Crimson and Clover: 1947 Ford Truck Restoration Project, $2500

After an accidental one-week absence, Vintage Truck Friday Night has returned. Today, we have a 1947 Ford truck with a color scheme reminding the author of a popular oldies song.

This 1947 Ford pickup project's mixture of red, green and red-oxide primer paint colors got that good old song Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells going in my head, so that title became the heading of this post.

The truck is in better than average condition for a well-used 63-year-old truck, and appears complete with the exception of the gearshift knob, original bumpers and taillights, the tailgate and passenger's-side inside door handle, all of which are readily available in reproduction form. Oddly, all four hubcaps are still present despite the shift knob and inside door handle being gone, considering that they could easily have been stolen or destroyed in its long existence. There appears to be little rust, although Bond-O and riveted sheetmetal patch panels may be issues here. The styling of these trucks is very nice, and this appears to be an easy project. The flathead V8 is still present, but no word on whether it runs. The transmission is said to be a 5-speed, but is probably a 3-speed or a 4-speed and erroneously called a 5-speed due to that configuration's ubiquity in sporting and economy cars today and/or the owner not knowing the gear configuration. One thing's for sure about the transmission, it's definitely a manual. The period-correct aftermarket turn signals add safety while keeping the truck's appearance close to how it might have looked when new. The price of $2500, the simple nature of early V8 (1932-48) Ford engineering, and the large variety of reproduction parts make this an attractive proposition for restoration, especially for a novice or someone looking for a straightforward project.

Find this project here in Chewelah, Washington:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1559350874.html

Rare Vintage RV: 1959 Bigfoot Motorhome on 1959 Ford F250, $2,500

Although this site is technically not an RV website, I sometimes find it hard to resist posting something unusual, such as the 1960 Bedford Dormobile or 1944 Flxible bus that I posted previously. 

This 1959 Bigfoot Class-C motorhome (then known as a chassis-mount camper), based on a Ford F250 cab and chassis, needs tires, brakes and paint but runs well, and appears to have all of its original appliances and fixtures, with what I can see of the interior in excellent condition. This motorhome has a 292 V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, and is available in Dayton, Oregon for $2,500 or trade for a 1958-59 Ford or Edsel car. 

Vintage RVs are an increasingly popular collector item, and are getting harder to find, especially with the interior as good as in this one and as original as this is. 

Find this motorhome here:

http://eugene.craigslist.org/rvs/1520475749.html

One-Off Sports-Racer Project: Triumph TR2-based "Gibbens Special", $2500

While nothing is said regarding this car's history or provenance, or even what kind of supercharger the engine has, this one-off open sports-racer, based on a Triumph TR2 chassis and mechanicals is an intriguing project. So intriguing, that I felt compelled to post all four pictures of the car. The styling is a pleasant mix of Lotus Super Seven, 1932 Ford and MGTD, and the body appears to be in good condition. However, nothing is said about condition of the body, mechanicals or chassis, and there would be a long list of things needed to return this to the road or racetrack, but at the price of $2500 for what may be a genuine 1950s or 60s special race car or would at least be a great change of pace from a stock Triumph or a Lotus Super Seven-style sports-racer, this seems like a great deal.

Find the car here, in "G Valley" (Grass Valley?), California:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/1546463378.html

Pint-Size Utility Vehicle: 1958 Crofton Bug, $3500

  The Crofton Bug was the final series-production version of the moderately successful Crosley car and truck lineup, which was originated in 1939 by radio, TV and appliance magnate Powel Crosley, Jr. The Crosley range started with two-cylinder light cars and a couple of delivery wagons with similar styling, underpinnings and mechanicals, that managed to pull off the daunting task of being both cute and ugly at the same time. 

After World War II ended, Crosley introduced an all-new line of light cars, this time with more conventional styling, a four-cylinder overhead-cam engine and a cute quarter-ton pickup truck available with two styles of cargo bed. Unfortunately, the postwar Crosley range was beleaguered by competitors from the UK and Continental Europe, such as the Austin A40, Fiat Topolino, British Ford Anglia and Prefect, and of course, the Volkswagen Beetle, all of which were more practical and (comparatively) better equipped, not to mention more reliable thanks to the fact that none of them had an engine block made of welded sheet metal that developed unrepairable pinholes within a very short time.

Even with the addition of a conventional cast-iron engine block and crankcase and a sports car available with or without doors to take on the sports-car market leader of the day, the MGTD, the Crosley was seen as little more than an oddity to most people, who went on to buy either conventional American cars or the European small sedans and sports cars that were highly popular in the days before people bought Hyundais, Kias, Scions and Daewoos as low-priced new cars. Crosley's last new product before bowing out of the car business was the 1950 Farm-O-Road, which was essentially a miniature Jeep with the Crosley iron-block engine and a full line of accessories suited to everything from the duties of farmers, ranchers and golf-course greenskeepers to tops, rear seats and side curtains intended to turn the Farm-O-Road into something similar to a car.

This Crofton Bug is essentially a Crosley Farm-O-Road in every way but its name and dealer network, is complete except for stock wheels and belly pan, and is very restorable. Crofton Bugs were produced from the mid-1950s to early-1960s, and are quite sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. Even with the 1990s-era wheels and ugly maroon paint, this Crofton makes the junkyard-like area in which the pictures were taken look better by de-emphasizing the Plymouth Acclaim and Ford Escort wagon rusting in the background.

Find it here, in Salem, Oregon:

http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/1515441379.html 

Mafioso Style: 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood, $2250

This 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood, with 85,000 miles and lots of work completed, is a stereotypical Mafia car, but would be good for other things besides filming mob movies. Everything about this car states that it is a classic American luxury car, and would be a surefire attention-getter at car shows or a great daily driver car for those who can afford to keep up with this car's gluttonous appetite for petrol. Some work is still needed, but the car is gorgeous and seemingly usable as it sits now.

Find it here, in Spokane, Washington:

       http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1522967005.html                         

Vintage Truck Friday Night @ StreetShots

Tonight is our inaugural Vintage Truck Friday Night here at StreetShots, and we have some choice restorable classic haulers here for our first round of VTFN. 

Here is a 1947 Ford 2 1/2-ton C.O.E. (cab over engine) flatbed truck. It runs and drives, has a 1953 Mercury flathead V8 (the last and best-developed of the breed), has a working Eaton 2-speed rear axle, and has great potential as a project. More and more truck enthusiasts are turning to heavy-duty models such as this since the 1/2- and 3/4-ton pickups are becoming scarcer and more expensive. Unfortunately, these cabovers are also being street-rodded, and are unattractively cartoonish for the most part. A restored C.O.E. would attract a lot of attention at the car shows, and I see a nicely resto-modded 1956 Ford C.O.E. around Eugene during the summer months that could easily pass for a stocker. While I like this style of cabover, I'm holding out for a nice 1947-53 Chevrolet or GMC and more disposable income for my turn to restore a C.O.E.

Find this project, located in Republic, Washington and priced at a very reasonable $2,000, here:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1527673968.html 

As far as old trucks go, most people prefer Chevrolets, Fords or Dodges, with others favoring GMC, Willys, International, Diamond T, Reo or Studebaker. But one will have to look long and hard for someone who knows about and likes Hudson trucks. This 1937 Hudson Terraplane, with its art-deco styling and striking curves, has no bed, rear fenders, headlight lenses or title, but all those issues can be rectified, some more easily than others. No mention is made of mechanical condition, but it's logical to expect that the engine and other mechanicals need a complete overhaul and restoration. An original-style bed might be hard to find for this truck, but a flatbed, stake-bed or wooden box bed would also look great. This project is priced at a reasonable $1500, is located in Colville, Washington, and can be found here:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1505897283.html

I'm a sucker for a nicely and authentically restored Model A Ford, as well as for a nice vintage truck, be it a beater that's been thrashed around a farm or ranch since it was new or a perfectly restored museum piece. This 1929 Model AA Ford long-wheelbase flatbed is one of my favorite body styles on all As, and would be an excellent project. An extra engine is included, and the truck is purported to be solid and straight. The flatbed with "headache rack" may even be salvageable with new wood and a fresh coat of paint. The asking price of $1750 firm is more than reasonable, and the truck is located in Dayton, Washington. No word on whether the trailer is included, but odds are that the trailer isn't even for sale. This would be an excellent project for a father, grandfather, uncle or family friend to teach restoration and appreciation of classic cars to a child with, and Model As are both easy to work on and easy to find parts for, thus making them a great first antique car or truck project.

Find this truck here: 

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1539514789.html

Classic Street Racer: Modified 1969 Lotus Europa, $3500

'69 Europa, as it appears now.

'69 Europa, as it appeared when first built to this specification.

Nice interior... I love the dash and steering wheel. The seats aren't bad either.

This Lotus was built in the late 70s/early 80s by a driving instructor and race-car driver who is associated with Team Continental of Portland, Oregon (http://www.teamcontinental.com). The original Renault engine and transmission were pulled and replaced with an Audi 4000 5-speed manual transaxle and 1.8-liter fuel-injected Volkswagen engine, which are still with the car. However, the VW engine is seized, and will need to be replaced. Other upgrades include the fender flares, Minilite-style alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, a second custom petrol tank giving the car a total of 21 gallons in fuel capacity and a second brake pedal for left-foot braking. The car will need to be repainted, although the interior is good enough to use as-is. The transmission needs shift linkage and brackets to be fabricated, and the original builder of the car can be contacted for information regarding the car and its modifications, including sharing more photos and giving advice on upgrading and improving the car.

Oddly, the car is listed as being located in Albany, but one of the pictures appears to have been taken in the Harlow Road area of Eugene. I remember seeing a red Europa with yellow Oregon plates in almost exactly the same area as the picture appeared to have been shot not too long ago, but I recall it being a twin-cam body style with the lower rear quarter panels.

You can take this classic street racer home with you for $3500, and find the ad here:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1542602340.html 

Low-Mileage Orphan: 1951 Kaiser Deluxe 2-Door Sedan, $4000

I'm a big fan of Kaisers, and this has to be one of the nicest of the 1951-53 "Anatomic Design" Kaisers penned by Howard "Dutch" Darrin available anywhere for under $5k. This car is claimed to have been parked in a garage with only 3 miles on it since 1977 (if anyone believes that, I've got a bridge for sale), but it definitely shows signs of being a low-mileage survivor car. Unusually for any Kaiser, especially this generation and the facelifted 1954-55 models, and for a car residing in the Puget Sound region, there is very little rust, mostly located in the lower rocker panels.

This is a great buy, and it is located near Whidbey Island, Washington.

Find this car here: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1537086056

Rare in the USA: 1984 Jaguar XJS Spyder by Lynx of England, $1995

This 1984 Jaguar XJS convertible is rarer than one might imagine, since this is the Lynx Spyder conversion not often seen in the USA, as opposed to the part T-top/part ragtop XJSC, the Hess & Eisenhardt convertible of the late 80s or the factory-built 2-seater XJS convertible made after the execrable XJSC and the Hess & Eisenhardt convertible ceased production. 

This car, #43 of roughly 65 made, is a restoration project needing paint, minor bodywork, upholstery and new top fabric, and (of course) electrical work, due to the pesky Lucas electrical system. It was kept in California for many years, and only recently arrived in Washington. It was last registered in 1999, and has spent the last few years outside, thus necessitating the top and upholstery replacements. All of the custom Lynx-only components are intact and usable, including the unique power-actuated rear quarter windows. 

There are some issues with the emissions-control devices being disconnected, although they are still present, the spare tire and jack are missing but readily available, and there is currently no title, although the owners are in the process of rectifying that problem at the time of writing. 

That said, this is an excellent project car for the right person, and it is located near Olympia, Washington. 

Find this rare and desirable project car here: 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/1534899661.html

Great Potential, Great Price: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190, $2400

This 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 was found on another Craigslist-browsing session, and is a European model according to the seller. The car is said to turn over and should run, and would be a great project car. The "Ponton" series Mercedes-Benzes are appealing when restored, and are less costly to restore than the 300-series sedan, the 300SL sports cars, and the 170-series sedans that preceded these. The asking price is $2400, and the car is located in Cottage Grove, Oregon (south of Eugene).

Find the car here @ http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1534087164.html 

Rare British RV: 1960 Bedford CA Dormobile Project, $1500

While not often seen in the US, the Dormobile campers built by Martin Walter Coachworks in Folkestone, England were a true pioneer in the recreational-vehicle world. Most of their conversions were done on Volkswagen Busses, British Ford Thames vans or Bedford CA vans, although there were other brands of small van converted by this firm. 

The vehicle that's the subject of this post is a 1960 Bedford CA Dormobile, in rough but restorable condition. The Bedford marque was a British General Motors product produced along with the Vauxhall, another British GM product. Therefore, Bedford was to the UK as GMC is to the US. This particular vehicle likely came to the US via Canada, since that country was a British commonwealth in 1960 and Vauxhall and Bedford vehicles were exported in a moderate quantity to Canada into the late 1960s to early 1970s. 

This particular Dormobile needs full restoration, but it is definitely worth doing, since there are very few of these left worldwide, and vintage RVs are steadily growing in popularity. Also, the original interior in this still appears to be present but tatty, and many Dormobiles of all types have been converted to a different style of interior.   

This Dormobile is on eBay in upstate New York, for a nominal $1500 Buy-it-Now price, here:  

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1960-Bedford-Doormobile-vintage-camper-rat-hot-rod_W0QQitemZ150109145518QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSalvage_Parts_Cars?hash=item22f333c9ae#ht_2387wt_1167

Low-MIleage American Luxury: 1971 Lincoln Continental, $2995

I've always been a fan of these big land-yacht luxury cars, due in part to me growing up around a Cadillac and a Chrysler, both of which were top-of-the-line models in their day. 

With 40k miles on the clock and excellent original condition, this 1971 Lincoln Continental is good enough to bring in a high four-figure or even low five-figure price, but as a result of the state of the economy in the US, and high gasoline prices, you can take this home for $2995 or offer. 

Find it here, located in Albany, Oregon eugene.craigslist.org/ctd/1537785516.html