the hot rod dealer we got it from, it's original. Hope I can get it down here in one piece.

View attachment 204782 View attachment 204783

I don't know when you are planning to make the trip ( a week day may be better traffic-wise), but you may want to consider getting off of I-81 near Harrisburg and take U.S. 15 south toward Frederick, MD and Leesburg, VA. Our Garage Mahal is located in Frederick, and if you have any issues with the car, you are welcome to stop there.
 
We made it! Hard to believe or maybe not? Made a good checklist of items to do or check, put together spares & tools, and left a day earlier for better weather conditions.

Had a good friend from back home along for the ride, got him a plane ticket home and took him to a couple of the museums down this way after the trip. He helped me prep the car for the VT Antique Car Show as well as the trip.

I'd say the ride was uneventful but it was indeed an event - we enjoyed every minute. The big flat head just purred through the dual exhaust all the way down the road. Left VT a bit before 8AM, arrived northern VA around 10PM sometime.

Amazing part was the gas mileage - much better than expected. We started out getting 12.4 or so on the first tank after negotiating the mountains of VT into NY. The next tank was over 16 mpg and the last was either 16.7 or 17.7 - can't recall which. Not bad for a 2 ton 68 yr old car!

The only mechanical issue happened in the last 78 miles. The odometer quit working after some gyrations by the speedometer needle. Needle still works and though the odometer doesn't sound like a big deal, the car left VT with just over 32,400 original miles on it. So I'll need to get that sorted ASAP. Had some trouble getting the trip meter to reset, hoping it's related to that.

Thanks for the help offer, Rip - fortunately we didn't need it but nice to know someone is out there if the worst happens. Everything went well - even the 6 volt headlights gave plenty of light, though one bucket is a little loose which makes for a bit of a jiggly light show.

Couple photos attached sitting in the driveway outside. A lot of folks back home were betting against us making it without problems but we proved them all wrong. Must've been the old B&W photo I brought along of dad when he was a little kid. Couldn't make the trip without bringing dad along!
Home1.JPG
Home2.JPG
 
We made it! Hard to believe or maybe not? Made a good checklist of items to do or check, put together spares & tools, and left a day earlier for better weather conditions.

Had a good friend from back home along for the ride, got him a plane ticket home and took him to a couple of the museums down this way after the trip. He helped me prep the car for the VT Antique Car Show as well as the trip.

I'd say the ride was uneventful but it was indeed an event - we enjoyed every minute. The big flat head just purred through the dual exhaust all the way down the road. Left VT a bit before 8AM, arrived northern VA around 10PM sometime.

Amazing part was the gas mileage - much better than expected. We started out getting 12.4 or so on the first tank after negotiating the mountains of VT into NY. The next tank was over 16 mpg and the last was either 16.7 or 17.7 - can't recall which. Not bad for a 2 ton 68 yr old car!

The only mechanical issue happened in the last 78 miles. The odometer quit working after some gyrations by the speedometer needle. Needle still works and though the odometer doesn't sound like a big deal, the car left VT with just over 32,400 original miles on it. So I'll need to get that sorted ASAP. Had some trouble getting the trip meter to reset, hoping it's related to that.

Thanks for the help offer, Rip - fortunately we didn't need it but nice to know someone is out there if the worst happens. Everything went well - even the 6 volt headlights gave plenty of light, though one bucket is a little loose which makes for a bit of a jiggly light show.

Couple photos attached sitting in the driveway outside. A lot of folks back home were betting against us making it without problems but we proved them all wrong. Must've been the old B&W photo I brought along of dad when he was a little kid. Couldn't make the trip without bringing dad along! View attachment 207211 View attachment 207212

Boomer: Glad you made it home with no major issues. I was pretty sure you would. I really love that car. I've never seen one like it anywhere.
 
Good to hear the trip went well, keep enjoying the car, and keep us posted!
 
Certainly will. There are a few issues that need addressing, like the hesitation or 'stumble' that was introduced by the shop that cleaned and sealed the tank and installed the new fuel pump. They also decided to remove and clean the carb along with giving it a complete tune up despite only a couple hundred miles on the previous one. The car ran great before that. Still runs fine once you get past that initial pause when you hit the accelerator. Guessing it's a vacuum or timing issue perhaps.

Also need to replace the driver's window which came loose from its track while at my buddy's place and apparently rattled around in the door. Three large cracks now but the laminations are holding it together. Also some pitted trim, torn front seat, other cosmetic issues. Odometer is the big one, need to get that sorted ASAP.

And then there's the vacuum wipers (or lack thereof), radio, vacuum aerial, etc. Mostly things you'd expect from a a 68 yr old car that sat unused for decades.
 
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