We love classic cars!
Restoring a thing of beauty
1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Sport Sedan
Gus Fletcher of Emily wasn’t really looking for another car to restore nearly four years ago, but he was really curious about the car a man from McGregor was talking about at a car show in Aitkin.
Gus went to see the 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Sport Sedan. The body was rusted, and the interior was bad, but the engine ran well and Gus could drive it. The original front and back windshields were in good condition, as were the bumpers and other chrome. After his assessment, Gus thought the price was right. He bought the car.
It had 87,000 miles on it. Not bad for a 63-year-old car. The ’49 Cosmopolitan was the first all-new Lincoln to be produced after World War II. It had a modernized independent front suspension and new V-8 engine. The White House ordered a customized fleet of the car in February 1950, and President Harry Truman traveled in the Cosmopolitan for part of his term. Another model of the 1950 Cosmopolitan, called the "Bubble Top," was used by President Dwight Eisenhower, President John Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson.
For Gus, fixing cars is in his blood. Over the years (while also working for a phone company, owning/operating businesses and working in house construction/renovation) he has tackled numerous car restorations. Among them is a 1930 Ford Model A coupe with a rumble seat, and a 1978 Ford Mustang. A 1947 Ford Club coupe with about 80,000 miles he also bought several years ago is waiting in the wings for its make-over.
In his research, Gus learned that Lincoln made nearly 19,000 Cosmopolitans in 1949. Its original price was $3,238. His model has a V-8, 160-horsepower engine, and a three-speed with overdrive manual transmission.
Gus worked nearly a year restoring and replacing the rusty sections of his Cosmopolitan. The glass in the doors was also replaced.
When it was time for new paint Gus had planned to repaint it himself. With paint chips for the Cosmopolitan’s original “calabash yellow” in hand, he stopped at The BodyWorks Super Collision Center in Baxter to see if he could just buy the specially-mixed paint, which is water-based and environmentally safe. BodyWorks General Manager Sid Osterman asked Gus if his team could do the painting. Sid went to see the car at Gus’ shop. He also gave Gus a proposal to do the painting. The deal was done.
"I'm glad I had them do it," Gus said after the Cosmopolitan was painted at The BodyWorks. "They did a nice job. I was more than satisfied. They went above and beyond for me."
The BodyWorks team that worked on the Cosmopolitan included Dave Dosh, lead painter; Tim Polanski, body technician, and Dustin Zeimet, paint technician.
Gus is finishing the restoration with new seats and upholstery.
"It's been a lot of fun," Gus said. "I have really enjoyed doing it."
What are his plans for the Cosmopolitan? "I'll just drive it," he says with a laugh. "Even if it's just to the mailbox and back." He may not be able to resist taking it to some local car shows and parades.
Tony Schwaller’s 1937 Ford Roadster
See more of Tony's 1937 Roadster at www.streetrod101.com
