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Post by 59vanguard on Sept 17, 2018 17:53:31 GMT 1
I've recently acquired this little gem, and I'm keen on learning all I can about it! It's a 1959 vanguard, I believe this one was imported in canada from the states, its an original LHD and it's automatic. Thats unfortunate, but its alright for now. I've read somewhere automatic LHD are pretty rare, anyone has any info about this? I've bought this car with the engine out, last owner got sick and couldnt repaint the car, so I snatched it with the engine out for a good price!! I had plans to paint it myself, but unfortunatly it will have to wait a year or more as I'm quite busy. With the season running out I hurried to put the engine back in and fixed temporarely the rust on the floor so I can enjoy it a little bit before I store it! When I have a lot of time for it, I plan on doing a full sandblast, repaint, and change the engine and put in a manual transmission, disk brakes, suspension, etc. I know stripping out the original engine and tranny combo to put something else entirely wont be everybodys cup of tea but dont worry about it yet, its not happening for quite some time. And hey, maybe you'll get to snatch my engine and tranny when its up for sale  Enough talk, look at this beauty!! The day I got it, nose high up because engine bay is empty.  engine in  Dressing up the engine, almost done! (missing air cleaner)  Still got the original glass windshield washer!! Yessss!! its my favourite bit haha  Got some rust on the floor I had to fix, still very sound no holes or thin metal, it was only surface rust. I did a quick buff and converter/primer/paint until I can sandblast all the frame. Trunk wasnt too bad so I left it as is.    Car is running! Joy oh joy. It runs good, to boot. Transmission was a bit hectic at first, but after driving it a bit it seems fine.  A beautiful trio! the other one is a 1960 volvo pv544. It's in a lot nicer shape than mine! The bike is my 93 suzuki ts200! Yes its 2 stroke, and yes its road legal!! The vanguard and the bike are my only 2 vehicule. Right now I'm mostly riding but soooon I will enjoy the vanguard daily hell yeah!  What I like about the vanguard, its not only pretty from the front, but from the back too!! Specialy the vignale model, ofc, my fav!  Soo thats it folks. I hope you like it! It sure takes up a lot of time owning a car like that, but I wouldnt want it any other way! (thats half the fun) I'm waiting for some value expert to come and put an insurance value on it so I can insure and daily drive it finaly! I'm not one to look at my stuff. I drive it! Oh yes, last but not least. Let's tug a bit a all the knowledge around here! I noticed the temp gauge not working, the mechanical gauge's tube is broken at the tip. I think there is a fluid in there and it can't be welded? Is there any way to relodge the tube in the sensor or to repair it at all? I've order a new mechanical thermometer with its own dial for now, but I'd like to make the original dial work. Thanks   |
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Post by herald948 on Sept 17, 2018 19:33:36 GMT 1
Great acquisition! I hope you'll reconsider the future engine and gearbox swap! Vanguards are rare enough in Canada and the rest of North America, but a survivor with automatic has to be really rare! (But it's your car, so you're welcome to do as you please, but do consider minimizing any "butchering" and also saving the original bits should you pass the car on and a future owner wishes to restore.) I do try to keep records of Vanguards and other Standard sedans surviving in North America. If you're so inclined, I'd love to add your car's commission, engine and body numbers to my Database; see: www.fairpoint.net/~herald948/database/standard.htmP.S. Your Vanguard almost certainly would have been sold new in Canada; I'm guessing there might be a leading "9" before the "V" in the commission number. Only the earliest Vanguards were ever sold, and only in very small numbers, in the US by a tiny handful of dealers (such as Ferguson Motors in New York City). From what I've been able to learn, the Vanguard was actually a decent seller in Canada! |
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Post by 59vanguard on Sept 17, 2018 20:36:15 GMT 1
Great acquisition! I hope you'll reconsider the future engine and gearbox swap! Vanguards are rare enough in Canada and the rest of North America, but a survivor with automatic has to be really rare! (But it's your car, so you're welcome to do as you please, but do consider minimizing any "butchering" and also saving the original bits should you pass the car on and a future owner wishes to restore.) I do try to keep records of Vanguards and other Standard sedans surviving in North America. If you're so inclined, I'd love to add your car's commission, engine and body numbers to my Database; see: www.fairpoint.net/~herald948/database/standard.htmP.S. Your Vanguard almost certainly would have been sold new in Canada; I'm guessing there might be a leading "9" before the "V" in the commission number. Only the earliest Vanguards were ever sold, and only in very small numbers, in the US by a tiny handful of dealers (such as Ferguson Motors in New York City). From what I've been able to learn, the Vanguard was actually a decent seller in Canada! Ah yes! You are right, there is indeed a 9 before the V! So that mean its from the canadian market, nice! Thanks for the info. I'd love for the car to be on the list of survivors, the link you put up leads to a 404 error though, must be something wrong. Is the engine number the same as the car's vin number? If not, were do I find it? My car vin is this : 9V358525LDKBL. The story goes it was rescued from a junkyard by a friend of the family in the 80s, he restored it then, he sold it to the guy I bought it from 10 years ago or so and the car didin't move the last 2-3 years. When I gave my friend a call, to see if he had some nice old car for me, (he deals in triumph, volvo, saab,etc.), he told me to go and snatch up this gem!! Now it's going again!! It will need another full restoration soon enough though, the last one being quite dated. I do have plan to change the original engine, i want this car to be practical and my daily, so I'll eventualy change it. I'm going overseas for over a year but when I finaly come back to it I have plan to put a turbodiesel ALH 4cyl volkswagen engine with a manual toyota pickup tranny hooked up to it (not much tranny choices for RWD, since its a FWD engine). I like this engine, it's not too powerfull, so I think the vanguard's rear axle should take it. It's 90hp, but 150lbs/ft of torque. Hopefully the axle is strong enough because if I'm to put another back end I might put a bigger engine up front haha. The little ALH I have has a mechanical pump to it, so there is no electronic involved in the swap. Thats another reason why I like this idea. Not much butchery will have to be involved I think, mainly some welding on the frame to accomodate the new mounts. Nothing irreversible there. I will eventualy put air suspension on it, so some more cutting and welding there. I never thought about keeping the engine and gearbox for the next owner, I don't think there will ever be a next owner in my lifetime for this one. I've been working my way toward a project like this for years, and now I finaly have what I want! This one will be a keeper, one I build only for me! I can see the long term value in keeping the original engine and tranny with the car, if dont need cash then I might keep it just in case. Wouldnt feel bad about selling it though, it would go towards keeping another vanguard alive so thats all good too! |
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Post by petefoster on Sept 18, 2018 10:37:49 GMT 1
The engine number can be found on the side of the engine block near to where the coil is mounted. I know of one other LHD Vanguard automatic in Canada, there may be more. My car is V358326DL , so just 200 before yours. Mine was built on Monday 13th April 1959, so it's possible yours was built later that week. The temperature gauge would need to be rebuilt with a new capillary tube, you may find a company where you are which may be able to do it. I'd echo herald 948 in wanting it kept original, but as he says it's yours to do what you want with! In the UK I only know of one 6 cylinder automatic Vanguards, no 4 cylinder ones, the auto option was offered from 1958. Keep plenty of anti freeze screen washer additive in that washer bottle, as they are prone to freezing and then shattering in cold winter conditions and are very expensive to replace!!!
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Post by herald948 on Sept 18, 2018 19:39:19 GMT 1
I don't know about Canada, but Nisonger Instruments -- the original US distributor for Smiths and Jaeger gauges -- in NY might be able to do it. Meanwhile, if I weren't so snowed under in projects at the moment, I'd love to make an offer for the car as-is. I've long had a soft spot for the Series III in particular, and this one, especially with automatic, really intrigues me (diehard manual gearbox fan that I am notwithstanding)! Nisonger |
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Post by 59vanguard on Sept 18, 2018 21:58:24 GMT 1
I don't know about Canada, but Nisonger Instruments -- the original US distributor for Smiths and Jaeger gauges -- in NY might be able to do it. Meanwhile, if I weren't so snowed under in projects at the moment, I'd love to make an offer for the car as-is. I've long had a soft spot for the Series III in particular, and this one, especially with automatic, really intrigues me (diehard manual gearbox fan that I am notwithstanding)! NisongerThanks for the info on Nisonger! If I can't find anything nearby I can always ship it to them to have it fixed! I'm also a die hard manual transmission fan, and I almost feel unlucky I had to pick up one of the only automatic one haha. Still, its not a car I'll beat onto so the auto is fine for cruising around. I was a car salesman once, so I'm never gonna say I'm not open to offers, but it will take some convicing to pry this one off my hands! I can't wait to really start working on it! I checked my engine number, is it normal it doesnt match the car's serial, or does it mean the engine was changed at some point? My engine number is this : V355447E cheers |
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Post by herald948 on Sept 19, 2018 3:03:59 GMT 1
Engine numbers weren't intended to match commission numbers, so no worries there!
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Post by Eternal Optimist on Sept 23, 2018 8:15:41 GMT 1
That's a great looking thing.Good luck with it.
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Post by 59vanguard on Sept 29, 2018 0:07:44 GMT 1
Here is a little update, I had some time to enjoy the car a little bit and got to test it a little bit more! Since this was a canadian car, it didint have any problems doing canadian things, like carrying my canoe and get me through tim horton's drive thrue for a nice cup of coffee. Here is a shot next to the lake.   Since last update I broke my speedometer cable, it was badly routed. It's an easy fix as it only needs a new cable, it broke about 6 inches from the edge of the transmission. Also, I had an evaluator come and check the car, he charged me 230$ to tell me my car was worth 1700,00$ CAD. So yeah I told him he was out of his mind that you could never find a functionnal vanguard for this price, I expected to have an insurable value of around 3 000$ or so, 1 700$ seems low to me. What do you guys think? Anyway, it's good to put some good mileage on it! Albeit not on the gauge haha. That's a great looking thing.Good luck with it. cheerss! Going great so far. |
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Post by 59vanguard on Sept 29, 2018 0:09:03 GMT 1
Engine numbers weren't intended to match commission numbers, so no worries there! ok good to know! Its good that someone is keeping a registry of those that are left for posterity. |
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