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1935 Gas Station Resurrection

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HD FLHX

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did the guy say how much he got out of the big dino? Just wondering what the going price is. I've seen the repo small dino's go around $1000. to $1200., but that was a few years ago.

He said he has sold a few of them over the years and gets 3-3500 for them. Both pictured are fiberglass so they would have come from Sinclair Stations. He is asking 1300 for the little one
 
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Falcon67

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20171011_180815_zpsgmqy79be.jpg
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Well it was a flathead, now its a 302/C4.

The Ford World needs some 21 stud flathead looking valve covers for SBF. :p
 

txvwnut

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I know right. Ima aircooled vw guy pretty much to the core but when you walk up on an old Ford it should have a flatty under the hood, or a Y block.
 

iajonesy

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Joe, I drove by your station on Saturday on my way to Bayard for a wedding. Wow, is all I can say. It is more impressive in person than in the photos. You have done an amazing job with the restoration and it should be on every car guy's list of places to see in Iowa.

Mike
 
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HD FLHX

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HD, the station is looking great. Hope you find that big Dino!

What are the three Sinclair products you're missing? The GJ community has a lot of good scroungers...

I have found and purchased the stop leak over the weekend so now I'm only missing two cans to have the full early 50's product line on display. I'm still looking for the silicone polish can and the brake fluid can. They actually have two versions of the brake fluid can. One says Heavy Duty on it. The other doesn't. I would be interested in either. I'm only looking for extra clean cans. I have passed over examples of both of these because they haven't been nice enough. Any leads would be greatly appreciated



Joe, I drove by your station on Saturday on my way to Bayard for a wedding. Wow, is all I can say. It is more impressive in person than in the photos. You have done an amazing job with the restoration and it should be on every car guy's list of places to see in Iowa.

Mike

Thank you Mike, those are some very kind words.


I'm not sure who is making that Dino, but I can tell right away its an aluminum reproduction. They just don't look quite right. They stand to tall and don't have a big enough belly. There is a 6 foot version thats been on Houstons craigslist for months and now is on ebay for 1800 bucks. Most would never notice the difference, but it would drive me nuts.

 

Turbo1Ton

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Most would never notice the difference, but it would drive me nuts.



I know what you mean. Would drive me bonkers. You don't wanna go to Disney world and see Chuck E Cheese. You want the real stuff! (Thanks Rodney Carrington!)

I wouldn't have noticed until you said something but with the pictures it's obvious. Now any time I see one I will be checking to see if it's a repro or not.

Jeff



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rmalkow2

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Who knew there was such an art/science to tracking down a legit Dino. But now that you show them together I can see many obvious differences. The newer copy is posed wrong in so many ways. Now I'm going to be looking closer at every one I see as well. Hope you find just the right one.
 

APEowner

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Just old school lace and flake. I think I'll probably black out the billet gauge cluster. It's too street rod for my liking.

I thought it was but couldn't tell from the other photo. I have been contemplating a lace and flake job. I whole heartedly agree on the cluster.

I'd be tempted to engine turn that gauge cluster. I think that'd match the vibe of the rest of the car better than black.
 
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HD FLHX

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Where will the Dino be displayed when you find it?

On the concrete pad where the basket was between the driveway and the brick wall.

I'd be tempted to engine turn that gauge cluster. I think that'd match the vibe of the rest of the car better than black.

Thats a possibility also, the door sill plates have already been done. If I done it in black I would also have it striped.
 
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HD FLHX

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A couple little additions to the station. I came across a small porcelain sign for the restroom door. Its a repop, but it is porcelain and looks the part.




Picked up a NOS Frame oil filter housing that I thought would display nice in the case.



Started working on my gas price sign. Got the stand somewhat straightened out and sandblasted. The original metal sign I felt was to far gone to mess with so I used it as a pattern and cut a new one out of 18 gauge sheet metal (same gauge as the original). Over time the original sign had cracked where the pivot points mount. So I added 1/8th inch flat bar on each side to give the new one a little more strength.





Etch primed and painted this afternoon.



 
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bj383ss

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Every time I come in here you have something cooler than the last time I visited. I envy your painting skills and your spray booth.

Bret
 
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shortykorte

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Me. DeMille, what time do you close? I need to fill up.

Being that you're in Iowa, how about a green cow instead of a green Dino.

Edit: go to Google Map and search on Alamo Sinclair NV

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OP
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HD FLHX

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"Mr DeMille, I am ready for my close up."

Me. DeMille, what time do you close? I need to fill up.

Being that you're in Iowa, how about a green cow instead of a green Dino.

Edit: go to Google Map and search on Alamo Sinclair NV

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Not going to lie...I had to google the Demille comments...WAY before my time.
 
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HD FLHX

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Down to only needing the brake fluid can now to have the full product line. I got a guy to come down to a more realistic price on a so so polish can. I'll keep an eye out for a better one, but frankly this is the only one I've ever seen.





Took a few new pics of the office






 

Stuart in MN

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I don't know if you post on the HAMB board, but Moriarity over there collects car polish cans. I suppose it may be possible he has a better example of the Sinclair can that he'd be willing to sell, and you never know - he may have come across a brake fluid can at some point. Here's a thread from over there with some pictures of his collection. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...s-and-my-good-pal-bob-k.964758/#post-10861717 He's in the west suburbs of Minneapolis, and also has an incredible collection of customs and hot rods.
 
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rmalkow2

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The look of the office really takes me back in time and reminds me of many typical service stations I've been inside. The amount of items packed into a relatively small space is a bit overwhelming at first but yet is period correct. Seeing this makes me remember just how many products most stations had to sell. Then it all got replaced by chips and candy and drinks without any real service.
I love what you've accomplished here. It's a treat for the eyes and the memory to see each and every item.
 
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HD FLHX

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The look of the office really takes me back in time and reminds me of many typical service stations I've been inside. The amount of items packed into a relatively small space is a bit overwhelming at first but yet is period correct. Seeing this makes me remember just how many products most stations had to sell. Then it all got replaced by chips and candy and drinks without any real service.
I love what you've accomplished here. It's a treat for the eyes and the memory to see each and every item.

One of my favorite local station/garage pics is inside the office of this old station in the 40's


 

Finallygotit

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......Seeing this makes me remember just how many products most stations had to sell. Then it all got replaced by chips and candy and drinks without any real service......

I remember this as well and really miss it. Nowadays you can't even go into an auto parts store and have a meaningful discussion with the counter guys. Most of them have no clue.

YMMV

:soapbox:

:D

:beer:
 

shortykorte

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Definitely looking good. We had built in shelves and cabinets along the back wall of lobby. It was filled like a grocery store with all the canned Texaco products except oil, ATF and coolant. The fuse and light bulb rack was there also. Out front was the wiper blade cart and two display tires. The work bays had the belts, hoses, oil. Back room had the oil and air filters. There was a third bay added at some time. We were the we the Texaco TBA jobbers so this bay was full of cases of product, hoses and belts.


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BUGTHUG

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Kansas
I remember my grandpaws APCO station and junk yard, or recycle yard called today. It was in Fordland Mo. Just outside of Springfield about 30 miles.
I mainly remember the glass case the cash register sat on, below it was filled with good candy bars. Also on the top of the case had the metal holder with clips that held the little sacks of peanuts. "Toms" I think, the big thing back then was getting a COKE, and put the peanuts in the bottle and eat and drink them together. One of my favorite candy bars was the Cherry Mash, it had the cherry gooey stuff inside and chocolate on the outside. I also had access to all the Grapeette soda, NEHI orange, and strawberry, and the creamsoda. Grandpaw of course let me have ALL that I wanted, and dad didn't care either. On the crazy side of life, He liked his whiskey, and owned a 1955 Cadillac convertible. He would put me in the back seat, middle arm rest, and drive over 80mph on the narrow two lane blacktop roads. They had lots of curves and big hills, he would go so fast you gut was at your knees going down, and up in your throat with the wheels off the ground at the top of the hills. I would scream like a little girl wanting to go faster. Man I'm lucky to be alive.
They had to move part of the station back when they put the 4 lane hiway 60 in. The salvage yard was cleaned up, and nothing the same.
 
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HD FLHX

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Gotta love Iowa weather I took this pic of the customline yesterday while it was in the low 60's. Today mid 30's and snow flurries, hope that's not a sign of what kind of winter is coming



I came across this old hand painted wood sign on ebay the other day for cheap. I thought it was appropriate and would look the part. Last night I also found a white metal closed sign pretty much the same size that I'm going to put on the backside of this side so I'll be able to flip it from time to time.




Went to a liquidation auction at a classic car dealer in the Des Moines metro this morning that was a bust so while I was down there I figured I might as well make the trip worth it so I stopped by a local antique shop I hadn't been in before. Picked up a couple small things including a Montgomery Ward oil filter. Not that I'm a big collector of M/W products but when I come across something if its cheap and the right age I usually pick it up because of the ties this building has to M/W.




I thought this Gates rack was interesing



The service station portion of the building gets the most attention, but there has been some work getting done in the back lately. At the moment I'm putting new floor pans in my 63 wagon. When the wagon comes off the lift a 67 Chevelle will be next in line for an EFI conversion



 

shortykorte

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Forgive my CRS if this has been discussed. The forming stand to the left of brake, did you build? If so how was the dome and other form pieces made?


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N72727

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FRANCE
Again, you did a fantastic job on that building. The result is just beautiful. I love the office with all the stuff inside. Maybe you could find such a gumball distributor if there is a small place left ?
 

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shortykorte

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Again, you did a fantastic job on that building. The result is just beautiful. I love the office with all the stuff inside. Maybe you could find such a gumball distributor if there is a small place left ?



Definitely need a gum ball machine. Ours was on a stand and used it to prop the front door open.


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HD FLHX

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Forgive my CRS if this has been discussed. The forming stand to the left of brake, did you build? If so how was the dome and other form pieces made?


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The stand is from Woodward Fab. Could be easily made, but by the time you factor in buying the material, driving 80 miles round trip (in my case) to buy steal, then spend a few hours making it, the $175 bucks is money well spent. I did have to make another top piece to hold some of my dollies that have a bigger shank. All the T dollies and and dome dollies were purchased from various venders over the years. I used to just put them in a bench vise, then noticed this stand from Woodward Fab a few months ago and popped on it.


 

pgray007

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Charlotte, NC area
people try and open the "Restroom" door





It would be cool if you could rig up a sensor on the handle, and try and find some period audio clip from a movie or something saying “Hey, I’m in here and it’s gonna be a while!” Or something to that effect, that would play whenever the handle is turned.




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