Hi everyone. This message stings, but I have to throw it out here.
Those of you who know and have followed me since 2008 have watched the progress on my 1976 Pinto MPG wagon, which has been featured in the projects section, and viewed many thousands of times. This car has been lovingly and critically torn down to the point where, aside from the 2.3l motor (which runs great), literally EVERYTHING has been rebuilt/repaired/restored. Currently the project is in primer, and has been sitting now for almost two years, untouched, in a storage garage.
The short message is this - logistics, time, and health are now no longer with me:
1) I worked on this car in Dallas (where it is in storage), and now live in Seattle (I was divorced and moved, with only some of my belongings). While I am renting a home here with garage space, it still is not ideally suited to my needs to finish the vehicle. Plus, it will cost me a good deal of money to ship it here.
2) I don't have the time. I'm working full time now at Microsoft, and my life is busy. My spare time is better spent with doing outdoor activities, which I have grown very fond of (I am an avid hiker, and I like to explore all this state has to offer). I don't want to be tied to a car restoration any longer. Those days are gone.
3) My health - I permanently damaged my ears in 2007, and while I am able to function on a daily level. my tinnitus and hyperacusis is now far less manageable than it used to be. The rationale of owning, maintaining, and driving a car regularly to car shows makes no sense at all.
For anyone interested, look at my thread in restorations to get an idea of what has been done, and/or ask me questions.
A lot of details:
1) Fully running and driveable, but has no windows installed (except the new tinted windshield)
2) Has good Texas title
3) General:
a) 2.3l, four speed manual
b) have added factory AC (no compressor or evaporator hardware installed, but I have all the parts, and the underdash equipment is all completely restored and installed).
c) complete mechanical restoration (new brakes, bushings, front and rear springs, bearings, steering rack, u-joints, starter, battery, solenoid, condensor, fuel pump, carbuerator (rebuilt), gaskets, seals, alternator, new AC compressor and NOS evaporator (uninstalled), etc.....
d) Power brakes added (NOS brake booster)
e) Eight inch rear end added, completely torn down, inspected and relubed, new bearings, painted in POR-15 semigloss black
f) NOS four lug Cragar SS wheels with new 13" A70 tires in front, used four lug Cragar SS wheels in back (superb shape) with used 13" B60 tires
g) Added rear luggage area hinge cover with accessory lamp
h) Added underhood blanket
i) Has repro headliner installed
4) NOS parts including but not limited to grille, bumpers, gravel guards, dash pad, AM radio. wheel well garnish trim, driver side rocker panel, door handles, grille marker lamps, chrome headlamp surrounds, rear tail lamp housings, emergency brake cover, gas tank sending unit
5) General notes:
a) Front seats were recovered by previous owner in non original tan vinyl, look good
b) Front floor, rear floor, rear internal metal panels and roof underside all fatmatted
c) Firewall has been covered with new custom insulation
d) Bodywork is complete, front inner fender on battery side replaced with NOS unit, radiator support lower part was replaced, rear passenger quarter had been damaged in collision, was pounded out and finished with bondo, front floor rust (modertae) was fixed with POR-15 and fiberglass mesh (the floors are rock solid), external firewall and a good portion of front subframe were painted with POR-15 prior to etching primer
e) Internal rear long plastic side moldings are in bad shape and deteriorating from sun exposure
f) Gas tank was re-brazed (had small holes in it), internally lined, externally painted with POR-15 silver finish
g) All bulb plugs replaced with new units (old ones had corrosion and poor contact)
h) Car will need a new midline trim piece across the doors (the original pop riveted add-ons were utterly damaged and removed, door holes were filled, but fender/quarter holes were not
i) Door hinges were removed, cleaned, repainted and lubed
j) Have repro rear door rubber, side rear window rubbers, hood to fender bumpers, hood to cowl seal. Do NOT have new door rubbers or whiskers.
k) Have a good replacement steering wheel
l) The car needs a new exhaust system. The piping is all solid up to the muffler, where it is broken from rust
6) Caveats:
a) This car MUST be sold out of Dallas, I am not shipping it to Seattle unless it does not sell.
b) I have many, many photos but no videos of driving the car. If you are concerned about this, it would require us to arrange a meeting time to pull it out of storage and for you to start/drive/inspect it. Going to Dallas to do so will cost me money, so please consider my time. Shipping arrangements and costs are on your schedule and cost.
c) We would also have to transfer the title ownership to you.
That's a LONG message but I wanted to share as much as I could about my situation, intentions, and what has been done/what parts are included. What's next? If you are interested, WRITE ME ("popbumper1@sbcglobal.net"), and I can send you my phone contact.
Ideally, I'd like to get this done before Summer, as I have no plans to be in Dallas in the Summer.
This is a car which has been CAREFULLY and THOROUGHLY restored, with a LOT of NOS parts, beautiful wheels, fully running, and requires only paint and interior to be finished to make a very, very nice car.
PRICE? I'm not going to state any figure at this time. Consider what you yourself would have to go through to bring a car to this level, the amount of NOS parts that are included, and the upgrades I've done, and establish dialogue with me. I'm not giving it away, and I don't want to be lowballed. I can send a variety of "as is now" photos or "as it looked when I did a test paint" if you provide an email.
Thank you very much for your interest. I do hope this vehicle finds a proper home where it can truly be enjoyed.
Chris
