Tom Geiger Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 I just came across these photos while looking for something else. Many years ago I put a low bid in on an auction that contained these three models seen above. They were / are utterly filthy and no doubt sat out untouched for many years... 1959 Mercury 1959 Lincoln with the same hood louvers 1959 Buick. All three were built by the same person, note the signature silver painted skirts... of course glued on there for keeps! And that's the only paint on these. He also liked wide whites. The Buick is the only one with side pipes. Both the Buick and the Lincoln had Connie kits, but the tire part is long lost. Each of these cars has some damage. Note things like the C pillars on the Buick and vent windows on the others are broken so they probably saw some play time. And the mystery... 3 cars built alike, all in the same year. Were these the work of a kindly grandfather and grandson? Were they sitting on a shelf or even a rafter beam in a garage all these years? The grime on them is a greasy to the touch. Maybe they sat near the oil burner. But somehow they survived all these years. Untouched. I've preserved them in plastic bags for now, mainly because I haven't gotten to working with them. I think I got the trio for a low $20 for the set. I was amazed that nobody bid against me. I guess I'm the only one not afraid of dirt. If only they could talk.
wayne swayze Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 My goodness! What a terrific trio! I hope one of your options will include keeping them as is.....a wonderful look at way back! But then again.....
DynoMight Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Wow. They look like they have had a lot of sitting time. Maybe they were just left up there, and they forgot about them... If only they could talk...
Tom Geiger Posted August 14, 2014 Author Posted August 14, 2014 My goodness! What a terrific trio! I hope one of your options will include keeping them as is.....a wonderful look at way back! But then again..... They are sitting that way for now, and the way I build there chances are good to stay that way a really long time! The only bad part is that the finishes were damaged like you see in the photos when I got them. Heck, I would've sealed that patina in with Dullcote if it was intact!
FordRodnKustom Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 Absolutely raw diamonds!Thanks for sharing.
Maxicoop Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 those are totally cool !!!!! you need to build a dierama of an old dilapidated dust barn and just set them in it just the way they are......
slusher Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 Nice find. Going to restore or just clean them up.???
Helix Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 Wow, thanks for sharing Tom...............let the resurrection begin
FullTimeHobbiest Posted August 14, 2014 Posted August 14, 2014 Awesome little read! Hope to see these come up in the future.
rmvw guy Posted August 20, 2014 Posted August 20, 2014 Cool look at the past! They do look like barn finds for sure. Thanks for sharing Tom.
Toner283 Posted August 20, 2014 Posted August 20, 2014 I might have a spare covers for the missing ones from your connie kits. I got a few in a vintage parts lot. PM me if you're intetested. If you have pics of what they should look like that would be good.
Dragline Posted August 20, 2014 Posted August 20, 2014 Those are just crying for paint [and more than a little Dawn]. I'd do em up. Bob
Tom Geiger Posted August 21, 2014 Author Posted August 21, 2014 Yea they could stand a run thru the dishwasher! So far I've left them as is since they are cool. And I don't have another 50 years to recreate that patina!
John Goschke Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 Looks to me like they deserve a wash, repairs, and a rebuild! I love old builtups with nice patina and that looks like a heavy layer of dirt. Dirt isn't necessarily "patina."
Tom Geiger Posted August 21, 2014 Author Posted August 21, 2014 Yea John that's hard earned dirt! Actually greasy to the touch, so they'd probably benefit from a swim in the purple pond. They are currently tucked away, haven't opened the box they're in since I moved... Can that really be four years?
Danno Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 Wow. Gems. Oh, if only we could have new re-issues of some of these beauties from that wonderful era.
mnwildpunk Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 If it was me which it is not I personally just put them on a shelf and let the story of how you got them and then let the speculations roll
charlie8575 Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Tom, when I start playing with a project I picked up, I can give you the tire for a Buick continental kit. It might be a bit before I get to it, though. Nice score. Charlie Larkin
Tom Geiger Posted August 22, 2014 Author Posted August 22, 2014 Tom, when I start playing with a project I picked up, I can give you the tire for a Buick continental kit. It might be a bit before I get to it, though. Nice score. Charlie Larkin I might have a spare covers for the missing ones from your connie kits. I got a few in a vintage parts lot. PM me if you're intetested. If you have pics of what they should look like that would be good. Thanks Charlie and Chris! I don't know what I'm going to do with these, but I'm not a big connie fan. If those carriers come off without much damage, I already expect to have to rechrome bumpers... then they will be gone. The tough part is that someone glued those shirts on really well, so I expect there to be a real mess to deal with there!
disabled modeler Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Very cool!.... I have the 59 Lincoln and 59 Mercury but the Mercury is ROUGH and the Lincoln needs the roof part it has been warped and cracked way too bad to be fixed. Nice cool old finds worth restoring.
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