Some time around 1994 or so, I had spotted a 69 fury ragtop sitting under a tarp.   The man living there said it was his father's car. He had bought it new and all the kids learned how to drive in it. ( I learned to drive in a 66 Fury III ) He said his father was going to restore it one day. He was 80 at the time.  Five years later, I received a phone call saying "come and get it, if you want it". So I did. It is a 318 car with power top, power steering, power drum brakes, light package and the exterior trim package. I drove onto the trailer and into my garage. June of 2000 I started to take her apart. In May 2003 I had rebuilt the drive line, suspension, floors and the fenders, doors and hood are ready for paint.

       Of course a couple of donor cars have helped out. I drove 4 hours to drag home a hard top that gave up its fenders, one door, hood and deck lid. I also went a whopping 20 minutes to bring home a 70 newport convertible for the rear seat bottom. Mine was rusted to the point of nothing to attach the material to. The newport ended up donating all its seats and factory green tinted windows and windshield. I paid $325 for the thing and sold the reamaining hulk for $350. The frame was gone as were the 1/4s and ribs for the top. The interior was beautiful under the dirt.

 

November 2003: It looked like I might be getting a paint job for Christmas. Things slowwed done a little, so now it looks like January 2004. I guess I'll get me a paint job for my wife's birthday!  I have put a 3.23 geared posi unit in the differential to make better use of that six-pack up front.

 

March 2004: Our birthdays have come and gone... I am going to get this thing to the paintshop this month if it kills me! I have refinished the dash frame work, cleaned and installed the instrument cluster and installed my dash pad.

 

June 2004: DONE!!! Are we ever really "done"?  True to my word, the first weekend out, I went on a one hour run to the original owners that gave it to me. He was very pleased with what I did with "his"car.

 

Many thanks go out to Joe, Sr. and Joe, Jr. for giving me the car. My wife for putting up with the time, mess and money to complete it. And my friend John for going on the adventures of bringing home the parts cars... Now all I have to do is find time to start on the Wanna-Bee..............