29 Station Wagon

Slik

Slik

Member
The situation:
My father passed back at the end of July, just prior to that he gifted me a 1929 Model A station wagon, which has been stored for 35 years. Prior to going into storage the car was all original and almost perfect condition - has 68k miles on it. All canvases are original as is the wood and varnish. To the best of my knowledge the only thing replace was the roof. Unfortunately, the garage was not climate controlled and top to it off the roof began to leak.
Long story short - the car needs some work. At this point the engine does not crank (I expected that), back passenger wheel is locked up (that was the side where the water leaked in. Wood was covered in green mold but a good spray of water, soap and a very soft brush and that issue appears to have been resolved. The paint unfortunately is not something fixed so easily (If my uploads worked you will see a picture of the passenger fender - the worst of it).
I'm away for week and will be returning after 4 weeks - in the meantime - the engine is completely filled with ATF and will be soaking that entire time. I'm hoping it cranks when I get back.
Even longer story short - I've bid on a new contract and if awarded I will be apartment bound for the next 5 years starting in Feb. I'm torn - as a testament to my father I wanted to get this car running. But at the same time with the new contract I'm doubting I'd have time to do the entire project significant justice and don't want it to sit and wait for the next 5 years.
I've had several people tell me "get it running and able to stop and enjoy it as a survivor", others "restore it correctly - it is worth it". Looking for opinions here. I'd add a poll to this thread but haven't figure that out yet, but I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Oh - one more thing - I'm told the canvases are also original. One canvas I ahve not seen before and I can't seem to find info on it - there is a full canvas that runs from the roof to about midway of the front branch seat (enclosing the cab from the rest of the wagon) anyone know if that is an original piece or if maybe someone had it custom made ?
 

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Hi 'Slik', I'm sorry to hear of your Fathers passing but I think it is neat that you have this special car to remember him thru.

The answer to the canvas piece you speak of is an aftermarket piece.

With regard to restoring or preservation, ....my personal feeling is only YOU can answer what should happen. Any advice we give you is tainted because we will be using our own personal desires, thoughts & prejudices instead of yours. Maybe the only other thing I can suggest is there are many safe & preferred methods to store a vehicle safely these days providing someone is willing to make the funding available. Research this some and you will see what I am saying.
 
And have a place to put it where you won't lose any more ground...

Thats the part I hate about New England. Metal just doesn't last very well here. I envy those in the mid and southwestern states who can leave stuff out for generations - and then put oil and gas in it and drive way.

Maybe a storage unit? Better one of those places with the garage doors all lined up - but they can be sealed up pretty tight and keep the humidity away? Expensive.

Joe K
 
Well the thing about the station wagon is that, properly restored, it will be absolutely identical to every other station wagon of the same vintage; not even a color choice.
the originality (uniqueness) of the car is the true beauty to be found with it. That is what tells the story.
(But then, I'm tryin' to save an original 150A myself)
Yours appears way too nice to restore!
 
700rpm said:
They are only original once. Get it safe and running and drive it as is.
Click to expand...

I'll have to remember that saying.

Like Brent says above, only you can ultimately decide.

However, and unrestored car with some known history is VASTLY more appealing to me!

Sorry to hear about your father, but the car is currently in the same condition as when he gifted it to you - Preservation of it as it (mostly) is sounds pretty neat to me. Obviously mechanicals and brakes need sorting to be safe, but it could stay looking roughly the same as it is.

I say sort out the cloudy windows, stop any more deterioration and drive it as is! It looks nice/interesting/rare, and it's probably not going to be your "all weather" car anyway!

Where the paint isn't protecting metal much, apparenlty "Ankor Wax" is a great preservative, than you just rub on and leave. when it wears a bit thin, you can just rub a bit more on. There are probably other similar products.

We have a local collector with literally millions of dollars of unrestored cars, but they are all very rare, very early examples or have an awesome story to tell. Some are pretty rough around the edges, but the stories about them are amazing!
 
If it was my car, I would tell my wife to put a bullet in my head if I ever lost my mind and attempted to restore it.

Great car . . . history in spades . . . it waited for many years to come into your hands. Get it running, make sure it will be safe for the next 5 years, and when you have time to enjoy it, you'll always remember your dad and realize that most things were indeed better in the olde days.
 
Sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. :( I can relate to your feelings, I keep my Pop's old truck around because it was his everyday truck, if it was anything else its practically worthless, even though I still drive it now and then.
But, to be honest, neither you nor your Dad, cared very much about the station wagon, or it wouldnt have sit untouched for 35 years. Sell it to someone that will appreciate it, and remember your Dad in some other way. It will just become a burden for you. JMHO. Good Luck with your decision.:)
 
The question you need to answer is what do you want to do with the car. If your choice is to drive it and enjoy it look into restoring the damaged areas of the chassis. If showing it then you need to look at preserving what you have and correcting what is damaged. But you need to decide how you want to proceed. Many here will tell you to keep it totally stock, which is great. But other's will tell you to get it out on the road and enjoy it like your dad was going to do, also great. Of course if you went over to another forum they would be suggestion a V-8 and other hot rod modifications.

I suggest you find a local Model A club and go to a meeting. Find out if this is a hobby you might be interested in. IF it is they would be a reference to where to get things done and how to locate the parts.
 
OK here are my 2 cents worth. Since you seem to want to keep the car and eventually get it fixed up to some degree this is what I would do. Since you are going into an apartment for a few years, try and find a place close by that you can store the car in a safe climate controlled environment. Maybe you can even work on it while there a bit. Then join a local club, get some advice on how to fix things and get the parts/supplies while you wait. Then at the end of the contract, buy a house with a large garage and bring her home and get her to the desired point of doneness. Be it a full restoration or preservation. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mike
 
preserve for now-you can always restore-stop further decay and at minimal cost

to restore would probably cost you a good bit more then buying one done.

I understand it is your Fathers car-so preserve it from further deterioration.

you will be much clearer on this down the road....... and regarding what you really
want to do.
 
Slik,
Sorry about the loss of your Dad, Dad's only come around once in a lifetime.
I ADOPTED me another "DAD"---It made HIS & MY DAY!!
Mitch//pa, adopted me as his DAD & since I lost my Son, Gregg, I've adopted me 3 "SONS" also!
Bill W.
 
Nice old car. My guess is the wood may be original but the steel has been redone (I said "guess"). Unless you have a low-cost place to store it, and unless you're "handy" and can install the head with all of its parts and get it running, or have a friend who can, it might be better to sell it. I'm pretty sure that your Dad would not want you to agonize over it. For those of us who are Model A people, having the car, working on and sometimes even driving it represents our fun and makes it worth the outlay of money and time. If you don't especially like the sort of thing, then let go of your guilt and sell it. Just my $.02 of course.
Sorry about your Dad.
Ned
 
Tough call, but I'd at least repaint the right front fender. There are people that can make the paint match the rest of the black paint. A guy in our club had his 29 pickup fixed in a few places, and you'd swear it was an all original survivor.
 
Thanks for all of the input - they are all helpful but "They are only original once. Get it safe and running and drive it as is." definitely stuck out.

I think my goal now is to get it running and road worthy by Feb. The if/when the new contract goes thru - figure out what will come next.
 
Sorry for your loss. My suggestion would be to make the car drivable but most of all safe to drive. This way you are not going to make any decisions you may regret. I would also join the National Woodie Club, www.nationalwoodieclub.com. There are a number of NWC members in your area that would be willing to help. Keep us posted on your project.
 
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