Someone out there inquired about 1960 Chrysler/Desoto stainless sill
moldings...will you please identify yourself...maybe I can help....Roger
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Stragand <dave.stragand@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 1998 5:55 AM
Subject: [FWDLK] An introduction from Roger Howard
>-------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: Welcome to L-FORWARDLOOK!
> Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 21:26:27 -0700
> From: "Roger Howard" <rhoward@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: "Roger Howard" <rhoward@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <L-FORWARDLOOK-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Dear Forward Lookers, August 10 1998 My name is Roger
>Howard and I live in Seattle, WA., U.S.A. Here is my story. When I
>moved here in late 1990 from New York state, I was impressed by the
>number of rust-free older cars. Partly because my family had owned a
>1959 Plymouth wagon new as the family vehicle, I decided to seek out a
>59 Plymouth coupe. I ended up with a 59 belvedere 2HT, which the
>teenage owner had painted to resemble a 58 Fury. This was my
>introduction to the "oldercar" syndrome. The car needed a front-end
>rebuild (actually it really needed radial tires) and the brakes were
>problematic. After two years or so, I sold it , and my 59 desoto
>fireflite 4HT and the 60 Dodge Phoenix 4HT and used some of that money
>to buy (sight unseen) a 1959 Plymouth convertible from Iowa. When it
>arrived, shocked is a mild explanation of my reaction. So rusted from
>years in an Iowa cornfield, the leaf springs had broken in transport.
>It was a wonder other items hadn't blown or fallen off during the long
>drive from minnesota, where the broker had stored it prior to offering
>it for sale in Hemmings. But I figured I was already invested...(Who
>would buy a rust hulk?) so I decided I had to press on. But when I
>pulled the body from the frame, I found neither was worth saving! I
>needed a rustfree body AND frame. A friend in Portland, Oregon had a
>stripped out rustfree coupe originally from Idaho . I bought that and
>towed it up here. I hired a local body man and he worked
>wonders...cutting and welding until I had a solid frame and a solid
>convertible body again. I rebuilt the brakes and detailed the frame
>and then remounted the body. Next I hired a painter to do the entire
>shell in the original 1959 red. I bought the remanufactured fabric for
>the interior from a dealer in Portland, and found the exact match for
>the vinyl in Michigan. I bought new convertible lift parts from
>Florida. Although the original 318 was complete and supposedly ran ,
>I pulled that and bought a 1961 361. I have all the new remanufactured
>rubber parts from Gary Goers. The chrome and stainless are original but
>need work. I've run thru five parts cars and still have a 59 wagon
>parts car (and a 57 Sport Suburban runner to keep me quiet). The body
>is painted and back on the frame and here it sits in the
>garage....waiting for me. In the meantime I have gotten married and
>have a 17 month old girl to care for, so spare time is rare. I have
>the original swivel seats, factory A/C, AM radio with fader control,
>remote control mirror and the dashmount high beam Eye, all awaiting
>refitting. Some day it will ride again!.... Roger
>
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