Dixie Flyer "Firefly" speedster photographs

5 minute(s) of a 91 minute read

Enough of all that I still have a ton of work to be done before the car leaves bound for Louisville for June 30th. Work is progressing but all so s l o w l y.

So days I can't help wondering if/how I am going to meet this important deadline. The plan now is for Arron to finish the four fenders so Peter the Painter can at least be working on them. He can then go back to fitting the original cowl sheet metal to the frame. Meanwhile I have just yesterday delivered the first batch of small parts (head light rims etc) to the platers.

2-7-2010

Not a great deal to report........ I have just been out to Sleeping Classics where Aaron is working away to some good purpose on the four fenders. The plan is for him to finish these first then the painter can start in ernest on them. I have to keep on emphasizing that all this has to be finished and the car ready to ship by May 14. 

It is still too early to have doubts but I can't help having some slightly nervous moments. The difference between the cost of sea freight and air freight really is prohibitive. 

Meanwhile I am sitting here with my hands tied.

2-8-2010

Wow! I have just had an e-mail from my shipping man who tells me that Air freight is only twice the cost of sea freight not the four times that I was expecting.

So who knows, I may just have gained a month........

Does anyone know what taxes are due on imported Antique cars into the States ?

Thank you Vern

Unfortunately there is a very good chance that the car will be offered for sale while it is in the USA. It's rightful home is there not in Holland, Belgium or Germany where it seems that most of the rare and interesting cars sold in Australia end up. Last car (a 1928 Singer) I sold ended up with what was claimed to be the largest Petro-chemical Co in Eastern Europe!

If you are following my story in the Antique Automobile I have not made it any secret that the car will probably be offered for sale.

Vern

My first and foremost concern is actually getting the Dixie Flyer to Louisville by June 30 in order to attend the AACA 75 Anniversary Celebrations. That is why I am batting my brains out in an endeavour to get it finished in time. Even if I miss the deadline for sea freight I am currently investigating the possibility of sending it Air freight. 

Talking to a friend just yesterday he made the very true comment. The best way to turn one dollar into seventy cents is to restore a car and then sell it.

I have taken the Lagonda to England for the VSCC big birthdays five times without selling it. I have been a AACA Member for some years and enjoy the contacts and the friends that I have made. Find a copy of the October issue of the Antique Automobile and read my piece in that. I hope that it fully explains who I am and where I am coming from. 

My big passion in life (outside my family) is finding and restoring BASKET CASES. Cars that no one in their right mind would dream of touching. Despite what some people imagine I am not a wealthy man and cannot keep every car that passes into my hands.

If I had not rescued the Dixie Flyer it would have gone to scrap metal four years ago. It has cost me thousands of dollars more that I can ever hope to get for it. but once finished I will need to move on to the next project.

Hello again Vern

I believe that you are something of a Dodge man.

Would you even consider restoring either of these cars?

The first one now lives in Western Australia and is known as the "Le Mans" Dodge. It was rebuilt in the style of a 3 Litre Bentley and actually went slightly better than one. The other you probably have seen photographs of before it has become quite famous locally as the "Flying Four" It now lives in North

Queensland.

I rebuilt both and then sold them so as to be able to move on to the next project which eventually led me to the Dixie Flyer

Hope this helps in some small way.