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Huge dose of gratitude to Undertak8184 for relaying info on this coach last Wednesday night. He happened to see an unrelated post made that same day and brought it to my attention. It became readily apparent that this was the same coach in my original post - #2. I then contacted the photographer and had a location in Alabama - but no number for the seller.
Thursday afternoon I headed out to cover the 742 mile distance with a fistful of cash. About 500 miles in, the photographer, Jeremy, called with the seller's number. Sweet! Luck on my side, I phoned the seller. 'Twas pertinent to ask him not to shoot me if I accidentally awakened him poking around at 2am, my estimated time of arrival...
Google mapping kicks ass. There it was!
Same wheels. Same window graphics. Same coach. Little crustier. (Upon scrutinizing the original photo, looks like the graphics were present and artistically covered. Not too shabby for '98.) At this point I decide to avoid police, catch some sleep, and return at day break for a closer inspection. Know that old adage? "Buy a car in the dark and you'll sell that car in the dark."
Amped, I didn't sleep much. Lay of the land prohibited some epic 'sun rising over the Crown' shot. First look:
Already convinced that it wasn't as bad as it looks, I liked the idea of busting out Krylon even before transporting back to Texas. Tell me that you wouldn't have laughed seeing someone with German fat caps covering these horrid '80s pajamas in the parking lot of Home Depot.
Then I started opening doors. Uh oh.
Floor? GONE. Whole thing. Flinstone front, Swiss cheese middle, missing rear.
Can't figure out how the dash was turned turquoise exactly. Notice the Ghostbusters key fob in the floor console. Classy.
Who even knows what the seat/console unit is out of.
Yep. Pink upholstery carried throughout - doors and headliner too. Well, what was left of the headliner after going around this awesome sunroof just ahead of the Crown.
Sills were actually solid. I think those were holding the coach together. Only the passenger side rear door was stuck (lock issue) - the rest opened easily and closed solidly. Hood was rusted shut. Couldn't pop it. Only 57k original miles clocked. (When did it go so wrong???) Under the rear aluminum extruded covers the quarters were rotted crap. Actual wheel arches? Nonexistent.
Best not to even make an offer. I feel that this is sadly little more than a rolling shell, even given the rarity. There was a large crack in the rear window surround. Pot metal isn't easy to repair. Tough calling this a good parts vehicle. In fact, the rusting pair of '59 Crowns I saw are more restorable than this '60.
One parting shot and I was back on the road by 6:45 to finish up 1660 miles, after a secondary stop.
May not have bought my elusive '60 but the trip was fun nonetheless. Made it back just in time for the Lone Star Round Up. Procar pics from there upcoming. My hunt continues.
Thursday afternoon I headed out to cover the 742 mile distance with a fistful of cash. About 500 miles in, the photographer, Jeremy, called with the seller's number. Sweet! Luck on my side, I phoned the seller. 'Twas pertinent to ask him not to shoot me if I accidentally awakened him poking around at 2am, my estimated time of arrival...
Google mapping kicks ass. There it was!
Same wheels. Same window graphics. Same coach. Little crustier. (Upon scrutinizing the original photo, looks like the graphics were present and artistically covered. Not too shabby for '98.) At this point I decide to avoid police, catch some sleep, and return at day break for a closer inspection. Know that old adage? "Buy a car in the dark and you'll sell that car in the dark."
Amped, I didn't sleep much. Lay of the land prohibited some epic 'sun rising over the Crown' shot. First look:
Already convinced that it wasn't as bad as it looks, I liked the idea of busting out Krylon even before transporting back to Texas. Tell me that you wouldn't have laughed seeing someone with German fat caps covering these horrid '80s pajamas in the parking lot of Home Depot.
Then I started opening doors. Uh oh.
Floor? GONE. Whole thing. Flinstone front, Swiss cheese middle, missing rear.
Can't figure out how the dash was turned turquoise exactly. Notice the Ghostbusters key fob in the floor console. Classy.
Who even knows what the seat/console unit is out of.
Yep. Pink upholstery carried throughout - doors and headliner too. Well, what was left of the headliner after going around this awesome sunroof just ahead of the Crown.
Sills were actually solid. I think those were holding the coach together. Only the passenger side rear door was stuck (lock issue) - the rest opened easily and closed solidly. Hood was rusted shut. Couldn't pop it. Only 57k original miles clocked. (When did it go so wrong???) Under the rear aluminum extruded covers the quarters were rotted crap. Actual wheel arches? Nonexistent.
Best not to even make an offer. I feel that this is sadly little more than a rolling shell, even given the rarity. There was a large crack in the rear window surround. Pot metal isn't easy to repair. Tough calling this a good parts vehicle. In fact, the rusting pair of '59 Crowns I saw are more restorable than this '60.
One parting shot and I was back on the road by 6:45 to finish up 1660 miles, after a secondary stop.
May not have bought my elusive '60 but the trip was fun nonetheless. Made it back just in time for the Lone Star Round Up. Procar pics from there upcoming. My hunt continues.
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