Hi All. Sorry 've not been around much. Its been a busy summer for me. One of the things I made time for though was picking up another project car, this one a 1966 442. This car has a story behind it. A good friend of mine here in Medford bought this car about 20 years ago. 400, 4 speed, 3.90 non-posi. He drove it for a while the way he bought it but wanted to do a frame off restoration. So he began and completed the frame and rolling chassis. Had the body painted and installed on the chassis. Had the interior done, but not installed in the car. Then life changed as it sometimes does. His wife became ill and the car went to the back burner for the last three years. Late spring/early summer this year his wife died. Then this summer he became ill, and was down for about a month. When he called me to say he decided to sell the car, and offered it to me I said yes. He also included a lot of spare parts, his car trailer, and some shop supplies. My friend was meticulous, bagging and tagging fasteners and parts, so assembling the car will be a big project but not as hard as it could be. I've also got my 1967 Cutlass 4 door survivor car still, so on some things I can use it as a pattern. I've already admitted to some of you that I'll likely not have time to restore all the cars I've collected. But this one has bumped to the front of the line. One more detail, part of the agreement was when I bought it was to take my friend for a drive when I get the car put back together. We have a cruise here in Medford every June. I probably won't have it done by June 2020 but as soon as I do he'll be driving while I ride shotgun in the car! The first two pictures are of him driving the car in 2002. The later pictures are of how I got it from him.

 

Pictures of how it looks today

 

Any current pics? Sorry about your friends misfortune.

 

Eric, I added photos from today in a second post, please let me know if you still can't see them. Yes, I'm sorry he wasn't able to finish his car, but am glad I'll have a chance to and we can go for a drive together in it. I got the original 400 engine plus a built 455 that he had a local shop do for him. I'll likely go back to original.

 

Can you possibly post the information from the cowl tag. Just interested on how it was decked out from the factory. I assume from your pictures that it was a Lucerne Mist color with light blue interior.
Thanks
Wayne

 

That's good body work on that passenger side hit.

 

Welcome to the 66 442 club John, I will be following along. Looks like a great start.

 

Lots of history with that car, I'm sure you will get it done and let him take you for that ride. Good on you...

 

Very nice John! This looks extremely close to driving, as most of the hard stuff is done, it will go together pretty quick the real question is are you going to reseal the drive train while it’s out or was any work done to it previously?
Love the color combo with the white top

 

Sorry to hear of his misfortunes he is lucky to have a friend such as you and to keep it on its path to be finished.

Good for you John and sounds like a good excuse for a field trip to see ya again, maybe make a local show, or just a good visit.

 

Best of luck in completing the project... I'm sure your friend will be thrilled to drive it when it is completed...

 

Lots of work needed, good luck with it!

 

Here's the trim tag. I haven't taken the time to key out the codes yet.

 

My favorite year of 4-4-2, John! That one will be a winner!

Randy C.

 

Thanks for the picture. So here it goes.
Lansing Car 12703
01-C Jan week 3 build
33817 Holiday Coupe 13493 were 442 option
D-C Lucerne Mist-Provincial White roof (two tone)
WO-Tint windshield and two tone molding.
983-B Blue bucket seats
2L- Floor 4-speed
5V- 442 Option

Unknown source indicates there were 8,025 Cutlass Holiday Coupes built with 4-speeds.

Nice car. It will look great when it is done.

Thanks for the info.

Wayne

 

Thanks Randy! I'm always excited about the "new toy" but have more motivation to get this one done!

Thank you for keying out the codes for me Wayne! I've got what I believe to be the original drivetrain so I'm going to try and make it as correct as I can to the way it was born. Ah... with the exception my friend already put power disc brakes on it and a fast ratio power steering box. Those two items would be easy to switch back if desired and I did get the original parts. But for now those items will make it more fun to drive. The gas tank is badly dented so I'll replace that, and the front and back windshields broke when my friend removed them. Other than those items I believe I have everything to put it back together. He also had an instrument panel restored by Ron Roth several years ago, so that's done too. On a side note, my friend purchased this car in Prineville Oregon about 20 years ago. That's considered to have a high desert climate so often the paint and interior are damaged from the sun, but cancer type rust isn't common on cars that spent much of their lives there. There was some rust in the trunk he had repaired, but overall there wasn't much rust to deal with. He replaced the dented fender, I believe he also replaced the passenger door then had the quarter panel repaired.

 

Way to go, Medford. It's in good hands.

 

Pictures look great, should not be too bad reassembling it. After paint I had all the trim and bumpers back on the car in a weekend by myself. If you really get at it you have a good couple of months work there without breaking into a real sweat.

 

Love that color combo!
Should be pretty sweet. Glad this one has some meaning behind it.
-pete

 

Just thought you might like to see a 66 with Lucerne Mist and blue buckets. Was also a 4-speed car. Delivery day in April 66. Love that color.
Wayne

 

I love Ron Roths work. I just had him do my 66 442s instrument panel as well. Nice car. Great story.