Hello Y'all form the great state of South Carolina

Hello Y'all from the great state of South Carolina

I'm Denise and I am currently working on my grandparents 1953 Chevy 210 Townsman that I am trying to finish this car for my mom to see. She is almost 70 with numerous health issues and got started on this project before my grand mother passed away.
My grandparents purchased this car brand new in 1953 or 1952.. not sure. But they used it for everyday driving and family vacations. They traveled to Florida and the mountains every year and a couple of trips to Niagara Falls. I have seen photos of the picnic basket on the back tailgate at some of those little pull-offs on the side of the scenic highway. Trying to locate some of these pixs for my TinWoodie scrapbook.
I got totally immersed in the project with the research, and when I found out it was going to cost $5,000.00 for the original hand-painted woodgraining. So, I tackled the woodgraining and have been involved ever since. The car is currently at the motor shop and hopefully soon will be starting on the interior.
I'm am so grateful to have discovered this forum, with so many knowledgeable members. Any advice on inside interiors or photos would be most helpful and appreciated!
Thanks,
Denise

 

Welcome Chevy Gal sound's like a good project with nice family history!

 

Well it's about time you showed up!
It's gorgeous!

 

Welcome aboard Denise, glad to have another female around the joint. And a chevy gal too

Does your mom know your fixing up the car? I hope her illnesses are not serious? I think it's great your fixing up the car for her...good luck with everything and keep us updated.

 

Welcome to the site, from Virginia.

Bill

 

What a great story and a super job so far on one of my favorite wagons. You are a great person to be thinking of your mom and wanting to show her her parents car in all its glory again. And what a beautiful car it will be...already IS.
to the wagon train, Denise. We are proud to welcome you to our wagon family. Please keep us updated on that beauty!

 

Welcome aboard. You've done an incredibly beautiful job on that wood graining!! Post some more pictures of your work please.

 

Very cool indeed!

Welcome aboard.

 

That Looks Great!! 210's are deluxe cool. Nice job on the grain too!

 

Thanks Everyone!!!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the warm welcome! What a great forum, y'all seem like my new extended family. I am learning so much valuable info from all of you. Keep the ideas and thoughts on my project coming. I am still trying to find some good photos of interiors and someone who has leads on the ribbed linoleum for the cargo area and middle seat base(I think). I never actually saw a piece of the original linoleum,so I am not really sure what actually had the linoleum on it.
Yes, my mom does know about the car, but she hasn't seen it. She was the one who had my dad start on it, then his Alzheimer kicked into warp speed, and I had to step in. My biggest problem has been finding all the original parts that were removed from the car. It had been at several places being stripped down, sandblasted, frame modification work and body work. :banghead3: I am currently trying to get all the chrome gathered up and cleaned to be put back on. Has anyone tried cleaning chrome with tin foil and water???
Any advice or prayers are always welcome!
Hope everyone has a great Weekend!!!
Denise

 

I guess that is what they mean about labor of love...It looks great and anyone who has made it as far as you have with that build,I have no doubt you will track down the parts you need and looks like you may be able to give as much advice as anyone.Keep us posted on your build!

 

In your pix you show a wagon that has been redone. I found that wagon for sale and found a pic of the cargo area. You mention that the cargo area has ribbed linoleum. This car has carpeting in that area but who knows if it is correct?? The interior of the wheel wells don't look like they are done all that well so this owner may have just used carpet because, like you, he couldn't find the right stuff or didn't know what the right stuff is.

 

LOL! The totally finish car is not mine!

I was confused by your post! The pix I posted is of my family's car taken on 5.11.2011. The link you added is another car with the same color scheme. No, that car wasn't done correctly! They did not add the Maghogany woodgrain to the Birdeye's maple. I know the rear wheel housing are suppose to be green on the inside. The only thing that's woograin on the inside is all the window trim. I am currently wood graining 19 interior pieces. So, you are correct, I don't think they did the back cargo area correctly either.
It had to be removable linolenum because there is a removable plate on the bottom of the floorboard to get to the fuel tank sending unit, without having to drop the entire rearend and fuel tank to access. The new tank I rec'd from the National Chevy Association is the correct shape (cut out for the spare tire in the floor and cut out for the top of the rearend) but has a modification with the sending unit on the back side at the top. This makes a lot more sense to me...but that is why I don't think it originally had carpet upholstery mounted in the cargo area, I just haven't been able to put my hands on a old photo as of yet.
Thanks for the info..keep it coming

 

Sorry for the confusion...I knew that car was not yours....I presented my post badly.
So...do you now have and metal frame trim pieces that go around the border of that plate and around any other borders of the cargo area floor?

 

I had a 56 Ford wagon that had the ribbed vinyl floor in the back and I think that is what you are looking for. I don't know if the 53 Chevy Townsman HAD that in the back, but, if it did, it is hard to find if not impossible to find. If you were to find some you would be a hero to a lot of people. If you look at old wagons that have been restored you will see a LOT of creative means of finishing the cargo area...carpet, wood, etc but I have never seen one with new ribbed vinyl like OEM. There have been many here asking about it and on other forums as well. I'm not saying that it doesn't exist somewhere out there, but, many others have yet to find it.
Below is a pic of a 56 Ford wagon...look over the back seat and you will see the type of flooring that was used in many wagons. This is the stuff I'm talking about that has disappeard from planet earth.