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Day two: Model A restoration

January 7, 2010

This upcoming weekend (January 9 and 10) will have the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Model A Team continue their 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 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.

More quotes from the first weekend’s progress from Hank Ashton at the Adirondack A’s:

“The young participants spoke volumes to us. We had three generations and six decades of people working together on a project that they all wish to complete. One part of this build that the photos don't tell or show is the electricity in the air. It was impossible to watch and not want to get involved. Some of our club members showed up to observe and were later admonished by their wives that they were working in their good clothes. Guess who came back the next day dressed for dirty work?”

“Everyone was learning something, and I mean everyone. I wanted to get my hands dirty but I was too busy talking with the press, giving interviews, talking with future partners, and some cooking. Saturday we went through ten quarts of chili and forty-eight hotdogs, not to mention soda, water, and cookies. It has been a long time since I have been beaten out of home made cookies by a group of teens.”

“On Sunday, more home made cookies showed up and we tore the engine completely down. The parts washers were going constantly and they formed an assembly line to get everything clean. When dried, it got painted. Anything that was painted Saturday received a second coat Sunday. The underside of the body was painted and excess was removed from the oak flooring. The oak flooring was trimmed off square and the kids were taught how to use a square and hand saw. They also learned how to cut hardwood with splintering the edge by using masking tape.”

“All in all, we were impressed and delighted with our first weekend. Next scheduled weekend will have the body taking shape and the frame completely reassembled.”