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Last Saturday I met an American at the motel the V44 group was staying at in Barstow, CA. He was fascinated with the cars, recalling one he had back in the 1960's.
He was interested in finding out how he might acquire either a 444 or a 544, and I told him that sometimes one became available on the Brickboard, and frequently they turn up on eBay, along with all kinds of parts.
I gave him my business card, and he called me last night; he was buying a few acres out near Twenty-Nine Palms Marine logistics base (near Barstow) to set up a vintage car restoration and hotrod shop. While returning to town yesterday he saw a PV444 sitting out near a barn, so he stopped to ask about it.
Apparently it was a 'one-owner' car, having been shipped over here in the 1950's privately from Germany, not a US import. No override bars.
He says the glass is all shattered, but except for the rear window (curved glass) it's all just flat sheets, so that's not a big deal. He said the bias-ply tires are definitely '60's vintage, and the car appears complete, down to all the trim, the hubcaps, interior (needs recovering) and all the engine parts. Apparently no rust at all, except for the burned-off paint surface rust we get out here in the desert. The original color is a light gray.
I haven't seen the car yet, but he immediately wrote the property owner a check for $300 and got a trailer to haul it home.
His plans as of this time would be a resto-rod with a V6 engine and associated running gear.
He's supposed to come over to Kern Canyon tomorrow while the V44 group is passing through, and he says he has pictures for me to look at.
It sounds as if we may have instigated the rescue of another great little car!
Steve
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