9/21/2014 Here's the thread showing Al's restoration of this car

http://realoldspower.prophpbb.com/topic33-12.html

Also see last update on this post for current pics.


Just wanted to share my recent find with all of you who are interested. This car was found on Ann Arbor, Craigslist. It is a one owner 81,000 mile original everything car. Options are PS, PB, AM Radio, 350 2bbl., Jetaway, and Chrome Side Window Moldings. I believe the color back then was Jade Gold? Black vinyl interior. I met the man who owned the car since new. What a nice, friendly older guy (85). He told me that both of his daughters learned to drive on that car. He drove the car for a while, then not so much because he had a work truck (I believe). He last drove the car in 1993, but claims to have started and run it regularly. He had the car HEAVILY rust-proofed when new. The stuff is everywhere. The good news is for a rust-belt car, it does not have much rust. Bumpers and chrome are near perfect. Floors are perfect. front fenders at the very bottom, as well as the right rear bottom of the rear wheel opening has some relatively minor rust thru. The bad news is - how to get it all off of the engine compartment, frame, suspension and wheel openings.

I hope to repaint the car - same color, 15" steel wheels and dog dish caps. Hope to either build the 350 to Ram Rod specs or find a complete 1970 - 71 442 drivetrain to replace the existing. Goal is to build a relatively low budget Cruise nite car.

 

Interior shots. Note only one 2 1/2 inch separation in the seat seam on driver side. Otherwise perfect.

 

Any advice on removing Ziebart rust proofing from frame, suspension, wheel openings & underbody/engine compartment would be truly appreciated. A friend suggested heat and plastic scraper.

 

Thats what I did on my 66. I was a northern car and heavily covered underneath. Wax and grease remover will take the last little bit but you have to get most of it off first.

 

Nice find. Good story. That trunk looks especially nice and suggests minimal rust, as you say.

You're calling it an F-85. Is it a true F-85 and not a Cutlass? The F-85 was introduced in 1961, and the "Cutlass" option package came out about mid-way through the model year as a version with bucket seats. Over the years, Cutlass production exploded while F-85 production declined. By '68, the F-85 was available in two-door coupe (post coupe, I believe) and four-door sedan models with either a 250 cubic inch 6 (the "Action Line 6") or a 350 V8 in 250 or 310 hp versions.

Production of F-85 V-8s totaled 13,422. Counting the Sixes as well, total F-85 production, including those made in Canada, was 21,563. In contrast, total production of all versions of the Cutlass that year was around 200,000.

The base price of your car was $2,595.

 

very interesting information. Yes it is an F85. I remember walking the new car lots in Chicago and seeing a bunch of no/low option F85s. I ended up with a 68 Cutlass Supreme. Always liked the cheap post coupe cars. Sleeper look.

 

I was curious too. If you look closely at the fender badges in this pic...



.... it really looks like a "F Eighty-Five" script. Nice to see it's original and customized up.

Adam

 

Here is a better pic of the script. Also note how the wipers stick up in the head on shot, it did not have the "hideaway" wipers. Or "Windshield Wipers - Recessed Park". The pic of the trunk shows the brown rustproofing around the wheel house.

 

i also used a heat gun and scraper. It works like a charm!

 

Awesome find....I'm jealous!

 

I'm not a member of ROP.

http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/...er=asc&start=0

For those who may be following the ROP thread. This is the car Al is using as his base. Thought it may make his project more interesting so see what he started with. BTW, the work Al is doing is incredible. The car could not have gone to a better home.

Bob D'

 

Italian ice The 68 F85 that Al Godon is restoreing that is your car or Al's car you lost me.

 

Hey Rallye, did not intend to confuse anyone. This is my old post from 2010. It was a car I had prior to his current ownership. Its his - just love following his resto on ROP and thought folks would like to see the "before" pics.

 

Al Godon acquired the car in January of 2011. Last week I got to see the finished product of his restoration project. Made into a Ram Rod tribute. Its a stunning, perfect car.

 

More....

 

car turned out incredible!

 

The paint on this one and the black car are exceptionally nice.

 

Very nice!!

 

Wow! That's just an amazing car.