Back roughly 6-7 years ago, my wife and I took a trip up to Atlanta, Georgia to visit her grandparents. This was our first visit together out of our home state of Louisiana. Id met her grandparents before on previous holiday occasions but had never been to their home. "Pop" as we call him, Lindsay's grandfather, is a bit reserved until you get to meet him and build a relationship. Rightly so as I was just sone kid she went to school with who he was now having to accept into his home for the weekend. Pop knew I was into cars, knew what I did for work, knew what I currently owned at the time etc. And yet in the half dozen times id met him he had NEVER mentioned his two classic cars he owned back home. You can imagine my surprise upon arriving and walking through the garage to see 2 mid 50s era classics. To make a long story short,(DISCLAIMER : DONT WORRY NO ONE DIED) that initial first visit we discussed the cars, what they were etc. Over the years of subsequent trips to visit etc we'd piddle with them and discuss them and such. His original plan was to pass down "Miss Phillips" to Kelly, his daughter, Lindsay's Mom. The know NOTHING about cars. Thats a blue one, thats a red one, thats a big one and thats a small one. Yeah, that bad. Bout 2 years ago they purchased a 63 F100 from Pop's friend out of Atlanta. Decent condition, runs and drives. It just sits in the garage, neglected. Knowing all of this, I started to joke around with Pop when he was going to pass down the car to Lindsay and I. Kelly would always chime in and say "No, no, thats going to me". Kelly knew they couldnt keep up with it and maintain it like Pop would want it to be. And regardless it would be passed on to us after Kelly gets older in age. Well about 6 months ago Pop and Kelly discussed it and decided it would go straight to Lindsay and I, knowing I enjoy and love cars, and that it would eventually be ours anyway. Over the past month we were looking at dates and open weekends and such as to when we could take the 7.5 hour drive to bring it back down home.
Don't forget that last trip length I just mentioned.
Before I go any further im going to defer and give a few details on the car, as lets face it, thats why were on this forum.
Its a 1956 Ford Customline Victoria. Its essentially Fords competitor to the tri-5 Chevy Belairs. Victoria is the top trim level they were also available in. Pop purchased the car back in the mid 90's in need of a rest. He purchased the car as it is what he drove in High School. He had his brother do an restoration on it to replicate what he used to own.White on black. v8. And a cop car steering wheel. One thing he did change was the engine. It now has a Ford 390 Big block. Supposedly has as mild cam in it. Was a reman engine at same time as resto was complete. Has roughly 5,000 miles on it since then.... Tells you how much he drove it. Ford C6 transmission, 3 speed auto for those that don't know. One of the neat features of the hardtop versions like this one is the absence of a B pillar. If you roll the front and rear windows down its straight through, no view obstruction. HORRIBLE in a rollover case, but fucking cool as hell to look at. And thats worth it, screw safety.
Back to the story. We went up last weekend to pick her up. Borrowed my dads 2500HD to pulpit, co workers trailer and hit the road north. While hanging out, Pop presented me with a book that his brother had put together of pictures through out the restoration process that he had taken. I have yet to take some pictures but ill be sure to snap some and post them up. He also had a folder with EVERY receipt of all the work he had performed since he purchased it. Pop was the second owner, I the third. Other than the original owner it has stayed in the family and will as such that I force. Looking at the weather it called for some rain here and there on the Monday drive back. First time towing a long distance. First time towing with this truck. First time towing in rain. First time towing alone in the truck. What could possibly go wrong lol. All in it was an uneventful trip, no major issues. It. Just. SUCKED. it poured the entire way home. There was a cool front moving through the south, fronted by rain, and we drove through it all damn day. Luckily before we left he had the foresight to tape up the window edges, as the gaskets are worn and need replacing. It took us 12 hours to get home. I was beat.
The cars got some minor issues.
-NEEDS TIRES, idk how old these are, but they are old
-As mentioned window seals are shot and leak
-Both doors need adjusting, drivers side kicks out in one corner and sits in at the diagonal opposite, passenger side is hard to open/close
- Something underneath is leaking, unsure what
-Driver window bell crank is broken and currently operated by a vice grip on the stud
-battery is held in place by bungee cords, no bueno
Ive had very little time to dive in and take a deep look, but these are the issues im currently aware of. Im sure others will arise once I take a closer look. But she is solid, I took her for a trip around the neighborhood, no major thumps, clunks, did notice a bit of roar, couldnt locate form where in the short drive, but will investigate later.
Enough talking here are some picks, majority on a trailer until I can find some time to take it to the back of the neighbor hood and get some beauties of her.
IMG_1453 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1464 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1469 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1481 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1482 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1486 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1489 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1490 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1491 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1493 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1495 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1499 by lawrx, on Flickr
Don't forget that last trip length I just mentioned.
Before I go any further im going to defer and give a few details on the car, as lets face it, thats why were on this forum.
Its a 1956 Ford Customline Victoria. Its essentially Fords competitor to the tri-5 Chevy Belairs. Victoria is the top trim level they were also available in. Pop purchased the car back in the mid 90's in need of a rest. He purchased the car as it is what he drove in High School. He had his brother do an restoration on it to replicate what he used to own.White on black. v8. And a cop car steering wheel. One thing he did change was the engine. It now has a Ford 390 Big block. Supposedly has as mild cam in it. Was a reman engine at same time as resto was complete. Has roughly 5,000 miles on it since then.... Tells you how much he drove it. Ford C6 transmission, 3 speed auto for those that don't know. One of the neat features of the hardtop versions like this one is the absence of a B pillar. If you roll the front and rear windows down its straight through, no view obstruction. HORRIBLE in a rollover case, but fucking cool as hell to look at. And thats worth it, screw safety.
Back to the story. We went up last weekend to pick her up. Borrowed my dads 2500HD to pulpit, co workers trailer and hit the road north. While hanging out, Pop presented me with a book that his brother had put together of pictures through out the restoration process that he had taken. I have yet to take some pictures but ill be sure to snap some and post them up. He also had a folder with EVERY receipt of all the work he had performed since he purchased it. Pop was the second owner, I the third. Other than the original owner it has stayed in the family and will as such that I force. Looking at the weather it called for some rain here and there on the Monday drive back. First time towing a long distance. First time towing with this truck. First time towing in rain. First time towing alone in the truck. What could possibly go wrong lol. All in it was an uneventful trip, no major issues. It. Just. SUCKED. it poured the entire way home. There was a cool front moving through the south, fronted by rain, and we drove through it all damn day. Luckily before we left he had the foresight to tape up the window edges, as the gaskets are worn and need replacing. It took us 12 hours to get home. I was beat.
The cars got some minor issues.
-NEEDS TIRES, idk how old these are, but they are old
-As mentioned window seals are shot and leak
-Both doors need adjusting, drivers side kicks out in one corner and sits in at the diagonal opposite, passenger side is hard to open/close
- Something underneath is leaking, unsure what
-Driver window bell crank is broken and currently operated by a vice grip on the stud
-battery is held in place by bungee cords, no bueno
Ive had very little time to dive in and take a deep look, but these are the issues im currently aware of. Im sure others will arise once I take a closer look. But she is solid, I took her for a trip around the neighborhood, no major thumps, clunks, did notice a bit of roar, couldnt locate form where in the short drive, but will investigate later.
Enough talking here are some picks, majority on a trailer until I can find some time to take it to the back of the neighbor hood and get some beauties of her.
IMG_1453 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1464 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1469 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1481 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1482 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1486 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1489 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1490 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1491 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1493 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1495 by lawrx, on Flickr
IMG_1499 by lawrx, on Flickr
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