. This is the house we bought during February, 2004. Over the years,the wagon has become something of a "neighborhood mascot" (in the area around our previous home.) Most people around there were used to seeing it plying the neighborhood streets. Once we moved into the "new" house, the gawking and questions started again. The most common questions are "Does it have a Hemi?" and "Can I see your push button transmission?" I have to disappoint admirers on both counts.As noted before, the original spare tire cover had been lying on the ground, within reach of the sprinkler system, for nearly a decade (before I bought the car.) I knew it would eventually have to be replaced. Roger Howard spotted a good one at Newburg Auto Salvage in Oregon. He sent me some photos and I called the yard and had them send it down, along with other odds and ends. I initially decided to set it aside until the wagon needed another repaint, but the old one rusted so quickly that I was afraid it would fall off and bounce off the pavement into the windshield of a vehicle following me. So I installed the replacement about a year ago. Seeing it gives me extra incentive to get some body work and a repainting done soon!Sort of looks like the wagon is inspecting its new living quarters. There is room to expand the garage and add shop space. This photo, along with the previous two, were taken in late January. Oh, the GMC belongs to Tracie's parents and the Toyota belongs to our realtor.About four years ago, our daughter's Brownie troop did a '50s theme "sock hop." Tracie wanted to pose Karla with the wagon. I initially protested, explaining that the "poodle skirt" era was pretty much over by the time the '59s hit the street. I have to admit, however, Karla does look rather cute posing with the blue beast. Too bad we didn't have a '57 or '58 Plymouth handy for this shot...(there I go again....)This is how the two door wagon appeared before leaving Texas for Nevada. Needless to say, it wasn't driven here under its own power.A previous owner apparently started body work by sanding off the paint, exposing the bare metal and then abandoning the project. The front fenders were rusted far worse than the rest of the vehicle. As it turned out, this wagon may have been in a collision. The front fenders were originally green and the rust around the headlights was poorly patched. When you take into consideration that this wagon was last registered in 1974, it seems surprising that a more solid set of used fenders couldn't have been located.This view shows the rust in the lower rear quarter panel and the rocker panel. A dent in the upper section of the door skin is also evident. Note the Sportone trim.It's interesting to see a vehicle with no radio and no lighter, sporting a clock. Then again, it's interesting to find a base line Suburban with Sportone trim and a 318. Note the dash-mounted "add-on ventilation system." The floor initially appeared to be solid, but sections of it lifted out with the floor mat when I started removing the interior. I also found a November 22, 1973 Dallas newspaper under the front seat. It featured an article commemorating the tenth anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination.The driver's side rear quarter panel is solid, as is the tailgate. Also note that somebody installed the tailgate bumpers upside down.The engine compartment was intact. Note the disconnected heater core. There was a mouse nest between the distributor and the carburetor. The thoughtful critters built their home around the wiring harness and then used the harness as dental floss. There is also a wasp nest in the center of the generator pulley. At least all the hose clamps were the original style.I have just about all I need to add overdrive to the blue wagon. But I need one of these cables and handles. If you have one you don't need or see one in a salvage yard, please let me know...Since some people have asked, I decided to post a photo showing my other driver. Yes, it's a "Brand C", but it has both V-8 power and A/C, two items that are almost a necessity, given the aggressive Las Vegas traffic and our intense, brutal summer heat. Tinted glass is certainly in the future for the wagon, but there isn't enough power in that flat head six to drive uphill, against the wind with A/C on full blast. I have lost fifty six pounds over the last year (by order of my physician), but even that reduction off my fat bod still hasn't lightened the load enough to keep up with the maniacs in this town. And if you can't accelerate fast enough to suit them, they will pass you and cut right in front of you, even if you are slowing for a red light with just a couple car lengths of space in front of you. They apparently don't know nor care that they have just invaded your stopping distance and that they just might find your front bumper in their back seat! The AAJ brakes have helped immensely, but attaining the flow speed of traffic in short order usually keeps the impatient from trying the risky moves to get around this beast. I need to see how long it actually takes to get up to 45 mph, but even Neons and Tercels blow me into the weeds without trying very hard.
. Stuff happens. I took the wagon to my favorite driveline shop for a pinion seal. One of the employees struck the wagon and a Jeep with a forklift. The wagon rolled into another Jeep parked in front of it.The tail light was destroyed, the tail fin cap crushed and the fin trim bent. Fortunately, I was able to locate a new old stock tail light. I could find only one. A pair would have been nice, but since the passenger side tail light bezel is virtually pit-free, I could get it replated so it matches the N.O.S. bezel.The aftermarket, mid 1980s side trim, with vinyl insert was bent beyond repair. No great loss, as I was planning to have the original trim restored for use after the next painting.The regular auto body shops did not want to tackle the job. They either no longer employed personnel who were capable of handling this sort of repair, or did not have the time to bother with something this old.This damage was the result of the wagon rolling into the Jeep.I had three options here. First was purchasing a new old stock trim piece for around $200.00 Second was trying to locate a good used one. The third, getting this one repaired by a stainless trim expert for $40.00, proved the most practical. He also repaired the fin cap above the tail light opening.The body shops willing to tackle the job juggled two repair options. Hammer and dolly work would mean not having to remove this solid rear quarter. Replacing the quarter's outer skin would be less labor intensive, but would require trimming. cleaning, aligning and welding the replacement panel into place.Since the wagon is overdue for a complete repaint (something I can't afford at the moment), I decided the have the body shop leave the repair in primer. I'm certainly happy the damage wasn't any worse.I did not bother to get the fin trim repaired since I had a couple of extras on hand. The "Suburban" script did not break, but simply followed the contour of the dent. The fuel tank stopped the dent from creasing further. I was able to remove the script and flatten it for reuse.Two direct scans put together to show the remnants of the driver side tail light. Ouch! After getting around a stubborn and uncooperative adjuster, I decided to deal directly with the driveline shop's insurance company. Once I provided the necessary information directly to their main office, my claim was settled to my satisfaction. The shop people were remorseful for the accident and I will continue to patronize them. They do darn good tranny and drive train work!This is the wagon the day I picked it up from the body shop. The repair guy only needed the rear portion of the replacement quarter. The blue primer was a surprise. I instructed them not to paint the area as the car needs a total repaint and additional body work elsewhere. I was expecting a more traditional primer color.The car was covered in dust and hadn't been washed since August. We currently have a ban on washing cars at home due to a drought. I wasn't going to risk taking it through a mechanical car wash with the body damaged.
. I installed the quarter script and fin trim to make it look a tad bit better for now. The area where the trim holes end is just forward of where the replacement section was welded into place.You can see the great job the stainless steel trim guy did on the fin cap. The replacement section of quarter panel ended at factory weld line on top of the fin, but the primer was continued over the "crest" of the fin and nearly to the fuel filler opening. The "Inboard" section of the fin was easily worked back into place.That's a new old stock tail light. I also got a matching lens for the other side.Fortunately, neither the bumper nor the fuel tank suffered any damage. The pesky rust along the tailgate seam will be taken care of with a better tailgate skin from one of the parts wagons when the repainting occurs.This is the '58 wagon I acquired from Brandon Frame for the glass, core support and some odds and ends. The hood is in very good condition and both front fenders, though dented, are solid. Don't ask about the front end sheet metal. It is already promised to Roger at AAJ Brakes.This '59 parts wagon was acquired from Roger Howard. It was dented and large sections of the floor had been replaced with patches. As you can see, it is well on its way to being dismantled.I already promised the front section of this '58 frame to Forward Look member Thomas Dessart ("Peach Casino.")This was a power steering, power brakes 318-Torqueflite wagon. It also had a power window in the tailgate.The front fender resting inside this wagon has some serious rust issues around the headlight area. I suppose it could be used for patching another fender. This wagon arrived minus its engine, transmission, power tailgate window assembly, spare tire cover and side trim.It was a rainy day when I had the chance to take these pictures. The paint on these cars is much more oxidized than it appears to be when the cars are wet.This hood may wind up on my blue wagon when it receives its next painting. The original hood, though solid, has a couple of dents along the center line. We all know how hard it can be to remove dents from hoods. By the way, that is NOT rust on the primered corner. That brown area is actually part of the dead weed next to the hood.You have to wonder about how some of these cars rusted. The tailgate, rear quarters and floor on this '58 are very rusted in several sections, yet the front clip and frame are solid. The area around the passenger side rear quarter window is also very rusted. The car arrived with the window panel pulled away as pictured. I have no idea what happened to that section of the body or why.
