We purchased our 56 Olds in October 2014 from Ohio from an eBay add seeing around 20 photos of the car, well into the second week of Febuary 2015 it arrived in the UK and we got a chance to see it for the first time in person! Was a very exciting day but dull and cold weather out. We both love the car, it needs some work to get it on the road and unfortunately its staying in storage for a few months until I've room in my shop to get it in, but at least its here and the nights of worrying are over. Very excited and can't wait to get started on the car. A couple of pics of it in the UK:

 

Looks really solid, congrats.

 

Pictures can do cars great justice! lol There is a HUGE hole in the drivers floor, even if the car was locked you could climb in through it lol, also a small hole in the passenger floor. Rocker panels have some rust to as well as the usual places but nothing that looks to much of an issue or that needs sorting right away. I imported new front and rear floor pans and inner and outer rocker panels with the car so I will be fixing the floor pans straight away along with getting the car running.


The car hasn't been run for about a year, the brake pedal (power brake) is rock solid, I couldn't move it. Are they generaly this stiff whilst there is no vacuum there or am I likely to have an issue with the master cylinder being seized up? I didn't mess about with pressing the pedal to much, the interior has quite a bit of mould in it where it was sat in the container and got damp, so I didn't to sit in the seat too long! The mould will clean straight up though so not worried there.

 

I like the two tone, nice.

 

You've got to be pretty excited, good luck with the car.

 

That is so cool, congrats!!


I don't know why but I really enjoy hearing and seeing stories and pictures of old American cars in Europe or Australia. Good luck with it!

 

Great to see it finally in the UK Chris! Sounds like you've got your work cut out with it! Who knows, if I end up getting my car home in summer/autumn, maybe we'll see each other at some shows someday? That would be amazing. Good luck with the car, it's fantastic

 

Looks like a solid start. Not super rusted away. Very Stylish.

 

Hi Chris,
The new car looks great, bet you cant wait to finish my car and get yours in the workshop!!
Thought I had better join the forum in case I cant get hold of you (I think you are going to be busy for a while)

Paul

 

She looks like a fun project.

You also will have one plus over us poor stateside people. From what I remember from being stationed over there, there are more re-chroming shops and the process is cheaper in the UK (compared to the USA).

Good luck!

 

Best looking car they ever made!
But then of course I am biased even though mine is a Sedan.

Looking forward to your updates!

 

Cheers for the comments guys.

Hello Paul, glad to see you signed up here, lots of usefull information on here and others with interesting cars. I'm allways available if there is a problem, only a phone call away.

As for the chrome shops, I can't say for the rest of the country, there are 2 that are local to me, I've only ever dealt with one but I wouldn't say they are cheap! No idea what stuff costs in the USA to get re-chromed but here for example a 56 olds rear or front bumper to be re-chromed will set you back between £400-£500.

 

Good looking car Chris. I am sure you will have a lot of fun with it. Being from the UK, I am sure you will know how to deal with the rust. I spent some time in Lakenheath in the 70's. Bought an old Engish Austin from the 60's. Had a flat one day and put the Jack under the front frame rail. Jacked and jacked and the car never went up. I opened the front door and the top of the Jack was hitting on the brake pedal. It pushed the frame right through the floor. good luck with your project.

 

Haha bet that was a fun day. Yes being in the UK and having owned 2 VW Beetles in the past I'm very familiar with rust!

 

Great looking car!
You should have it finished by summer :P

 

Cool ride have fun with it a show us the pictures of work while you progress!!

 

Looks good.

 

Congratulations! Love the color combination. Keep us posted on your restoration progress.

 

Cheers guys, I'll post a project thread up once I've started it

 

Enjoyed your website....esp the Olds refurb!

 

Thanks! In a few months there will be another olds refurb on there!

 

Kind of hard not to appreciate the lines of a '56 2-door hardtop!