1963 Tuxedo Park Mk3 Build (patina Preservation)

Moving to an actual build thread from here:

Someone Save This One...

(I actually found that thread while reading upon Tuxedo Parks after I found the craigslist ad and started talking to the seller)

Went out and picked up this beauty in Hood River OR yesterday.



She's a 1963 Tuxedo Park MkIII in Indian Red Ceramic. It's been in Hood River its entire life serving as an Orchard Jeep. It's been used rough, allowed to roll into trees, dented just about every flat surface. Suffice it to say she's got some history and patina. The previous owner had planned to do a full restoration, but got overwhelmed with the amount of bodywork needed to get her back to 100%. He had replaced the hood and one of the fenders and got her running and driving, but that's about as far as he took it (luckily he held onto the original fender and hood as well).

I like survivors. I old like vehicles that show their history. So my plan isn't to take this to 100%. I don't want to erase the history of this little Jeep's service on the farm. I want to highlight that, polish it, make it shine.

Somehow ALL of the fancy "Tuxedo" chrome bits managed to survive and stay on the Jeep. Even the bumpers aren't that rough. It's really a time-capsule (albeit one that looks like it has been buried underground for 56years).

I come from Toyota. This isn't my first Jeep (used to have a TJ), but I'm primarily a Land Cruiser guy (don't shoot me!). My daily driver is a 1966 FJ45 LP-B Pickup which is also a survivor (I'm the 3rd owner).

More info and build thread here: Project Maytag. 1967 LPB, a survivor and daily driver.





I mention this because the inspiration for this CJ5 restoration comes from a very active member named Nolen over on ih8mud. His 1968 FJ40 named 'Patina' has become something of a legend there, and definitely a poster child for maintaining originality and history. (As has his FJ45 nicknamed GOAT)




The techniques and approach I will be taking come directly from him. You can read more about his methods here: Preserving Patina - How To Tips and Tricks

 

Once I got it home I couldn't wait to start scrubbing at the paint a little with some CLR to see what I could uncover.

The initial results were promising!





This picture shows the difference between the faded paint (right), and just a few seconds of CLR and Scotchbrite scrubbing (left)



Seller put a later hood and fender on (but saved the orignals). He did a great job getting the paint matched though! (not being sarcastic). I have already put the original hood back on since these pictures, but the original fender is going to take a lot more work and may not be worth it. We'll see.



Still scrubbin...





The seats will be replaced with Smittybuilt low backs until I can source an original bench.

 

As she sits this morning with the orignal hood back on and a coat of boiled linseed oil covering the paint. (not too shabby in my humble opinion!)

 

Haha thanks! I will say the Jeep build will be a nice change of pace as far as parts availability goes. As hard as it is to find correct early CJ5 parts (let alone Tux parts), finding early (pre-'68) Land Cruiser parts is MUCH MUCH worse.

 

I'm glad you got this Tux. It looks like it found a good home. I still have most of a '64 Tux MKlVmy dad bought new in '65. I made a bunch of major modifications to it back between '76 -'79 and drove it for nearly 20 years. Now I'm collecting all the parts to bring it back to stock. I grew up with it, and know about every nut and bolt that it takes to meke it original. Your MKlll is pretty similar.
There are a couple vintage FJ45s local to me. I see one every couple weeks, but they're not as nice as yours.
-Donny

 

Beautiful!!

 

Off to a great start. Gonna start following this thread

 

This is a great thread! Looking forward to seeing what you do I see it has twin sticks. When did the Tuxes get the single lever tcase??

 

My 1965 4 cyl is single lever

 

My June '64 Tux is a single stick, as it came new. I remember the dealer telling my dad that was a new feature introduced withnthe Tuxes.
-Donny
-

 

x2

 

Awesome! Look forward to the build.

 

super cool!....looking forward to more!

 

It was sold as a '65 as thats how it was originally titled. My Dad bought in in the Spring of '65. It probably sat around on the dealer's lot for a while. As mentioned previously, SN 11400 put it as June '64 build date.
-Donny

 

If I had to guess just from what I learned so far about Tuxes it sounds like a lot of the changes came with the MKIV and it getting its own model designation.

 

Question for you all. Brake lamp related.

My brake lights don't work. However, the lamps themselves work, the turn signals work. Every light on the Jeep works except for the brake lamps. I'd say it was the switch, but I just changed out to a new switch, and still dont have the lights.

This is the lamp pressure switch that screws into the front of the master cylinder and has the two bullet connectors. Any guesses as to where the problem lies?