‘Ole Yeller
is the last and final vehicle that was assembled in the Replicar’s
facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Replicars,
Inc., had folded its tent and was out of business, but there was
potential for additional opportunity: The
Kit Car business. The final vehicle ('Ole Yeller) was assembled
using a temporary drive train,
and transported to the Columbus, Ohio Street Rod Drive-In to try
to generate kit sales.
(Bad
thinking because no sales resulted. The Economy was terrible and much
of what seemed to be selling were cheap cowboy hats and perfumed wooden
roses.) Note: A friend from Palm Beach purchased a “T Bucket” super Hot
Rod. We transported the “T Bucket” back to West Palm Beach on our
trailer and the “T Bucket” owner’s wife drove ‘Ole Yeller from Ohio
back to West Palm Beach.
The drive train was removed and replaced with a factory-fresh, zero-mile 302
engine and a new C-4 transmission. Since then, ‘Ole Yeller has been
in storage or garaged (for the past 30 years), and only driven to
maintain the running gear and on
“special occasions” - usually with the grandchildren aboard. Total miles
on the car: 8,500.
Note:
This vehicle is titled in Florida as a “Repl” (Repl is the Florida
abbreviaton for Replicars)
Mechanical features...
Front
Suspension:
Mustang II w/
Carrera
Mustang II Bolt-On Coilovers
Rear
Suspension:
Tuned coil spring/shock combination for extra comfort ride
Brakes:
Power Disc brakes all around w/ front-to-rear proportioning valve
Radiator:
Custom built - Extra capacity thick and tall
Power
Steering:
Mustang II rack & pinion
Air
Conditioner:
With “thru-dash” distribution
Radio:
JVC Model WMA MP3 - KD-R200 - CD and super speakers in each door
Tires:
Michelin “HydroEdge” Front 205 x 65 R15; Rear 205 x 70 R15; Spare SB 802
165 x 15
Wheels:
‘32 “look alikes”w/ beauty rings, 5 lug Ford bolt pattern
Grill and
Grill Shell:
‘32 “Shortie”
Bumpers:
‘32 reproduction
Lights:
Cowl lights are functional (turn and parking); Rear are Model “A” w/ cat
eyes
Trailer
Hitch:
2" receiver w/ 4-wire pigtail (removable w/ 4 bolts)
Top &
Side Curtains:
New, and top frame is
functional
Interior:
Like new
Gauges:
Stewart Warner w/ Voltage Meter, Fuel, Water temp, and Oil pressure
Paint:
‘Ole Yeller would need to be re-painted to be a show car, but for day-to-day use, it looks fine.
Up close, in the sun,
or under the lights, it could be freshened up. The body is a one-color and it wouldn’t be hard to change the color. That
would be up to you to
decide.
‘Ole Yeller
is a “driver” and can be driven at legal road speeds anywhere you want
without worrying if you’re going to get there and back. So come
on down and take a drive, make your deal, then take ‘Ole Yeller to its
new home.
