February 1977
Nailed by a pickup truck while parked.
May 1977
Repaired and ready to roll. The bodyshop found a good rear quarter.
September 1978
After a year of driving the car while in college, I hit the brakes one day
and the drivers side upper A-frame rotated forward, the mounting rusted from
the years of winter road salt in the midwest.
March 1979
I bought a 1966 Fairlane 500XL for $150 sight unseen after a friend in Denver
found it and described it. He sent me this picture and two months later
drove it to Michigan for me. While there were dents in every panel,
this car was completely rust-free and the underside was clean factory primer.
The remaining pictures are of this car.
December 1979
I spent the summer of '79 stripping the guts out of the 500XL. As
the 500XL had a 289, I transferred the front springs, suspension, and
steering components from the GTA. I also moved the rear end over.
I transferred the GTA hood as well. I then towed it to a body shop
for bodywork and paint. Here it is in storage after being painted inside
and out.
June 1980
I rolled it out of storage when the university let out for the summer.
These photos show that it was merely a shell. I spent the whole summer
putting the car back together using the parts from my GTA.
July 1980
I cleaned up the engine and transmission and, with some help from my friends,
dropped it into the car.
August 1980
Another month and a half later, the car was 90% assembled. The interior
and glass had yet to be installed as well as the grille and front bumper.
This work wouldn't get done until the next year.
March 1982
I worked on the car during every break during my senior year in college.
After graduating, I finished the work on the car and moved to Florida.
My brother drove the car down from Michigan a month later. This is
me with the car in Florida the following year.
Today
The car is on jack stands in the garage. It hasn't been driven since
1989. The engine has been fired every year or two. Eventually,
I will get back to it.
Questions / Comments?
knavekid@yahoo.com
