I just bit off on a new project, a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook. What's so special about such a pedestrian car? Quite a bit. I've been a volunteer with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police for 10 years. When the Department was first established in 1954, the first squad car was, you guessed it, a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook. I always thought it would be a cool idea to find one and restore it as a replica of the very first car. I've looked on and off periodically over the years, and either the cars were complete rust buckets, or they were already restored to such a high standard that the buy-in was too great and it would be a disservice to start mutilating an already restored car for a police car conversion.
I finally found my candidate. The car is in New York, but it was a West Coast car for almost its entire life. Gas tank and tranny are missing, but the seller is going to include a replacement tranny with the purchase. Just getting the paperwork straight. It's going to go to the workshop up in Emmitsburg, MD where we are currently restoring airplanes. The plan is to set up on bay for auto repair / restoration.
I figure mechanically, it's not going to be much different than LBC -- just bigger. Sourcing the 6-volt accessories to make it into a replica of "Stock #1" will probably be the hardest part.
I finally found my candidate. The car is in New York, but it was a West Coast car for almost its entire life. Gas tank and tranny are missing, but the seller is going to include a replacement tranny with the purchase. Just getting the paperwork straight. It's going to go to the workshop up in Emmitsburg, MD where we are currently restoring airplanes. The plan is to set up on bay for auto repair / restoration.
I figure mechanically, it's not going to be much different than LBC -- just bigger. Sourcing the 6-volt accessories to make it into a replica of "Stock #1" will probably be the hardest part.