Wheels Galleries

The third and final phase of restoration. The bolt-on sheet metal will be removed except for the radiator support, any final body work will get done and a black clear-coat finish will be applied. Dry-block sanding has been started. The visor, bumpers and hood have been removed so far.

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Richard Thomas Courtesy Photos

We're getting closer. She looks pretty good after a wipe-down, doesn't she? Too bad the clean won't last long with the dust in the air.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The interior is done except for a good cleaning and the new floor mat.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The last of the hood stainless and door handles are stripped and ready to be put back on.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

Wet-sanding is a time-consuming process, but critical to an eye-catching final deep finish.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

Thomas finally gets to install the NOS floor mat he found. That old rubber is so brittle.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

After a lot of soul-searching, Tiny Thomas decided to return to the original and remove the right side tail/stop light installed earlier. The wiring will be left in place in case Thomas or a future owner decides to re-install it.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The front bumper and fog lights are back on.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The garnish moldings are painted. The paint formula isn't available, so we matched with a custom mix using the clock delete plate as a guide.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

Did someone say Sweetie needs a good bath?

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

With the trunk area masked off and wheels covered, Sweetie gets a coat of single-stage black, which will be followed by wet-sanding, prior to the final two-stage clear-coat paint job.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The floor mat is in and it's back to Ron Pinkston for the pinstripe down the side to replicate the original.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The clear coat is done on the hood, fenders and small parts.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

While other parts are being painted, the buffing is started on the body.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

Tiny Thomas connects the switch to operate the back-up light, a much easier job to do with the seat out.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

The back-up light is switched manually. It does not go on automatically when the car is put into reverse.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

After wet-sanding comes buffing. Here, the deck lid gets the treatment.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

Here the wipers and defroster ducts are being reconnected. The car hasn't been final buffed yet, so the dust on the car is nothing to worry about. In a naturally dusty environment like a body shop it's impossible to keep a vehicle covered and work on it too.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

We spent considerable time trying to make the back glass rubber fit right. We ended up destroying it trying to make it fit. I ended up buying the rubber from Steele. It fit perfectly.

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos

"The pinstripe is on and Sweetie is done," Tiny Thomas said, ". . . if you can ever say any of these old cars is "done." I kept as much of the car original as I could. All of the glass is the original glass except for the windshield which got broken while being removed. The dashboard paint is still the original paint. Except for the exhaust, everything under the car is original including the surface rust on the body and frame. She'll never be a concourse car but she is beautiful to me. Thank you for sharing my story."

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Richard Thomas/ Courtesy Photos