1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins


The Greatest Van Ever Made!

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Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

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Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Fri Nov 27, 2020 7:39 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

When I built the truck I was thinking that it would be cool to use it as the chase truck for the Snap-on NHRA Funny Car. When we did the chassis I put an eyelet through the frame in the back for the tow strap... Just in case. Last year I had the opportunity to do just that at the NHRA Finals. What I didn't realize is that they do not put anyone in the car anymore to move it around, a crew member just steps on the tow strap from the chase vehicle to stop the car. Well, with me having to double clutch the gears, that just wasn't going to work. So the plan was to just follow the car back with Cruz riding along with me. So I come out from underneath the bleachers to turn down the return lane, there are two funny cars getting ready to launch and all you can hear is the announcers talking about the cool vintage Snap-on truck that just entered the track. The crowd started cheering and then that was when everything was drowned out by the two funny cars screaming by us at over 300mph. Very cool experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ8iKWeazes

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1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
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Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

Posts: 215

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:00 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

Still to this day I'm looking for items for the truck. For the longest time the rear of the driver side cabinet was bare. The passenger side had the creeper mounted to it, but I was at a loss as to what to do with the other side. Since the truck started turning out to be more of a rolling museum, then a period correct tool truck, I decided to make a display of the toolbox emblems that were used through the years. When I restored the toolbox that is in the truck, I bought another to use as a parts box. I was able to use the best parts of both boxes to make one good one. I had some drawers left over so I thought to myself... Self, wouldn't that be cool to display the different emblems in a vintage toolbox drawer? I took me awhile to find NOS emblems and I was very successful with the exception of the top two. They are as rare as rare can be. I found the two and polished the plates until they were shiny without any paint. Then I taped off the black part and painted the red. Waited for it to dry, then with a block of wood with thinner dripped on it rubbed the top of the plate to expose the chrome trim. Waited weeks for it to dry completely and reversed the process with the black. I think they came out nice?

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Fast forward to 2020. It is Snap-on's 100 Anniversary and I wanted to get something so that when people look at the truck they see that this company has been around for 100 years. (As a side note... I'm proud to have been part of that for almost 30 years) Unless the buy a $15K to $24K toolbox there is no way you are going to get the 100 Anniversary logo. If yours gets damaged, you have to give them the serial number of the box and return the damaged emblem. I was able, with the help of the truck, to get the powers that be to give me a couple of emblems to use one the truck. Now I need to come up with a way to display one of them since space is at a premium inside.

Image
1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
Image
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Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

Posts: 215

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Tue Dec 22, 2020 4:43 pm

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

Face Masks are in... Get yours today. One for $20 - two for $30. PM me for details.
Image
1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
Image
User avatar

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 739

Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:14 am

Post Tue Dec 22, 2020 8:24 pm

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

d.valentino wrote in part:
so I thought to myself... Self,


I just about brew coffee out my nose after reading this , funny man
I can appreciate your journey to locate goodies for the van
it is without a doubt beautiful.
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Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

Posts: 215

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Wed Dec 23, 2020 6:36 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

Harvey wrote:d.valentino wrote in part:
so I thought to myself... Self,


I just about brew coffee out my nose after reading this , funny man


See... You get me. My wife not so much, she just says I'm a special kind of funny. Thank you, I appreciate the kind words.
1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
Image
User avatar

Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

Posts: 215

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:01 pm

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

I have to thank the folks at Mill Supply’s for the knod to the little truck on the index page of their latest step van supply catalog!

Image
1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
Image
User avatar

Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

Posts: 215

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:14 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

Just came across this article. Pretty nice write up... Enjoy

https://kruzinusa.com/the-supremely-coo ... ro-snappy/
1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
Image

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 1437

Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:32 am

Location: Minnesota

Post Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:15 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

I watched your build from the start. Great job.
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Freshly Restored
Freshly Restored

Posts: 215

Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am

Location: Sunny Southern California

Post Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:58 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

kevin wrote:I watched your build from the start. Great job.


Thanks, The whole thing has been a great experience.
1955 BN2 Austin Healey 100M
1959 AN5 Austin Healey Sprite
The Original "Airport Racer"
1951 International Metro Step Van
Instagram- snapon.domenic
Image
User avatar

Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee

Posts: 739

Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:14 am

Post Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:14 am

Re: 1951 Metro- The Restoration Begins

There needs to be a double whistle button for this one..

Good Friday !

Stay safe.. - sm
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