Take note when the journey finds you.

I finally received the title and bill of sale from the seller of the car a few days ago.  First thing I did was to check the engine code against the original documents.  It turns out that what I thought was a replacement engine is actually the original engine.  I mixed up the engine codes (X is often the replacement code, not R) and R is the code for a high compression engine-which is what a 1500S would have had from the factory.

I haven't yet checked compression but I was able to confirm that the car was last registered in the mid 1980's and until I bought the car, it hadn't been registered in the span between.  The original owner went to Germany, bought the car with cash, insured the car and sent it to the US.  I have the original bill of sale in Germany, the insurance documents issued in Germany, the transportation bill of lading for the steamship and the outbound and receiving paperwork.

All in all, I need to replace the rockers (I have them), do some minor work to the heater channels, replace the area rotted out behind the B pillar (found replacement metal) and do some minor work on the rear apron and the front end (taken from the white car).  I don't have the records to indicate why a rather large hole was cut in the tunnel at the passenger's side foot well but I can have that welded back up before the pan is painted/sealed.

At 63k miles, I should be able to grease the shit out of the front beam, clean it up and use it.  The steering box is tight (I have a nice rebuilt one as well), the original transmission is still sporting the solid axle boots and should have very low wear (I'll definitely change the fluid).  The brakes are my area of real concern but I can test them out (and fix them) when it's warmer (and maybe the body is being painted).

It is odd that this car was so rough given that it was driven for less than 20 years.  I don't have any service records so I don't know how or when the car was serviced but it seems to have had quite a few problems in its short time period of use.

I may make a unicorn out of this car yet...

Background Tune: "Part One" by Band of Horses