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The Kids are off and Building at SAMS's Garage

January 7, 2010

Saratoga Springs, NY - This past weekend was the beginning of a 5 month project that brings together teenagers from the Capital Region Community and members of the Adirondack A's Car Club to build a 1930/31 Model A Huckster at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. This is the first frame up restoration project that is to be completed at the Museum with the help of the Adirondack A's, bringing three generations of car lovers together for this project.

A dozen students aged 12-16 from a thirteen county area have made a commitment to learn about what it takes to rebuild a vehicle from the frame up. “The young people were asked to write a 100 word essay and draw a picture of their favorite Classic Car from the 1930’s or 1940’s,” according to Alan Edstrom, Director of Programs and Events at the museum, “It’s a pretty hefty task. We even interviewed the teenagers and their parents to give them an idea of the scope of the project.”

Hank Ashton, Youth Coordinator for the Adirondack A’s gave an overview of the work accomplished for the first session, “This past weekend's project was for the team to strip down the chassis, wire brush, clean and painted black. They also got some of the wood pieces fitted together and the motor ready for rebuild. We were delighted to see the young people jump in and actually complete the goals of the weekend ahead of schedule.”

The program is free to the children involved, and while the Adirondack A's bought the frame and the motor, the Museum has been steadily looking for donors for the project. Some of the key partners have already included Curtis Lumber and Morris Ford Mercury who co-sponsored the wood needed to get this project off of the ground.

Other sponsors to date include Safety Kleen - NAPA Auto Parts - Finch Pruyn - LaBaron Bonnie and Restoration Supply with the hunt for further sponsors for this project is on-going. A complete list of needed parts is available by contacting the Saratoga Auto Museum, and monetary donations are also greatly appreciated to buy specialty parts.

“The coolest part of the project,” according to Edstrom, “is that all visitors to the museum over Saturday and Sunday actually got to watch the building of the Huckster.” Museum visitors are invited to stop by on January 9 and 10, 2010 to check out the next phase of this project. On the agenda for the day is a Class on Generators, Starters and Distributors, as well as installation of front and rear springs and shackles, rear wheel seals and bearings, clutch and pressure plates. They also will begin to install the engine, brake components and rods, and the Huckster body, sides and roof will be built.

After building sessions in March, April, and May, the finished Huckster will be unveiled at the Museum's first big event of the year on May 15 and 16, 2010 at the Spring Auto Show.