Martha's Home! It's been three months since I laid eyes on her on the San Fran Craigslist. It's been a long slog, but so worth the wait!
The engine purrs like a kitten...
The car is registered, has plates and insurance - but, is not yet inspected (taillights, wipers, horn, etc.). But I was able to drive her home on Friday. Wow, she runs great! The brakes are solid, the clutch is sure, it shifts in all gears fine. Headlights work, as does the heater!! Even the dash lights work. And sitting all day in the driveway, not a drop of oil or grease.
I spent the day yesterday inspecting the old girl, pulling down the old headliner (I have a new one) and vacuuming out. She cleaned up nice! Here are some after pix with commentary.
This piece of trim from the rear tailgate may be coming your way, Dick - along with a piece from the front. Most of the stainless is in excellent shape, just needs polishing!Note the "63" on the tag - I wonder if the owner before Mike Williams transferred it to him, or if this was Mike's old tag? It would be interesting to run it - if I could!Is this mirror worth saving? I don't know if it's original - the glass is cracked, but easily replacedNot surprising - the floorboards have been replaced. They look to be fitted well, but I suspect they've been laid over the old instead of cutting out. I'll have to address this along the wayI love this look!Dog dish hub caps - I have a set of full covers, they need some touch-up paintThe windshield grommet is perfect, as are the grommets for all fixed windows! I have new weatherstripping for vents, doors and tailgate, and whiskers for windows - including the sliding windowsYeah - a wart on the hoodThis tells the tale! Martha has flipped the odometer; but can't be more than once, the engine was so clean when they checked the valve inspection plates and pan. They cleaned up and blew out the ports, all the sameThe "toe board" around the pedals is solid, but not the inspection cover for the master cylinder - fortunately, the entire clip ring is intact. I'll be JB Welding a new cover to this after I rustproof everythingA J.C. Whitney front mat, perhaps?Look at that interior!!My temporary gas can. The back just needs some wire-brushing, rustproofing and paintingThis looks bad - but mostly, it's rusty rubber weatherstripping. The top of the channel in which it sits is eaten away in spots, but the bottom of the channel looks good. There's enough meat here to preserve and hold the weatherstrip into place after rustproofingNow, here's trouble. Fortunately, the hinge areas are intact, but this area needs helpSo does the passenger side rocker - it looks like they ran over something one time. The driver's side is in good shape......but the passenger side needs to be replacedGet this! The old mat!DPCD. The part number matches......the part in the book!Martha, My Dear
They will fit! Fins did not come on Suburbans from the factory, but we will consider it a dealer option
I put the question to Gordon Davis, one of Exner's designers:
Dan wrote:Hi Gordon! I wonder what you can tell me about Virgil's influences on the '54 Plymouth. I heard that he had something to do with fabric color coordinations, but I'm particularly interested to know if he had anything to do with the chrome fins that were optional. Thanks!
Gordon's reply:
Gordon wrote:Great question, but I didn't join Chrysler until 1955. But what I came to know about Exner, I'm sure he had the final say over fabric color and instrument panel design as well. As for chrome fins, absolutely. No question. Just biding his time until his Forward Concepts became a reality.
And... She's gone. I decided I needed something with more get up and go, didn't drive like a truck, and didn't need a lot more work (I'm back working full time, so I have less time these days).
