I got up early today and tried to get ahead of the looming 95 degree weather. I went to 4 small, rural junkyards that I used to frequent years ago. Most I hadn’t been to in over 10 years. I was surprised at how little old iron was left. In junk yards that used to have rows & rows of ’50s & 60’s cars were now filled with 80’s & 90’s junk. The scrap prices of 5 years ago seemed to have taken their toll on these classic American parts sources. Of all 4 yards, I found one 1950’s car. A 1959 Edsel Villager Wagon. It was pretty picked over, and nothing I needed interchanged with it.
I got home around 11:00am, and the temp was already at 83 degrees. So I unloaded a set of rims & almost new tires I had stored and carefully cleaned them up and primed & painted them. The hot weather & bright sun was perfect for baking on the Chrysler Red enamel I decided to use on them. I don’t know what it is, but whenever I see an old ’50s vehicle sporting bright red wheels with their small hubcaps I smile. So for now, the wagon will have tires that will hold air, and shiny red wheels. I have a set of really nice 1957 or 1958 Ford center wheel covers in the attic of my garage, but it is so hot up there now I think I’ll wait to go searching for them. Tonight during the evening I will be putting the wheels on the car. Now, I must go BBQ hamburgers.
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