----OK, Inquiring minds want to know what you used to get those panels that nice besides elbow grease!.....Bill S

I used original formula GoJo hand cleaner and a nylon bristle brush. GoJo is white stuff in a plastic can that has the consistency of mayonnaise. Get the stuff without "grit" in it. The nylon bristle brush is like a large toothbrush. Basically smear a thin coating on the panel and use the bristle brush in small circular motions. It works best if you don't apply too much pressure so the bristle tips get into that light grain pattern to pull out the dirt. The white GoJo was dark grey by the time I was done scrubbing. Wipe of the excess with a paper towel, then buff with a cotton dish towel. The GoJo has "lanolin" as an ingredient in theory to moisturize your hands. It seems to soak into the vinyl, the excess edges at the bottom of my rear inners started out dry/stiff, when I was done, they were noticeably more "flexible", same for the main vinyl, it just felt softer.

Here's some pics of the door panels...June 11, 1969 dated, 3 1/2 months ahead of build.

Go Jo for cleaning interior parts..........makes perfect sense! Who'd a thunk? Thanks for the info!

Tim

Have read this thread twice through, great history.

You mentioned the car was purchased a roller at some point, did you hear whatever happened to the engine?

Engine was pulled by 1971 or 72 and sold to a guy who putting it in a pulling tractor. That guy now lives in Texas. When I spoke to him he told me that engine ran real good and he eventually sold his tractor to a kid just getting into pulling. He was at the first contest where this kid made his first run. The kid started in the wrong gear and blew the engine to "kingdom come". He told me the at least one of the rods came out the side of the block. So unless his recollection is wrong, I don't have to go searching for my original engine.

I would keep looking if I were you! My motor went to a boat shop and I was told by the boat shop that it was blown to pieces. So I didn't bother with it. showed up years later with a sleeve in one of the cylinders and was a lot more money!!!

Another piece of memorabilia...
 

Picked this 1972 US Nationals program that list my car (1718) in it. So I know he competed in Super Stock D in both 1972 and 1973. I located a 1974 program but he is not listed. I have not yet located a 1971 program, so if anyone has one, I would be interested to know if he competed that year or not.

Jim...call me Sunday afternoon and I will look at my copies....I think I may have 1971 hopefully. Doug 614-203-1272

Great talking to you Doug, and thanks for checking your stash. I'm still looking for anyone with this program that can check it out for me.

Stopped in to check out the car this week. They finished up the painting of my NOS grill, it turned out great. They duplicated the body color overspray from an original grill that I supplied. There were a couple of spots they weren't happy with on the body o they did a little more wet-sanding/buffing to clean those up. Should be hanging the front sheetmetal this week. Played around with more of my original interior parts. Got the pillar post trim (closeup pic is before/after cleaning) and windlace cleaned up. Also cleaned and ironed my original water shields. One shield was ripped completely in half, so I glued that back together. Ironed the major creases out....far from perfect, but they're original and hidden. Finished repairing my trunk divider by gluing the hanger holes back together and glued up that big ripped section. Ironed most all the warpage flat. Same as door shields, not perfect, but original.:beers: