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TD Stuff by Bud
Lazarus' Story, Part 2
Lazarus' Story, Part 2
Background: I fell madly in love with the first TD that I ever recall seeing.
The year was 1951 and I was all of 16 years old. I knew that someday I'd
have one of those. Fast forward about 7 years and a lot of history and
you'll come upon a U.S. Marine and his new bride setting off a honeymoon
trip from Saint Claire Shores, Michigan to San Diego, California in their
1952 TD. Actually, my wife drove the TD from her home in Hingham, Mass. to
Michigan, where we got married. This was in early June and we basically
followed old Route 66. It was hot!
At any rate, before too very long we managed to outgrow the TD. There was no room for a bassinet. But we did agree that someday we'd have another one (TD that is). Fast forward again to the tune of about 30 years to the Fall of 1988. It has been my routine for years to scan the 'Antique Cars' section of the Sunday newspapers, just waiting for the right one to come along. One Sunday we were down in Annapolis, Maryland, visiting our son (of bassinet fame) and grandchildren when I happened to look in the Washington, D.C., paper. Bang! there it was. An ad for a TD for $4500 that didn't sound too bad. Gave the owner a deposit that day and went home to line up a trailer. Within two weeks the car was at home in Plymouth, Mass. That image on the earlier page was taken as I just pulled up with it.
Lazarus is a/k/a TD10588/EXLNA and originally contained Engine # XPAG/TD2/11225. Unfortunately, sometime during the 60's he sufferred the ignominy of having been Volvoized. The original engine and gearbox was replaced with a Volvo B16B engine and transmission. This was a not-uncommon swap in those days. The B16B looked very much like an XPAG and had about 85 hp versus the TD's 54. However, the implant was never finished to the point of being driveable under Volvo power. The previous owner bought the car in 1975, intending to restore for his wife's use. It was a classic time and money project - when he had the time, he didn't have the money. The car had been garaged for much of the time, but it sat outside for the previous 3 years. Unfortunately, there were a few leaks for rain to get inside and settle against the frame timbers below the passenger door. Fortunately, the car had spent its entire life in the Washington area and, as a result, had never seen the dreaded rustworm that breeds in winter road salt. There was virtually no rust whatsoever. The upholstery was totally shot, with stuffing coming out of the panels. The fascia was virtually black and had an extra hole cut into it for a missing water temperature gauge. The wood framing under the passenger door was totally rotted, as was the bottom end of the door pillar.
At any rate, before too very long we managed to outgrow the TD. There was no room for a bassinet. But we did agree that someday we'd have another one (TD that is). Fast forward again to the tune of about 30 years to the Fall of 1988. It has been my routine for years to scan the 'Antique Cars' section of the Sunday newspapers, just waiting for the right one to come along. One Sunday we were down in Annapolis, Maryland, visiting our son (of bassinet fame) and grandchildren when I happened to look in the Washington, D.C., paper. Bang! there it was. An ad for a TD for $4500 that didn't sound too bad. Gave the owner a deposit that day and went home to line up a trailer. Within two weeks the car was at home in Plymouth, Mass. That image on the earlier page was taken as I just pulled up with it.
Lazarus is a/k/a TD10588/EXLNA and originally contained Engine # XPAG/TD2/11225. Unfortunately, sometime during the 60's he sufferred the ignominy of having been Volvoized. The original engine and gearbox was replaced with a Volvo B16B engine and transmission. This was a not-uncommon swap in those days. The B16B looked very much like an XPAG and had about 85 hp versus the TD's 54. However, the implant was never finished to the point of being driveable under Volvo power. The previous owner bought the car in 1975, intending to restore for his wife's use. It was a classic time and money project - when he had the time, he didn't have the money. The car had been garaged for much of the time, but it sat outside for the previous 3 years. Unfortunately, there were a few leaks for rain to get inside and settle against the frame timbers below the passenger door. Fortunately, the car had spent its entire life in the Washington area and, as a result, had never seen the dreaded rustworm that breeds in winter road salt. There was virtually no rust whatsoever. The upholstery was totally shot, with stuffing coming out of the panels. The fascia was virtually black and had an extra hole cut into it for a missing water temperature gauge. The wood framing under the passenger door was totally rotted, as was the bottom end of the door pillar.
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email to:Bud@comcast.net