Rupert ready 1.jpg

Rupert - A New Hope - Run The Cars

68 Newport on the road again after all these years

General Information

Bought this about 6 years ago. Not sure when it was run last, the previous owner hadn't run it, and pretty sure he got this from South lands - Texas maybe.

The frame had been bent about the same on both sides, so at the time I was going to take it apart piece by piece. Adding to the collective mountain of Newport parts taking up most of my basement. As we started taking the car apart, I was stunned by how rust free everything was, so plan B, the decision to stop dismantling and put everything back on it was made rather quickly. We found a highly recommended frame specialist in Shirley Mass. If he couldn't fixit, back to plan A. He lived up to his reputation & fixed the frame righteously.

Unfortunately, that meant I had another project Mopar to restore and this was to be shelved.

2021 rolls around and since the other remaining projects are still part-way completed and far from running, I didn't want to be without a running Mopar altogether. So my object is to make this future project road worthy enough to get to the pub or driving range and back home, and that's it. I need to have at least 1 running Mopar during this summer. Life's too short, blah blah blah, you get the picture.

Replaced the fuel pump, gas line, patched the tank, fiddled with the power steering pump, added a new battery and brakes & lines, tires and rims. Got it running and the carb gave out. I will rebuild it someday, but for 2021, it got a new one. While running much better the car, now 'Rupert', didn't move happily at all. It had major transmission issues (it was completely fried). I got it back rebuilt this last Monday night from Rhode Island and finished the install Friday night. runs real good, peppy and all, 1 brake light works and only the high beams currently. Probably need the semi conductor thingy in the column to fix the turn signals and brake lights (if I don't have my brain wires crossed).

So, this is day 1 of the 'running restoration' chapter. Complete with rich patina of crud on primer. Regardless, good to have 1 running Rupert ready 1.jpg Rupert ready 2 at the village.jpg on the road.

Mike

Comments

I've always thought it was funny that for the center console cars, they decided that under the dash away from the road was the best place to put the Tach. For an automatic no less.
Looks like an A/C car, is that the case? Hopefully the interior is in good shape.
 
1 step forward 2 steps back, sounds familiar lol. Keep up the good work, love the console! :thumbsup:
 
I've always thought it was funny that for the center console cars, they decided that under the dash away from the road was the best place to put the Tach. For an automatic no less.
Looks like an A/C car, is that the case? Hopefully the interior is in good shape.
It's crazy but that tach is really a vacuum gauge. Under close inspection it is really put together well. It is heavy and detailed and rather impressive. Runs off of vacuum line connected to the back of the intake.
 
I've always thought it was funny that for the center console cars, they decided that under the dash away from the road was the best place to put the Tach. For an automatic no less.
Looks like an A/C car, is that the case? Hopefully the interior is in good shape.
Is it really?! I was under the impression it was an actual tachometer. Guess it was just one of those 'sporty' things from the 60's, funny stuff.
 

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Mike McGuire
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