Moore_rb's 1962 Soft Top Patrol- L60-2-00504

[moore_rb]

Nice paint match, BTW. I'd be interested in seeing it next to the 558.

Here you go-

558 (Oregon Green, or Dragon Green) on the left, and the 303 metallic green on the right....:

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And, while I have everyone's attention- What do you all think of my reproduction canvas top?

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You might not believe it, but there is nearly 200 hours in materials research right there - trying to get the correct heavyweight canvas, the correct weave on the edge webbing, and tracking down all the military grade fasteners and hardware (none of which is installed yet in these images, but I have all the correct Lift Dot snaps and turn buttons all ready to install, just as soon as the Patrol is wearing its final paint job )

Here's a closeup showing the window detail:

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And, my upholstery guy and I could not have gotten it anywhere near this original looking without Riverpatrol contributing her pattern and her collaboration to the project- Thanks Leslie!

And just so there is no confusion- If anyone else wants to get an original-style canvas like this made for their Patrol- contact RiverPatrol, not me ...

[RiverPatrol]

Outstanding! This looks fantastic! Thank you for all of your hours spent researching and contacting vendors to get the right stuff to make this look like an original canvas top. I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between this one and an original one. Excellent job.

[moore_rb]

I'm really thinking about the 558 green... It offers several benefits:

1) I know it is a 100% "correct" Patrol color
2) Non-metallic means I can shoot it myself, instead of having to pay to have it painted (I am no good at getting metallic paint to flow out correctly )
3) Its less expensive than the metallic color

and, I kind of like the way it looks...

[miller]

Wow top looks brilliant mate! The canvas is an excellent match.

[Esteban]

Wow top looks brilliant mate! The canvas is an excellent match.

X2

Maybe I won't have to learn to sew after all!

[RiverPatrol]

I'm really thinking about the 558 green... It offers several benefits:

1) I know it is a 100% "correct" Patrol color
2) Non-metallic means I can shoot it myself, instead of having to pay to have it painted (I am no good at getting metallic paint to flow out correctly )
3) Its less expensive than the metallic color

and, I kind of like the way it looks...

Yeah, I forgot to comment on that, I was so excited about the canvas top.

I do like the 558 better also. It's very close to the original color.

[moore_rb]

7 years.... It's been exactly 7 years.

On a rainy September 7. 2014, I road tripped out to Ramona California, and brought home L60-2-00504; The "Ramona-Zona" Patrol.

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I've spent those 7 years moving this Patrol around my property, buying new car-covers for it (the Arizona sun has eaten 3 car covers in that time) photographing all the wonderful original (and working) parts that are still there (it only has 21k actual miles on it), and collecting all the parts that were missing (like doors, Hitachi carburetor, rear jump seats, and a correct early style hand-prime fuel pump) or had been cut up or beat up too badly to be repaired and re-used (like the tub and the front fenders). And, if any of you actually take the time to go back and re-read through this thread, I spent WAY TOO MUCH time trying to figure out (and understand) the unique metallic green paint that this one left the factory with (Nissan 303 green)

This thread has pretty much laid dormant for over 5 years now; while I rebuilt my 66 El-Bondo Patrol (for the 2nd time) and ended up sending it back to Texas (the land from whence it came back in 2013) https://60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5221, I've bought and sold a couple other non-Patrol projects, wife and I built a new condo for the horses, chickens and goats, and I've converted the old animal barn into my workshop. Heck- I haven't even owned that Ford truck that towed this Patrol home in the photo above, since 2017. I do still have that old, crooked flat bed trailer, but even that is going to need some love over the coming winter (It needs tires, new deck boards, and a new tongue-jack)

But this morning, September 7, 2021, with my car-barn finally all set up, and with enough room to actually roll in a project, there was only logical candidate. The one who's been waiting for 7 years...:

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Let the wrenches, the dirt, the grime, and the swear-words fly!... It's time to go to work...


Oh, and NO, I still haven't decided if It's gonna be metallic green again, or not...

[mad4hws]

7 years is perfect. Time enough for this project to ferment and a good plan (except for the paint color) to develop. Can't wait to see the progress. I hope it's quicker than the Minion Missile - the project that keeps on going and going and going.

[L60Boerne]

Well done Rob! Watching your attention to detail during the El Bondo build was an education in and of itself, for me. But at the end of the day it does take a team.
My white 62 and blue 66 both get new rubber trim around the triangle glass on the side doors this winter. Hopefully Ready with the wrench Rene can shim the 66 doors into place while he has the doors apart.

Patrolling again soon,
L60Boerne

[moore_rb]

Slowly melting away...

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and every broken bolt, every grain of dust inhaled, and every curse world makes me wonder why I love taking apart rusty, crusty old junk.

HOWEVER- my little orange sidekick has made lifting and removing all the heavy stuff a snap...

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I've already spotted some spots on the frame that will need some repair (the side wings under the firewall most notably) but the main frame rails look excellent, and will only need cleaning and paint