1953 #276 Back on the Road

[Russ U.]

After waiting 15 months, I finally have 1053 #276 back on the streets. I registered the car yesterday at the CA DMV. The maiden voyage after becoming street legal was to our local 7-11 store to pick up a 24 ounce can of Fosters to celebrate the occasion.

The 53 became a regular car today, going to the dry cleaners and the UPS store.

For an unsightly car, I received a surprising number of waves, thumbs up, and comments. My favorite comment - a shouted "Don't Paint It!" The guy must have been a real car guy.

Russ
1953 #276

[Bruce B.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Cool looking car, a mixture of numerous years.
The tires and wheels, the steering wheel, the mirrors, the hood pins, deck lid latches and of course the seat covers.
It is a car that should be driven am you are proving that.
Nice ride.
Bruce B

[Tom H.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Glad to see the car back in service !!!! Have fun !

[Jay G.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Nice to see a driver. Much like alota rides were modified in the 60's and 70's to an owner taste. Now were too over the top anal-retentive about what's right and wrong. I'm Guilty of paying too much attention to my 67 being Org. and Correct. Make one wanna buy a Driver again with an incorrect engine and possibly Slot 60's wheels?

[Russ U.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Nice to see a driver. Much like alota rides were modified in the 60's and 70's to an owner taste. Now were too over the top anal-retentive about what's right and wrong. I'm Guilty of paying too much attention to my 67 being Org. and Correct. Make one wanna buy a Driver again with an incorrect engine and possibly Slot 60's wheels?

Thanks for the nice words everybody.

I am having a blast. I cannot tell you how much fun it is to work on and drive a car without worry about chipping or scratching the paint. I put tools, screws, bolts, etc on the car without thinking about it now.

As of this morning, #276 has 317,273 miles on it. Everything that can wear out has worn out and been replaced already. There is no reason to baby the car. The 50 year owner upgraded just about everything for performance. So I drive it as he did.

Slotted wheels? My 53 had those in the mid-60s as well.

[John D.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Great car !!!!...good luck....i wouldn't change a thing.............

[Jay G.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Yup, hard to see. But heres "yours truly" off to the prom in my H.S. Car for $600.00. A "58- 270HP Vette in 1970. The wheels were Slots. Thought I was pretty hip.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Russ, the '53 looks great!!!!!! Put another 300K on it! I have a couple of questions about the car;

1. What does the emblem above the side trim say?
2. Isn't the color factory '53-'55 Braatz Bronze?

Drive it like you------

Steve

[Ron L.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

After waiting 15 months, I finally have 1053 #276 back on the streets. I registered the car yesterday at the CA DMV. The maiden voyage after becoming street legal was to our local 7-11 store to pick up a 24 ounce can of Fosters to celebrate the occasion.

The 53 became a regular car today, going to the dry cleaners and the UPS store.

For an unsightly car, I received a surprising number of waves, thumbs up, and comments. My favorite comment - a shouted "Don't Paint It!" The guy must have been a real car guy.

Russ
1953 #276

Who wouldnt notice and give a thumbs up to that?
I'm sure the total purists are freaking out that its gold , has a fuzzy seat cover , and dons mid year knock offs though.

I say if youre not gonna restore it to specs, throw some nasty side pipes on it too.

A 53 "rat rod". I like it!!

[Russ U.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Russ, the '53 looks great!!!!!! Put another 300K on it! I have a couple of questions about the car;

1. What does the emblem above the side trim say?
2. Isn't the color factory '53-'55 Braatz Bronze?

Drive it like you------

Steve

Thanks Steve. A pic of the emblem is attached. I have no idea why the long term owner would put a "Gran Sport" emblem on the car. I havea vague recollection that a Gran Sport was a Pontiac or something like that.

If you look at the flash spot above the emblem, you can see the weave in the 53 fiberglass. My car has a fair amount of that over various parts of the body.

The car is Grecian Gold I believe. The car has been this color since at least 1957. A 57 pic is attached - right after the long term owner purchased the car.

Russ

[Russ U.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

I'm sure the total purists are freaking out that its gold , has a fuzzy seat cover , and dons mid year knock offs though.

Thanks Ron. I suspect the purists will quickly forget about the gold color, seat covers and KO's. This car is a nightmare from an NCRS perspective. It is far easier to list the things that are NCRS correct with the car than it is to list the things that are incorrect. Take a look at these pics.

[Ron L.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Thanks Ron. I suspect the purists will quickly forget about the gold color, seat covers and KO's. This car is a nightmare from an NCRS perspective. It is far easier to list the things that are NCRS correct with the car than it is to list the things that are incorrect. Take a look at these pics.

I can promise you at Speedweeks on the salt in Utah.....the rat rod crowd that shows up (and its large) would flip over this car. Like I said....I like your car, just the way it is.

Kudos.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Russ! love it. I see counting the left and right fender wibits , both still having the 8 wibits each on the fenders that they never been replaced or repaired .

[Michael A.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Roy - I'm almost afraid to ask...... but..... what's a wibit?

(I am cringing at the possible answers?)

Cheers

[Russ U.]

Re: 1953 #276 Back on the Road

Russ! love it. I see counting the left and right fender wibits , both still having the 8 wibits each on the fenders that they never been replaced or repaired .

Thanks Roy. Dave Elie drove the car about 300,000 miles from 1957 to 2007, much of it in snow country around the Western US. Dave was a ski coach and was at one point the VP of the US Ski Association. Notwithstanding all of the miles and winter driving conditions, Dave never had an accident in #276. So the car has a really nice body and a lot of original non-mechanical pieces.

Russ