Messages

Oh, I have a Chevy S-10 I'm driving now ( with the extended cab/3rd door features that gives me a place to stash the chair! )  But I'm getting this increasing ache to slip into a real hot-rod, or custom sled...  a lifelong hope and dream-  and the sooner the better.  As to the chair gig...  I dont care what people think about me or have any hang-ups about my disability!  I only want OUT of the chair while driving ( as opposed to rides set up to drive FROM the wheelchair )- because wheelchairs just AINT built for comfort!!  After 6 to 8 hours in the saddle- I call my chair "The Iron Maiden".  The driver seat in my truck by comparison is heaven!!

Lord hug you tight...       - Butchie

Do you need something to drive now   and just dreaming of what would be nice or do you have something now and planning on a project? I can understand your not wanting to stay in your chair. For ten years I walked every place I wanted to go and people thought I wanted to be healthy. I have a 3 wheel bicycle and at least when I ride it I am looking people eye-to-eye. Riding a chair can make you feel like everyone is lookind down on you. At least sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle can give you a little more sense of importance. Maybe you can pick a time and a day and we can use the CHAT to talk about it. GPster

Hey amigo...  thanks for the courteous and detailed reply!  Gave this all some long hard thinking...  and also pow-wowed with kin who might help me out with getting it here...  But that, and everything else I'd have to farm-out for help with to ressurect the DeSoto just looks overwhelming partner!!  Likely WAY more than I could chew right now....  especially in that I'm really hoping for a good ride "soon"!!  As things are-  it'd be at least a few years to get done I'd think.  Hope YOU will one day have her back to "cherry"!!     -  Butchie

Too much man!  Are you saying YOU have this old Desoto for sale?  If so...  can you tell me more?  i.e.  - How much ( $ ) and whats the story on motor and drivetrain etc.?

I bought the car a couple years ago in Missouri and towed it to Utah about a year ago.  I haven't had any time to work on it as I've been building my house (which is now basically done).

Someone put an AMC 6 in it.  Desoto didn't have the hemi in '51 so originally it had a flathead 6.  I haven't tried to get the 6 running as I was going to put a sbc in it.  The brakes on the left front are fozen, so it doesn't roll too good right now.  In the next couple months I'll try and get it rolling and see if the AMC runs.  It is the same motor as in my Jeep.

I wanted to get this car running for us to use on trips, but now have a couple other projects ahead of it.  I haven't been pushing selling it, but did put a for sale sign in the window to keep people from asking me all the time if it was for sale.  If you thought it would do the job for you I would consider selling it for what it cost and my expenses getting it to Utah.  Right now the for sale sign is higher than that.

It has rust in the trunk, bottoms of the doors and rockers.  Someone has screwed in large patch panels to the floors and there is more rust in the floors and probably some other areas I don't know about yet.  If I did the car I would replace the whole floor area.  This could probably get expensive if you had to farm this work out.  The car is pretty straight.  It has repair damage to the right rear fender (cracked bondo) and the trim is missing on that fender.  The original front seat is gone and the dash is a little butchered with a  radio install someone did.  Actually I haven't had a lot of time to look at it myself yet.  I was going to change the front suspension (although some people rebuild these), french the headlights, remove some of the trim, do something different with the taillights and lower it.  As far as I can tell they made about 300 of these cars that year.  There are jump seats behind the front seat that fold into the floor and the rear seat is completly behing the rear door so there is about 31 inches from the back of the front seat to the front of the rear seat.

The car is a project car, not a jump in it and drive away.  I think with the right paint job and some minor custom touches it would be a nice car.  If you are interested in any more details, why don't you e-mail me with your e-mail address.

c ya, Sum

You are meaning my "inbox" here? - in my laptop ( Outlook Exp. )?  Never found it amigo!

Check your inbox, I sent you a PM with Jerry's number.

HOLY  SMOKE amigo!!!  Now THAT'S a sled brother!!!  And that lay-out is real cool!!! For me-  I'd pull my chair in ( folded-up ) into the driver side rear door.  I use a manual chair. ( If I drove one of those electric things I'd weigh 700 pounds man!! ) As I said to another here too-  I'd want to get OUT of my chair, and into a regular car seat. Wheelchairs jus' aint built for comfort!!  -  But when you noted "Hi Desert" my bells rung...  because thats where I am!!  Tho' high-desert of Southern CA.  But was wondering where this cat was at, and how I might contact him or the club? Let me know amigo...  and THANKS again!! SAVED this pic!!!

Lord hug you tight...          - Butchie

There's a guy that's from somewhere around San Bernardino - Victorville area that took a DeSoto limo and added a chair ramp, electric actuators for the rear door, etc. to make a wheelchair accessable rod.  His name is Jerry and is well known in that area.  I'm sure he could give you some ideas.  I know he goes to the cruise night at Toms Burgers on Bear Valley Road I think on Wednesday nights.

His name is Jerry, He is the President of the Hi Desert Car Club Council here is a photo of his car.[/img][/quote]

Thanks so much amigo!  I saved this picture!!  Sorry to know the bro' has passed on...  but he left a heck of a ride behind, eh!?  I wondered how difficult it was for him to get his chair latched-up on the back like that?  Dont know if you knew his paraplegia "level"? I'm T4...  chest-down paralysis that nix's gut and lower back muscles-  so my balance can be tricky; and usually need to be holding on to one thing or other, or braced against something real good to do something arms-free...  which you'd almost need to lift that chair and turn with it!  I'm going to possibly guess Fred was a lower injury level ( say L2 or so )- which leaves you with muscles for balance.

Lord hug you tight...            - Butchie

First of all welcome to the RRT.

When I read your post my first thought was that an early panel truck or suburban type truck would be good because you could install a lift in the side door.  I know there's some out there so I did a search to see if I could find some for sale.  It's usually cheaper to buy something already close to the way you want it than it is to build it.  In the search I ran across this page which shows what you already know......you definitely aren't limited to a lift.  http://www.newmobility.com/review_article.cfm?id=310&action=browse

I knew a paraplegic named Fred that was on another forum, who has passed away now, that had a '26 track T roadster that had a rack on the back to hold his chair.   Here's a picture.


*edit*  You posted your last post about the same time I did and I see you'd really like a shoebox or merc.  I hope you can find one you like.  Posting at places like here will definitely help.

Hey amigo!  Yeah...  I could do that-  but for someone who has to be in a wheelcair ALL day ( ...and they AINT made for "comfort" )- getting OUT of that sucker is a small mercy!!  Even my S-10 seat is like heaven compared to sitting in the ( shudder ) "Iron Maiden"!!

Lord hug you tight...         - Butchie

Butchie,welcome to the RRT!
I have done a few hand control setups for folks in the past,and am wondering if maybe you could drive the vehicle from your chair,instead of stowing it? Is that an option where you live? I have seen a Panel Delivery setup with the rear door as a ramp to get in,and special locks in the floor to hold your chair in the driving position. Something to think about......

Thanks amigo!  Yeah, I've seen some of those gizmos! One is made by "Bruno" I think.  Did the one you saw also "lay-down" in the bed with the chair? I ask, as I was ( and still am ) toying the idea of the new Chevy SSR hot-rod truck . . .  but alas- the set-up affords NO extra cab space for my wheelchair...  so it'd have to go in the bed. Question is- HOW!?  I could get someone to put it in and out for me...  but what a pain- and the MAIN idea is independance!!  Anyway... a "crane" would need to lay flat preferably.

Lord hug you tight...       - Butchie

Fellow here has a very nice ElCamino.  Hand controls.  Also has a little electric crane in the left front corner of the bed.  He gets in and the crane lifts and stows the chair in the bed.  It is really trick.  Next time I see him at a show I will take some pictures.

Thanks amigo!  SWEET Lincoln!! I always liked that particular make too...  'cause it has a lot of older 'Bird lines.  Trust the bullet-holes are "stick-ons"!!  And yeah...  this could be the ticket for me; if and/or I dont seem able to lay hands to a 49-51 Merc or other earlier ride with "suicide" rear doors.

Lord hug you tight...           -  Butchie

i know you said you wanted a merc but as i read your post (before getting to the merc part) my first thought was mid sixties lincoln. they have always been on my list of cars i'd like to have so maybe i'm partial to them.







borrowed the pics from http://www.carnut.com

later jim

Too much man!  Are you saying YOU have this old Desoto for sale?  If so...  can you tell me more?  i.e.  - How much ( $ ) and whats the story on motor and drivetrain etc.?

Welcome to RRT.

Sounds like you are getting some good advice.  I have a '38/'39 ford pickup that I'm going to stretch the cab on, so like one of the other posts mentioned that is an option.

I have the following Desoto Limo that is probably available if you did decide to go to something like that.

   

   

   

Not as pretty at this stage as the one in the other post, but it is probably  a lot less expensive  :lol: .

Well good luck with your venture and keep us posted on what you end up doing.

c ya, Sum

Thanks man!  Yeah...  with me tho', I'd like to have to deal as little as possible with lots of extra junk and gizmo's that are usually called for when you start talking ramps and such!  Used to own a van with all that stuff...  and it was just more junk to break or go wrong. Seemed I was forever fixing something! My S-10 has TWO things! The hand-controls ( simple )- and a steel hand grip where the factory one was on the inside drivers side roof ( for me to grab hold of when I pull myself in )!!

If you know any rodders in mine, or the Southern Cal. area who might have ears to the rail for such as older Mercs or shoebox Fords ( 49-51 ) do let me know amigo!!    -  Butchie

There's a guy that's from somewhere around San Bernardino - Victorville area that took a DeSoto limo and added a chair ramp, electric actuators for the rear door, etc. to make a wheelchair accessable rod.  His name is Jerry and is well known in that area.  I'm sure he could give you some ideas.  I know he goes to the cruise night at Toms Burgers on Bear Valley Road I think on Wednesday nights.

Hello amigo's & amiga's !  -

My name is Butchie Olmstead. . .  up here in the "high-desert" of Littlerock, CA!

I'm PARticularly earnest about finding a good ride in the hot-rod/lead-sled catagory that can accomodate a few of my special needs.  I'm a T-4 ( chest down ) paraplegic via combat/ service-connected injuries while with the 11th Cav in Vietnam in 1967  that have necessitated wheelchair use.

I currently own a 1996 Chevy S-10 extended-cab.  It is the extension; and primarily the presence of the rear-hinged 3rd door on the driver-side that makes this truck useable to me!!  Without that extension and 3rd door; there would be no way for me to use the truck...  as there would be nowhere to haul in the collapsed wheelchair after me!  What I do is slide myself in...  collapse the chair; and then pull it in behind me into that extended space.  A perfect set-up for me!!

Now...  unfortunately Chevy S-10's are no longer coming with that 3rd suicide door option!!  Only the Colorado has the 3rd door now...  and I really dont like the way they look...  plus they have one of those new 4 or 5 cylinder engines.  V-6's are weak enough...  but would'nt want less! Worse yet...  it aint an early model hot-rod!!

In any case...  have been longing for many, many ( too many!! ) years to have myself a little hot-rod or sled  head-turner...  and just about EVERYthing is out of reach for me in terms of accessibility.  Money can be an issue by itself...  but heck man...  I'd pretty much be willing to sell a kidney!!  In any case...  the later can be managed one way or other...  but "accessible" vehicles are where most of the bigger roadblocks or dead-ends are for me.   ( My heart started pounding when I saw my first Chevy SSR! . . .   but alas. . .  tho' I could get in it-  there'd be no place for me to put the chair in after me!! )

ANYhow. . .  if I'm not mistaken-  the old ( 49-51 ) Merc sedans had "suicide" rear-hinged back doors right?  I'd envisioned how smooth that would be- and how easy that could make it to pull a wheelchair in after me!  Had even wondered what the possibilites were of actually fabricating a special rear-hinged "3rd door" on a Merc coup!?

ANYhow...  if any of you good folks hear of a good deal on a 49 to 51 Merc...  or know of other ideas on how I could get these hurdles jumped it would surely be appreciated!!   And hey!. . .  if any of you dig oldies tunes or Rockabilly  check out my net-radio show sometime when you have the time!! ( www.rockitradio.net )  I'm the old gringo and R&B vocal harmony group specialist on Rock-it Radio...  but we have other cats who play solid Rockabilly too!!  ( we only "do" the first decade of Rock!! )

        Lord hug you all tight...                    -  Butchie