CCA-Dave
January 14th, 2021, 12:36 AM
I'm actually a VW guy, and have been my whole life...but have you ever caught yourself wondering what things are like on the other-side? It started a few years ago when I was gearing up for another winter of driving my pickup truck, when it dawned on me "why don't I buy a rear wheel drive, inline-6, and slide around for a winter?"
For whatever reason, I found myself shopping for a Rambler every fall...but never pulled the trigger. And then this past August? While surfing craigslist for no good reason, a grill caught my eye.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50571041762_31810b6026.jpg
I had a buddy who lived nearby go take a look at it for me, and then bought it over the phone on his recommendation. Turns out, he never even tried to start it! Once i picked it up, I realized it was too good to winter drive...far too good. Turns out it's a genuine Futura, though I realize some of the trim (front fender tops) aren't correct. The previous owner got a fair bit into the interior re-do, of his own design. I have to finish up a kick panel, and recover the seats. We had planned to take the car out on a 3-day car rally, so a set of walmart plaid covers were quickly made up.
When I bought the car he offered me the correct '63 grill for it, or I could take it with the '62 grill that was on it. Since it was the grill that originally caught my eye on the car, I figured I might as well keep the '62 grill. For hubcaps, the only set the previous owner had were from (he thinks) a '64. I used some Plastidip to black them out where I thought it would work, figuring I can paint them down the road if I like it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50833387988_92d0bd7d4f_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50833388483_4bd577be62_c.jpg
Alas, we didn't make the rally. We had three days to get the car ready, and it hadn't been started in 6 years. If that wasn't bad enough, there were a number of issues on the car that needed to be sorted. Surprisingly, the fuel system wasn't the nail in the coffin!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834209477_e08b9861b4_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50559624998_c1da6a9cba_c.jpg
With a new tank, lines, filter, pump, & carb rebuild it actually ran pretty well...and I did get to enjoy the fall with the car. But with every purchase, there is always a long laundry list of things to correct and repair.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834124221_ee42e3eee2_c.jpg
As far as I've been able to ascertain, the car has '65 Comet front disc brakes, a '64 3spd C4 transmission, and (we believe) a 200ci engine. It came with an aluminium rad, I installed an expansion tank that fits my style, and we lowered the front by trimming the springs (before I learned about the Shelby-Mod).
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834208907_9a1ab82db0_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834210917_6be32d6d27_c.jpg
Through the process of working out a number of the issues so far, when I've googled for tech answers a number of times it's the Rainier Falcon's group that has the answer...so I figured I'd join.
For whatever reason, I found myself shopping for a Rambler every fall...but never pulled the trigger. And then this past August? While surfing craigslist for no good reason, a grill caught my eye.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50571041762_31810b6026.jpg
I had a buddy who lived nearby go take a look at it for me, and then bought it over the phone on his recommendation. Turns out, he never even tried to start it! Once i picked it up, I realized it was too good to winter drive...far too good. Turns out it's a genuine Futura, though I realize some of the trim (front fender tops) aren't correct. The previous owner got a fair bit into the interior re-do, of his own design. I have to finish up a kick panel, and recover the seats. We had planned to take the car out on a 3-day car rally, so a set of walmart plaid covers were quickly made up.
When I bought the car he offered me the correct '63 grill for it, or I could take it with the '62 grill that was on it. Since it was the grill that originally caught my eye on the car, I figured I might as well keep the '62 grill. For hubcaps, the only set the previous owner had were from (he thinks) a '64. I used some Plastidip to black them out where I thought it would work, figuring I can paint them down the road if I like it.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50833387988_92d0bd7d4f_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50833388483_4bd577be62_c.jpg
Alas, we didn't make the rally. We had three days to get the car ready, and it hadn't been started in 6 years. If that wasn't bad enough, there were a number of issues on the car that needed to be sorted. Surprisingly, the fuel system wasn't the nail in the coffin!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834209477_e08b9861b4_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50559624998_c1da6a9cba_c.jpg
With a new tank, lines, filter, pump, & carb rebuild it actually ran pretty well...and I did get to enjoy the fall with the car. But with every purchase, there is always a long laundry list of things to correct and repair.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834124221_ee42e3eee2_c.jpg
As far as I've been able to ascertain, the car has '65 Comet front disc brakes, a '64 3spd C4 transmission, and (we believe) a 200ci engine. It came with an aluminium rad, I installed an expansion tank that fits my style, and we lowered the front by trimming the springs (before I learned about the Shelby-Mod).
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834208907_9a1ab82db0_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50834210917_6be32d6d27_c.jpg
Through the process of working out a number of the issues so far, when I've googled for tech answers a number of times it's the Rainier Falcon's group that has the answer...so I figured I'd join.