That's really cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

Did they confirm that it was a stripe delete car?

 

She did that a long time ago. She sent me pictures of the car from 1971. I also have an original front finder. It has the original paint under a repaint. If you slowly wet sand it to the original paint there is no stripes. I just have no factory document to prove it is a stripe delete.

While I was there she showed me where the car was bought new. We stopped to see if any old records were available and they tossed everything out when the ownership of the dealer changed hands many years ago.

 

I have been talking to the original owner by email lately and she is making it hard to sell the car. We have gotten to know each other some and enjoy talking. I can't bring myself to tell her I am trying to sell it. Maybe it won't sell and I will have to keep it. That would not be a bad thing either. I think I have more emotions over selling this car than I did my Rallye 350 that I had for 24 years.

 

Dont sell it.

 

Eric - you did a FANTASTIC job with that car and I can certainly understand your reticence to sell and also how a relationship with the owners would only add to it. However, if she knew what the sale proceeds would do for your family, she might actually encourage you to sell.

Either way, I'm sure you'll make the right decision at the right time.

Best of luck!
Scott

 

I think that if you explain to her that you have a very nice offer for it & that it would be going to a good care taker & that what a blessing it would be for your family, I agree that, she might encourage you to sell it. Good luck either way, I'm sure it is a gut wrenching decision. Glad I don't have to make it!

 

If you love it keep it

 

Eric,

Do you remember what your wife used to clean your belts with? Need to clean mine up yet and thought about going to a dry cleaner but don't want them damaged since their blue.

 

She used Goo Gone on a couple sticky areas but after that she scrubbed the stains with dish soap and then tossed them in the washer with my work uniforms. After she washed them the first time I ended up taking them all the way apart and she cleaned them again.

I am now a believer in Goop Hand cleaner. I am willing to bet that Goop will get the stains out if you have any. Then just toss them in the washer.

 

Thanks Eric!

 

Either my camera sucks or I don't know how to use it. My old one was great....

I repainted the wheels to a closer to correct color. I am MUCH happier with it now.

 

It looks excellent! Some people here are going to be pretty upset you didn't clock your tires!

 

It's not the camera, it's the lighting in the garage.

 

I am sure you are right. I just get frustrated with it. I tried turning most of the lights off and didn't help. My wife can take here I pod and get a perfect picture every single time and don't adjust anything. Not sure why a camera can't do the same.

 

clock the tires?

 

I was going to ask the same thing. Have no idea what that means.

 

the letters line up with a point on the rim..for example the "B" raised letter lines up with the valve stem on every rim


thats clocking the tires..

 

And also the rocket emblem lined up with the valve stem. I can understand the thrill some people get out of that stuff but I can't get THAT into it myself. I can not stand working on cars but I love restoring them. When it comes to clocking things and doing things the factory did not do,,,, It feels to much like work on them to me.

 

Isn't there a mark on the tire that is supposed to line up with the valve stem for aid in balancing the tire.

 

Yup....line up the dot with the valve stem and the tire is balanced. An old friend who was a mechanic showed me this....he never balanced a tire!. My mechanic buddies today just laugh...

 

What I was saying about the "clocking" was tongue in cheek. Mark is right, it means putting the valve centered and opposite of the white letters. Some OC people say the valve detracts from the letters. Right...a lot of tires have a dot where the valve should be, because the manufacturer knows which part of the tire is the heaviest. It's just an aid. I think there's 2 dots, I forget....but I think the other dot is the heaviest or lightest point. That's why a good tire guy will move the tire so the wheel uses the least weight. Wheels can vary, too. The problem is the dot colors can vary by brand. And....most tire monkeys don't know about the dots. Usually, you can see the dots on new cars, they wear off fast. Your car looks great, I can see you have other things to do. I'd rather have my wheel wells look like yours, then worry about my valve position! Here's an example...the valve positioning here didn't happen by chance. https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0517-28...1-convertible/

 

I am SO MUCH HAPPIER with my wheel color now! joesw31 had some old paint laying around he sent me for these wheels. I give it to my paint guy and he said it was still good and repainted my wheels. Looks so much better now!

Thanks Joe!

 

Not that I didn't ike your car before but now it looks even better!

 

Looks much better than silver.

 

I drove this car exactly 700 miles on the nose. The car left today and headed to the new owners place as I type. This is something that I have always wanted to do and so glad for the opportunity to build it. Not sure if I will ever build another one but if I ever do it will not likely be to the level I did this one. The 700 miles I drove it are priceless to me and although I will never have another like it I will always remember what it was like to drive a new one.

Thanks for following along with me on this adventure.

Eric Jensen

 

I am glad it all worked out between you and Mike.
I know your car is in good hands.

 

Eric,


Thank you for sharing your "journey" with the W30 with the rest of us. It has certainly been an inspiration to me as I attempt to complete mine to the same standards as yours. Like you, this will be a one-time adventure for me. I have other cars to do but none of them will approach the one I'm working on now. Thanks again and best of luck with your future projects.

 

Congrats to you and the new lucky owner.

​​​​​​​Don W

 

Thanks for the ride along Eric, super job. Do you miss it yet?
I bet you won't miss the mortgage payments.

 

I'm sure you have mixed feelings about the car being gone.
You did a great job of restoring this car, you should be proud.

 

Thanks guys, I do wish I was in a position that would allow me to have kept it. I enjoyed the 700 miles I drove it but to be honest, I am glad it is gone. I want the car but I want to be debt free more. I will have the house paid off in less than a year and that is when it will hit me that I wish I had it. I am seriously thinking about selling the 70 Pace Car I just picked up and using that money to finish paying off the house. I am working between 70 and 80 hours a week right now so I have not had time to do anything to the Pace Car.

 

IMO it's best not to be pessimistic and look back and say you have regrets... With your skills and optimism, you know you can do it again if you want to looking ahead... You definitely have more pros then cons in this scenario of selling the car...
As for no mortgage payment, that's definitely a great feeling... We have been free of any major debt payments for almost two years now, just the necessary utilities and essentials and it truly is a great feeling... Now if we could only survive, in comfort, without the gas/electric/cable companies, that would be over the top...

 

Doing good there also. Only have electric bill. I am total electric with a very well insulated house. No pay TV and no cell phones. My wife has a Trac phone that we spend $110 per year on and that is all. I have an old flip phone that work pays for. I do have internet that is $35 a month. Other than that just LOTS and LOTS of taxes....

 

Just got to read this now, as I've been involved in the move here and the unpacking. As everyone noted, you did a wonderful job with that car and I'm sure glad you were as knowledgeable as you were with it so when it came to mine, I had no worries. I'm sure you'll keep track of it somehow as you seem to do all the good ones. Congratulations on the sale!

PS: I wanna see that pic of you sleeping in the car on the final night. I know you did it...