REPRINT OF ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2017 G&D, THE OFFICIAL VCCA INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

IT’S FUNNY HOW THINGS TEND TO WORK

     Out in life.  A first automotive love leads to another and then another; a chance discovery leads to uncovering a rare treasure; and an accident leads to a chance to start over. 

     My Chevy story starts in March of 1956.  At the age of 17, I was walking through a grove of trees looking for a 1937 Chevrolet that had been purchased new by my Uncle Calvin from Harner Chevrolet in LeMars, Iowa for $670.  It had been parked for about nine months by the school teacher who had purchased it from my uncle in 1941.  She had driven the ’37 for 14 years, then bought a 1955 Chevrolet and simply parked the old car in the grove thinking it wasn’t worth very much.

     My dad and I pulled it out of the trees and after a short tug, it started and ran quite well.  So, I paid her the asking price of $80 and bought my first car.  I drove the car for three years, then bought a 1954 Chevrolet.  The dealer only offered me $25 for the ’37 so I kept it —I still own it to this day, although it has been fully restored to showroom condition.

     Thus, in 2012 I found myself the owner of that 1937 Town Sedan, a 1936 Chevrolet Fire Truck and a 1954 Bel Air, which gave us three different vehicles to drive on Chevrolet tours.  We decided that would be all we needed.

A NEW PROJECT

     But as often happens in the antique car hobby, fate had other plans.  Early in 2012 I got a call from a fellow VCCA club member who had been bringing his cars to me for maintenance and major repair work for several years.  He told me he had purchased a 1931 Chevrolet Phaeton right-hand-drive model, planning to take it to an area swap meet for a quick profit.  Alas, he didn’t get a single bid and thought perhaps if the engine were running, it would improve his chances of a sale.  I agreed to take a look and we set a time for him to bring it to my shop.

     Upon his arrival, he told me how he had come to acquire the car.  Although there were 832 Phaetons made in 1931, only 10 of them were right-hand-drive (RHD).  He had heard of the car being offered for sale near Emporia, Kansas, about 90 miles from where we lived.  The car had originally been manufactured for sale in Uruguay, but how it came to be in Kansas is unknown.  

     In Kansas, it had been owned by an elderly man who kept it hidden from his adult children — he was no longer supposed to be driving, so he kept it parked in a barn behind this house.  Unfortunately, the barn caught fire and the fire department was summoned.  Upon their arrival, the elderly gentlemen instructed the firefighters to forget the barn, just pull the car out!  

     Alas, it was badly burned, the tires, upholstery, and fabric top completely consumed by fire.  The Sheetmetal was buckled and warped, the top of the radiator was melted, and the entire set of instruments was lying on the transmission in a melted pool of pot metal.  The floorboards, along with all the wood had been consumed in the fire, leaving only chunks of charcoal.  Subsequently, the gentleman passed away and the family held an estate sale, which included the ‘31 Phaeton.  That’s how my acquaintance came to own it.

    I purchased a new battery, ignition wires, and distributor cap.  After hooking jumper wires to the spare coil and employing a gravity-feed gas tank, the engine did fire up and ran reasonably well for a couple of minutes, but without a functioning radiator, I had to shut it down.  Calling my customer, I told him I had it running.  He then told me he had been thinking about it and decided it was a bigger project than he wanted to take on; he offered to sell it to me.  After some research and haggling, I agreed to take it off his hands.  

     The Restoration Although I had done a number of frame-off restorations over the years, this was the most challenging, yet potentially rewarding projects I would undertake.  I stripped the car down to the bare frame and began cleaning and inspecting the various parts.

     One of the first jobs would be to find a wood kit and get it on order.  That was one of the most daunting tasks. I called every advertiser in Hemmings and the G&D but they all advised they didn’t do Phaeton wood kits.  Finally, one of the suppliers referred me to a retired man in Ohio who specialized in Phaetons and actually made his own kits.

     Contacting him proved to be a tremendous bonus in the project.  He was quite willing to share his knowledge and expertise, which was considerable.  He told me he could make a kit, but he had another suggestion: he had a ’31 Phaeton body with new wood and was willing to take my body as a trade for the body with the wood already installed.  The only difference between the right-hand-drive and the left-hand drive body was the instrument panel, so I would keep mine.  After discussing the logistics of getting my body to his place and the refurbished body back home, we struck a deal.  My wife and I made a vacation trip out of it, so the plan worked out well.  

     After completely dismantling the car down to the bare frame, I found the chassis was in relatively good shape, so I loaded everything up for a trip to the sandblasting company.  After blasting, the frame and components were immediately primed with etching primer and painted.  As each component was refurbished, it too was primed and painted, then added to the frame until I had a rolling chassis, making it much easier to move around.

     Tearing the engine down in preparation for a complete rebuild, I discovered the serial number began with “R” which proved it had, in fact been manufactured for a right-hand-drive-vehicle and was likely the original engine.  It had been sleeved back to original bore and the pistons fit within tolerance. I did notice they were stamped (in Spanish) with “Made in the country of Argentina.” Thus, providing further evidence the car had been in South America for part of its life.  The rods and mains were re-babbitted and line bored to fit the freshly turned crankshaft.  New rings, along with valves, guides, and hard seats completed the rebuild of the engine.   

The First Drive   

     Then came the exciting day I first drove the chassis a mile or two to check out the mechanicals prior to installing the body. Having lived in Australia for five years, I knew how to drive on the left side of the road with a right-hand car, which proved to be a significant advantage when it came to driving the RHD Phaeton.  As it turned out, it was not difficult to handle the car and the check-out drive was fairly uneventful.  There were a few adjustments to be made, as is normal for a total restoration project, but the initial test drive went rather smoothly.

     I turned my attention to the body, and in due course it was made ready for paint.  That presented a dilemma for me.  I wanted it to be an original color but having been burned and lacking an ID tag, there was no way to know what color it was originally.  In addition, I couldn’t picture what the car would look like after painting.  So I made a few drawings of the car and gave them to an artist friend, who using original paint chips, water colored the drawings.

     I decided on Coffee Cream body and Fawn Brown accent with Swamp Holly Orange wheels and matching striping on the body.  When I finished the paint job, using acrylic urethane, we were pleased with how nice it looked.

     While I had done some limited upholstery work in the past, by now I had gained an appreciation for just how rare the car is and what a great potential it had.  Thus, I made the decision to have it professionally upholstered.  The person I chose had an excellent reputation for good work, although I was advised to double the time estimate he gave me.  That proved to be true, but since I was expecting it and planned for the time, it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.

Driving Adjustments

We had an interesting experience when I went to pick up the car.  We had lived in Australia for five years in the past and had been back for a visit while the car was at the upholstery shop.  When transitioning between driving on the left side of the road and the right side of the road, depending on which country we were in, one thing always helped me stay on the correct side of the road.  I had been coached, “Remember no matter which country you are in, the driver is toward the center of the road.”

     That works fine when you are driving a right-hand drive in a country where they drive on the left side of the road, but when you are driving a right-hand drive car in the USA, where we drive on the right side of the road, that rule doesn’t apply.  For the previous four weeks we had been driving in Australia on the left side of the road in a right-hand drive, so when I got the car to the street, it took me several moments to figure out just where I was supposed to be on the road!  But it worked out and in due course we arrived home.  

     After driving a few miles around the local neighborhood and making several adjustments to the brakes, checking the valve lash, and fixing a leak or two, the car seemed to be performing rather well, so I made an appointment with a local professional striping company.  The owner does artwork and lettering on over-the-road trucks, but also is very well known in the antique car hobby here in Wichita. 

     Driving the seven miles to her shop proved to be uneventful.  I had researched online to develop a good understanding of how the striping should be done and relayed the information to her.  She matched the Swamp Holly Orange wheels and had the car finished the next day.  When I went to get the car, there were other customers admiring it and exclaiming how great the car looked, but the most comments were about the steering wheel being on the “wrong” side of the car!

     As I drove home, I was startled a couple of times when I would meet a car and they began honking and waving.  At first, I thought they saw something wrong and scanned the gauges and checked the mirrors, but everything seemed to be okay.  The second time, the driver yelled, “Nice car!” and I realized others were appreciating the uniqueness of the Phaeton.  

     On the way, I stopped at the shop that had built and installed the exhaust system in the bare chassis.  Again, the admiring comments were a reward for the hundreds of hours of labor invested in bringing the car back from the brink of being hauled to the scrap yard!

Adventures on the Road

     My wife, Orpha, came up with an idea that has proven to be a great deal of fun.  My sister-in-law had given me a huge stuffed dalmatian dog to sit in our 1936 Chevrolet fire truck when it was being shown.  Orpha suggested we put it in the left front seat of the Phaeton and have it appear as if the dog was driving the car.  

     Then we took it on a longer “shakedown drive.”  It was hilarious to be driving down the street and meet a car.  The driver would, of course, notice the phaeton from a distance but as we would come near, we could see the driver do a double-take with an astonished expression, as it appeared as if the dog was in the driver’s seat.  

     Later, we did a 200-mile round trip to make sure the car was reliable and take care of any issues that might pop up in a fresh restoration job.  All went well, so we gained enough confidence to take it on the VCCA Southern Spring Tour in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in May of 2014.  The car performed perfectly and of course received lots of “oohs and ahhs,” which was quite gratifying.  Later, at the traditional photo shoot, the Phaeton was placed front and center along with a couple other convertibles.

     The last day of the five-day tour found us at a museum.  We were told to park in the bus parking lanes, so I followed the crowd and parked as directed.  It happened that our car was on the front row, next to the exit driveway.  While we were taking in the museum exhibits, my cell phone rang.  Glancing at the caller ID, I saw it was a fellow tour participant, so I took the call.  Upon hearing his urgent message, at first, I thought, “Okay, you are joking” and responded appropriately. 

      But no, Dan insisted it was no joke and repeated, “Ron, you better come out, a school bus just hit your car!”  

     I was stunned!  My heart sank and I felt sick as I envisioned the Phaeton smashed into the ground.  Hurrying out and rounding the end of the row where we were parked, I saw that the car looked okay. It must have been a joke after all I hopefully thought.

     Sadly, that wasn’t the case.  I was waved to where a bus was parked beside the car and its distraught diver was nearly in tears.  Indeed, her bus had hit the car, but it was only a dent about a quarter inch deep and perhaps two inches long, easily repairable.  However; the police had been summoned and an officer was busy taking the driver’s information.  He asked me for license, registration, and insurance card, all of which I had at hand.

     As the shock started to wear off and I realized the car wasn’t mortally damaged, I turned my attention to the accident report and responding to the police officer.  The driver could barely function she was so distraught and upset with herself.  At one point she commented, “I have been driving a bus for over fifteen years and have never put a mark on it and now this happens!”

     I wryly commented, “Well your record is still intact, there isn’t a mark on your bus.”  And indeed, there wasn’t.  She had been working her way out of the parking lot, having been forced to drive in the car lanes since we had the bus lanes occupied.  Thinking she was clear; she began her turn and the huge steel rear bumper swung out just brushing my fender.  The poor lady was so distraught I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.  But alas, my pride and joy had been damaged on its very first official VCCA outing!

     At the closing banquet that evening there were numerous comments and condolences.  Later as awards and presentations were being made, our 1931 Phaeton was voted the favorite six-cylinder car of the tour.  As we made our way up to receive the trophy, I asked for the microphone.  Taking the mic I observed, “Fellow VCCA tour members, all week-long people have been telling us that our steering wheel is on the wrong side.  I just want to point out that our car is the only car here with the steering wheel on the right side!”  That bought a round of whistles, applause and good-natured ribbing.

     Arriving home after a ten-hour trailer ride, the car was put back in the working side of the shop.  On the drive back Orpha and I had time to think and talk about what had happened and why.  We had taken up the entire bus parking area, leaving the bus driver only the car driveway to maneuver within.  The driver hadn’t been reckless, in fact witnesses said she was exercising extreme caution.  She also admitted fault without trying to place blame on anyone or anything else. 

      So, after considering those facts, and knowing I still had the paint on hand, I simply repaired the dent and repainted the fender, finishing it the next day.  Receiving a form from the school district in Kentucky requesting estimates for repair costs, I responded.  We listed the facts as mentioned above then suggested that if they accept my terms there would be no claim for damages.  I insisted they not discipline the driver, and if they had already disciplined her, it must be rescinded and stricken from her record.  If they agreed, I would make no claim.

     A few days later I received a call from the school district’s attorney.  He was calling to be sure I was serious.  I assured him I was and asked if the driver had been reprimanded.  He affirmed she had not and would not be.  I then acknowledged that he would likely need some kind of release of liability statement, so I asked that he send it out and I would sign and return it.  He replied that the school board felt it would be an insult to us if they demanded a release of liability, given the circumstances and that was the end of that drama!

     Now, some three years after the restoration had been completed, we have driven the car nearly 4,000 miles. It has been in numerous shows and tours and been shown to countless numbers of persons.  All express amazement at how nice the car looks and how unusual it is to have a Right-Hand Drive.  Most ask if it was a mail carrier’s car.  

     Of course, nearly everyone wants to know what it is worth and how fast it will go.  I respond that to me it is priceless, and perhaps a more pertinent question is: “how long will it take to stop it?” Actually, it has excellent brakes and on the two occasions I have had someone pull out in front of me, I slid all four tires.  Of course, it takes a great deal of pedal pressure, but that tends to be automatic when someone pulls out in front of you!

     This past week I received a call asking us to put the Phaeton in the “Black Top National” display for the third straight year.  Of course, I agreed and it will be on display to the public in the Century II Civic Auditorium for three days in June, 2017, just as it has for the past three years since the restoration was completed.

     While we enjoy driving all four Chevrolets I have restored and still own, the 1931 Chevrolet Phaeton undoubtedly commands the most attention and is my favorite car to drive – that is when it isn’t raining!  I do have the proper side curtains, but at best they only slow down a driving rain storm.  Still, it is worth the risk unless the forecast is a certainty for rain.  Then we drive the 1937 Town Sedan or the 1928 Coupe.  That still leaves the Fire Truck on a 1 ½ ton Chevrolet truck chassis.  That vehicle has an interesting history all its own, but that is another story.

     For now, I’ll be content to simply drive with my steering wheel on the right side.