Description:
I bought this car at auction about a year ago. There was no description, not history, no bumpers, no grill, and nobody knew if it ran. I bought it. The transporter thought it was just an old car, so he didn't pay any mind, when he bounces it along the trailer rails. Before that time ther was not a single dent in the car. Now the driver fender is damaged, a small dent in the left quarter, and a few very smaill dents on the passenger side. While the car does have a lot of surface rust (I conclude from storage in a moist building) there is no rust through or holes ANYWHERE in the car!
Fluids changed, the car quickly came to life. It ran great, but one lifter rattled. we replaced it but then another did the same thing. MAybe all lifters need some renewing or resurrection to overcome the sitting time. I lean more to the mileage being original at 6, 000, than the possibility of being 106, 000. The original leather seats, door panels, carpet, steering wheel and dash are just too nice to have many miles on them. Even the top, while snaps are rusted, the canvas is without rip or tear, and may possibly be original too. The car shifts and drives, and the brakes work. The fluid was nasty in the hydraulic reservoir, but the top, seat and windows all work under power! All glass is original with no cracks. The steering wheel is smooth to the touch as a new car. The das is as new with original key instruction stickers in place. Five original spoke wheels and wide whitewall tires.
The auction company took title of the car to preserve anonymity of the owners, but here is what I have pieced together and deduced. The car was in NY. I think the New Rochelle are just north of NYC. There was an old political poster in the trunk on period canvas type paper. There was also a wrought iron umbrella stand, still wrapped for mailing in brown paper tied with string, mailing labels in tact. Also new-in-box bumper jack. I think a wealthy person bought the car new, and put it away after a summer or two of convertibling. There is a NYS inspection sticker in the windshield, and an inspection receipt from 1996 in the glove drawer, showing 6661 miles. I think the auction co would have removed if they could figure out that glove drawer slides, as opposed to a hinged door. I think someone tried to get the car going at that time, replacing the muffler and probably renewing brakes. At some point, the bumpers and grill were removed, bolt stored in a coffee can. I assume they were sent to a plater. I conclude that the owner died while items out to plate. No one else knew where they were so they went unclaimed and were lost.
I bought a really nice 53 Clipper, and have the show quality chrome bumpers and grill from that car to go with the Caribbean. They don't have the ribbed attachments on the grill bar, or the bumper rails of the senior cars, but these can be located and added, or left off for a cleaner look.
The car is super solid, door slams and alignment are superb. There is a guy who made dies and is reproducing the front wheel opening moldings. They are chrome plated steel, so not really straightenable. I also have a 51 (interchangeable) Clipper fender, if buyer chooses to replace, in lieu of straightening the original dented fender. Clipper fender trim hiles will need filling.
See more pics on website roysvintagecars.com or call me 303-988-0391
update: 2016-01-25
