Colorado Belvedere Convertible progressing

[Ron Keij]

You have time to change it, I bet you $10 that Dick's convertible is ready before yours Or at least it will be a close finish, once he gets started he will have no rest until it is finished

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

I want that $10 in Euro equivalent! (unless the exchange rate changes...) I am slow, I know...But now, I am just throwing money here and there and getting it done with many friends help and some local vendors too! 401K funding can wait!

Eventually my wife is going to figure out the coffee can of spare change is empty and I will get a beating I deserve

But at least the car should be mobile soon!


John Q.

[rogerh]

What I like so much about your car John is it is gonna be one-off, yet tasteful, and "of the period". Black and white and (if I may) turquoise. Frankly, it's gonna look like it came from Florida!

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Thanks Roger! I have made some modern upgrades to it as you are aware of, and only us Forum members would spot them right away, but did want to be period correct. I am so slow on this and as you said in the other post, Dick has done 3 off them and I am puttering along taking my time.

The best thing about the car is the new 59 friends I have gotten to know and there is some part that is on the car from a lot of them. Including you!

Though I started off wanted a pink car I am glad I switched to the official spring color of Turquoise. It does look Florida-ish or at at-the-beach 50's car. Now if I can only drive it....


John Q.

[rogerh]

I have no doubt you will be at the helm of this awesome cruiser.

[Dick Koch]

John - The buckle is going in today's mail. As far as doing two cars in approx. 2-1/2 years and starting a third one, I'd better hurry so I will have a little time to drive and enjoy them. This will be the last one, this old body is getting creakeir and creakeir every day. Besides we want to do some cruising in style before it's they take my drivers licence away.
Dick.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

You drive fine Dick! You will be driving for many years to come!


John Q.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Here is the Electronic ignition Module and Electronic Voltage regulator to go with the modern day Alternator.
John Q.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

My addtitonal white vinyl and 59 woven material came in today from SMS and I took it over to the shop. Now they can finish the front seats and I get that installed next weekend.

My new convertible top cylinders came in from Convertible Specialists last weekend so that can go in and I can re-assemble the top fram components too. Looking doubtful for May 5th Golden cruise but if I work hard....

John Q.

[rogerh]

I am gonna print out that pic of you John. Although we haven't met, I have enjoyed all your posts, and from them I've sensed an easy-going personality peppered with a good sense of humor.
Beyond that, the car's engine compartment looks spectacular! The only way I can truly appreciate the level of this restoration is to see it in person. You are building a stunning car! Nobody thinks you are dawdling on this. You and Dick and Tom Fox are masters of restoration.

[Dick Koch]

John - Good looking Nephew and the Uncle's not too bad either. There's a Mopar Guy here that keeps pushing me to go electronic ignition, he also states that he mounts that module you have next to the vacuum tank on a piece of 1/4" thick aluminum to act as a heat sink, says he has less trouble. I so happy you moving along with the upholstery and top. I took the top mechanism off my convrt. yesterday. Got her stripped down with the only thing left to take out are wiper mechanism and rear window mechanisms.
Kinda looks like you will take a trip to Florida in your beautiful Florida Convertible before I make it to Colorado.

Roger, that's one hell of a compliment to put me in a class with Tom and John, Thanks.

Dickl.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Roger, thanks for the kind words. I am kinda a nutty guy, someday we will meet and that will confirm it for ya!!

Tom Fox's car and Dick Koch's cars are the pinnacle of restorations. I started off just wanting a cruiser for local drive thru's and it got away from me to make it nicer. But I think it still pales in comparison to the other guys. I already want to re-paint the car. What a disease we have to constantly want to improve our cars.

I just want to get this baby on the road! And start enjoying it!


John Q.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Dick, I started off with going with Petronix set up but Mopar Ricky suggested that I just go with the regular Electronic Ignition package. That way if I ever break down any parts store would have the parts rather then hunting down a specialty shop for a Petronix replacement parts. I agreed with Rick and went all Mopar for the ignition setup.

I started on my convert years ago and so you have won and I owe you a soda of your choice. I am just slow...Darn work!

John Q.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Alright, here are some newer pcis of my glacier progress of my convertible. It went to the Trim shop a week and half ago and voila', today it came home to roost.

I have a week and half to go before my surgery that will put me out of action for a month or so. Though, I am contemplating having a local mopar shop finish the small details that will allow to move under its own power like a normal car!

John Q.

[rogerh]

These are such cool pictures, John!
While there are a few details I would not choose for my own dream restoration, this convertible is the ONLY one I know of that is being documented on line during the past few years.
Just viewing the car on the trailer speaks to me...I can feel the excitement underlying this resurrection.
Flash back to the original "find" photo...the black carcass all but forgotten on the high desert.