Anyone familiar with White Post Restorations

Safewiz

Safewiz

Senior Member
When I bought my car the gentleman that had it restored had passed. I assume his family didn't care much for it as they put it away and ignored it for many years. They got a dealer to try and sell it for them and he offered it as a 1929 ford for sale. No pictures, no details. My wife and I drove across the state to look at it. The dealer had got it running, but just barely. But in the rear was a packet with a stack of paper work half inch thick and photos of the restoration. I bought it on sight. Got a hauler to bring it home, flushed everything, rebuilt the carb, installed a new battery, fired it up and it ran perfectly. The paper work says it was a 2 year restoration, and the receipts added up to a crazy amount of money. Also there were pictures of him in newspaper clips winning many awards. Only had 252 miles on it when I got it.
I turned this car into my daily driver, 150 or more miles a week. With the exception of some of the brightwork and a couple of small paint issues, do to the fact wasn't put up right while they had it, it is still perfect. Had the car on the road since January, and have put over 3500 miles on it. I can't remember a time when I enjoyed a vehicle this much. A lot of people keep telling me I shouldn't drive this car and I should have showed it. I try explaining I bought it to drive, not to just look at and only drive on special days. Am I wrong for taking a car that was built to concourse specs and turning it into to a daily, or are there others that would have done the same.
 
Only you can answer your question. I personally think you have indeed made a grave mistake. Concours cars do not belong in parking lots, rain storms, etcetera. You should have bought a driver and let a true collector buy the Concours car. Wayne. .
 
White Post Restorations is about 25 miles from me. I knew the original owner, Billy Thompson, fairly well when he had a feed store. One of my clubs members had a bad experience with them buy they do fantastic restorations and have quite a good reputation.

Sewall Tyler
 
Nice to know. I am originally from Va, Amherst Co. , but now live in south Florida. I wasn't familiar with the builder. Thanks for the info.
 
"Am I wrong for taking a car that was built to concourse specs and turning it into to a daily, or are there others that would have done the same."

Ah, but was it built to MAFCA or MARC specs ? ;)

If you are happy with your purchase and enjoy the car, I think you did the right thing.


Even if it was restored to concours specs, you mention some issues with brightwork and paint due to improper storage, so when you acquired it, it was no longer concours-perfect ?

Personally, a "perfect car" would just worry me to death... ( mechanically perfect is okay ;) )

I would rather have a very nice driver and get out there and enjoy the vehicle.

So long as nothing catastrophic happens to the vehicle, it could again be restored to concours specs if you or successive owners decide to make that investment.

There are those out there who would have had no qualms about taking the car you bought and turning it into a rod.

Please continue to enjoy your Ford ! :)

( And White Post have been doing restorations for over 40 years (?) now... they must be doing something right... )

Frank
 
Thanks again for the input. I feel like I made a good buy, and I am enjoying the car. I fully plan on driving the car until the time comes to pass it down to my son, who also is into antique and classic cars.
 
I had a good relationship with one of the guys at White Post. His name is Dave Plank and I hope is is well. I used to see him in Hershey every year, but lately, I've missed seeing him. Hope all is well with Dave...

Frank
 
I visited the White Post facility in 1988 or so. It was very impressive. The owner Billy was a great ambassador for the State of Virginia and the old car hobby.
 
You did the right thing. It is yours to do as you please with. If the ones that think you should keep it for them to enjoy free, let them buy there own. It was restored once ,it can be again if needed.
 
I thank everyone for their input, as I feel a lot better knowing that I didn't do the wrong thing by turning into a daily.
 
Heck, you get to use your car everyday and enjoy it in a way that many of us will never know.

Congrats! sounds like you got a good deal and the best part is enjoying it! Many of us are envious of you.
 
You have a lot of guts as I see it! That car was built to drive in the 1930 era when traffic conditions were significantly different than they are today. My model A's are in perfect mechanical condition and I would not think of driving them 60 mph in heavy traffic. Did you make it a daily for economic reasons or for the novelty? Wayne
 
I have a car in the pole building that was in the body shop for 2 years for paint. After I got it back I was afraid to drive it, hasn't seen day light for 25 years. It just sits there and now will take a ton of work to get the mechanicals right. Thing is that I loved driving that car when it was my daily driver. Never going to do that again. I say drive that car and enjoy it every chance you get. That's what you bought it for.
 
I do drive the car every day. As soon as I got it running, sold my daily and now this is the only car I have. Gets me to work every day, and back home. A lot of people I shouldn't depend on this as being my only car. My answer is do you think the person that bought this car new in 1929 wondered if he could depend on it to be their daily driver. I'm sure they bought it, used it and depended on it. Well, so am I.
 
Safewiz said:
I do drive the car every day. As soon as I got it running, sold my daily and now this is the only car I have. Gets me to work every day, and back home. A lot of people I shouldn't depend on this as being my only car. My answer is do you think the person that bought this car new in 1929 wondered if he could depend on it to be their daily driver. I'm sure they bought it, used it and depended on it. Well, so am I.
Click to expand...

Traffic conditions were a whole lot different back then. I personally do not think it is safe to drive in heavy traffic, freeways and highways. Wayne
 
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