The purpose of this Blog

This blog is to detail my 50 years (1973 - 2023) with a 1928 Chevrolet tourer, affectionately called "The Red Chev".

The acquisition, restoration, improvements and my experiences over the years are covered in as much detail as I can remember.

Some of the later postings include car club outings and other vintage car items that I hope will be of interest to people.

If you have the time, scroll back to where it all began in 1973 and follow the journey so far.

Thanks for dropping by.

Regards Ray Dean


See my new section "The Red Chev - Repairs, Improvements, Maintenance and Technical Details" located on the left hand side of the screen.




Pages

Friday, September 29, 2017

"A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don't change it, you'll never go anywhere."


1932 ESSEX TERRAPLANE 6 - $17,500

LAST REGISTERED 1963 . STARTS OFF THE BUTTON OR BY CRANK IF BATTERY IS FLAT. 6 VOLT. DRIVES AND  ALL  GEARS WORK. ENGINE IS QUIET AND NO KNOCKS OR RATTLES.ALL TRIM INTACT FRONT CARPET WORN TO NOTHING, REAR CARPET STILL THERE. ALL INSTRUMENTS INTACT. TIRES ALL STUFFED, BALD AND PERISHED., BUT HOLDING AIR AS ALL NEW TUBES RECENTLY FITTED.. GOOD TO MOVE ONLY, WILL DRIVE ONTO A TRAILER  OWNED BY PRESENT OWNER  60 YEARS..GRILL SHROUD NEEDS CHROMING AS DOES BUMPER BARS AND REAR CARRY RACK. 90 THOUSAND MILES ON CLOCK. BEEN IN DRY STORAGE 60 YEARS. CANVAS ROOF NEEDS REPLACING AS ITS SHRUNK AND NO LONGER REPELS WATER, AND HAS PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE .  TIMBER FIRE WALL AND FLOORS. NO VISABLE ROT. ALL DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE AND ALL WINDOWS WIND UP AND DOWN. FRONT SCREEN OPENS ALSO AND ITS FITTED WITH A CAMPING SEAT.. 27 HP SIDE VALVE  6 CYLINDER ENGINE .  FAST CAR IN ITS DAY. WAS TOLD WHEN I PURCHACED IT THAT ONLY 3 WERE IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA THIS MODEL. HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER ONE OR ANOTHER ONE FOR SALE IN AUSTRALIA IN THE 60 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT.. IF YOU TURN UP AT YOUR LOCAL CLUB OR MEETING ANY WHERE IN AUSTRALIA NO ONE ELSE WILL HAVE ONE. EXTREMLY RARE CAR. NO TIRE KICKERS OR ANY OTHER TIME WASTERS. HAPPY TO TRANSPORT TO FERRY TERMINAL AT DEVONPORT FOR INTER STATE BUYERS OR BRING TO PORT MELBOURNE ON A TRAILER IF BUYER COVERS THE COSTS INVOLVED. GENUINE BUYERS WELCOME TO ASK MORE. EXTREMELY RARE VEHICLE















Sunday, September 24, 2017

Update - Aussie 1928 Chev Special

Ray has provided 2 updates on his 1928 Chev Special, please see below

20th September 2017

Well two days till race day and Murphy struck with a vengeance! In the last 3 days I've had to replace the rear main bearing with engine in car as I can't use my hoist! All day job . Then after getting the gear box out found my needle roller universal joint conversion was slipping. Back to the original sloppy version, then on reassembly couldn't crank it over , my mind went nuts, it would only start or crank over with Clutch depressed, much like its owner at this point, turned out the bush where the top gear box shaft fits in to the spline shaft had decided to cease mear minutes before,! so gear box back out again, throw the bell housing and union to a old gear box and reassemble for the 3rd time in as many days, fired her up an hour ago and picked up the kids from school , so far so good. Not got the twin SU carbies right just yet but that was another day operation getting the needles and main jets somewhere close even to get it to start.


23rd September 2017

Well success and failure! Practice run this morning my NEW Carby links snapped. On first lap. Jerry rigged it back together with fuel line and hose clamps. Got up to 30 deg Celsius closer to 45 on the track. 3 hours later our first race pre 1939 cars, including a Frontenac T ford a couple of MG's, Amilcar, Armstrong Siddley and a Bugatti. So no pressure. Got of well then on Lap 3 of 5 started loosing power I pushed on but at lap 4 I gave up load thumping from motor. Turns out front pulls cam off lost water pump over heated and threw a bearing. I had a put a retainer bolt on the pulley . So will pull it down and see what needs to be made stronger and work on the next race.



Original Posting 5th September 2017  - Aussie 1928 Chev Special


Ray Elbourne from Sydney, New South Wales is building a 28 Chev special.

The timber work completed 15 years ago is now covered (apart from the bonnet) in an custom aluminium body.

Ray has a deadline to finish the car for a race day on the 23rd September, at Wakefield Park 2 hours south of Sydney

Dual SU carbies will see this old 28 "Run Like The Wind" 

Good luck with the build Ray, not long to go, and let us know how you get on.








Saturday, September 16, 2017

Chev 4's anyone?


From the VCCA website

Model T Assembly in New Zealand


Most of the early Model T Fords came into New Zealand in packing cases from Canada, shipped, one per box.
Often, the boxes would be delivered from the ship on a dray pulled by horses. To assemble them was quite simple, and often done on the street. Remove the top and sides of the case; jack up the axles, fit the wheels, windscreen, and hood, put in some petrol, crank the car into life, and drive away.
The used boxes became a side line industry, many converted to out buildings and some to holiday houses