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Post by geebee09 on Jul 7, 2010 15:22:53 GMT -5
I bought a Bradley (my first car) last year. It was well known in Longboat Key, FL in the 70's and 80's, but was garaged and untouched for more than 20 years when I got it. It spent 5 months in the shop, but is now back on the road in Holmes Beach (Anna Maria Island), FL. The car has an interesting history and maybe somebody out there can help fill in the gaps. I'll open another thread on that subject soon. The message board is great and I'm happy to be here!
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Eric A
Full Member
It's an obsession not an investment!
Posts: 223
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Post by Eric A on Jul 7, 2010 15:35:24 GMT -5
Welcome! I believe I talked to you a while ago. I lived in Sarasota but I have moved to Venice. Great to see you here!
Eric A
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Post by brianboggs on Jul 7, 2010 15:45:57 GMT -5
Welcome aboard. If we dont see pictures real soon you have to sit in the corner with a funny cap on!!!
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Post by Jeff Troy on Jul 7, 2010 16:35:23 GMT -5
Gee Bee as in "Flying Milk Bottle" racers, or something else?
Warmest...
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Post by geebee09 on Jul 7, 2010 17:14:16 GMT -5
Everyone...Thanks for the warm welcome!
Eric: I remember you and I recall how willing you were to assist me. My mechanic has your phone number!
Brian: I'm already sitting in a corner wearing a funny cap. My computer skills and automotive expertise are in a tie for last place (that's why the car was in the shop for 5 months). But I'll get some pics for you so I can get rid of this funny hat.
Jeff: The "Gee Bee" is one of the mysteries I'm trying to solve. The guy who built the car was a retired Air Force General and that was the name he gave it. I suspect there's a connection between the General and the experimental racing plane of the same name from the 30's but I haven't been able to document it. I even contacted the official GEE BEE site, but they couldn't find his name in their records.
Thanks to all, Dave
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Post by don29163 on Jul 7, 2010 20:34:49 GMT -5
Welcome to the site !!
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Post by big bob on Jul 8, 2010 10:50:57 GMT -5
welcome dave!
nice to have another bradley member... so, does that mean your car is driveable... and llike you've already heard, we want to see pictures!
good luck, big bob
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Eric A
Full Member
It's an obsession not an investment!
Posts: 223
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Post by Eric A on Jul 8, 2010 11:53:25 GMT -5
We are going to have to meet up so I can get some pics with both cars in it given they both have a military background.
Eric A
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Post by geebee09 on Jul 8, 2010 12:15:19 GMT -5
Big Bob,
It's running great, but it's still in the "breaking-it-in phase."
Some background: It's a '67 Beetle that was put together in '74 with a re-built engine and transmission. It had just over 9,000 miles on it when it was last touched in 1986.
I bought it for $500 and had it towed to a VW specialist who I know and trust. He had it for 5 months....basically stripped it down piece by piece and reassembled it. It needed new everything...tires, brakes, exhaust, carb, tie rods/ball joints and gas tank, etc. It wound up costing several times the original $500 purchase price!
Since then I've only had a couple of problems...some metal shavings from the new Carb clogged the injectors (?) and I had a vapor-lock problem. Every time I'd hit 50 mph it would shut down. The mechanic found that the fuel tank wasn't vented and drilled a tiny hole in the cap...no more problem!
I'm not driving it much right now...no AC and a South Florida summer will do that! But I DID have an alternator installed for the eventual addition of AC.
Until I get the pics up...It's gold metal-flake and so bright it'll hurt your eyes. Just one flaw...a cracked passenger-side gull-wing. I thought about bracing it on both sides with plexiglass, but I'll probably opt for a new wing now that I know they're available.
Great to hear from you, Dave
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Post by runnerjohn on Jul 8, 2010 18:52:08 GMT -5
Geebee, welcome aboard! I'll have to check my map to see where you live relative to Venice. My parents live there, so I get down that way now and then.
Hmm. He was a General...maybe GeeBee was short for General Bradley? Possibly a gold-star general? Just a guess.
Mine is on a '67 pan, too, with a '66 1300 in it. Looking forward to some pics!
BTW, I'm currently in last place for automotive and computer skills, so you'll have to bump me to take over that title! ;D
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Post by geebee09 on Jul 8, 2010 19:55:12 GMT -5
Eric...
If I remember correctly, your father got the Bradley that you now have from somebody at MacDill Air Force Base?
I'd love to get together with you, but the only time I leave Anna Maria/Longboat is to take it to the mechanic in Bradenton. However, my wife's family gathers several times a year in Englewood and they all want to see it...maybe then? Or if you're ever up this way, let me know. My wife is a professional photographer...she'd be happy to take the pics.
Dave
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Post by geebee09 on Jul 8, 2010 20:20:47 GMT -5
Runnerjohn...
Everybody's Mother/Grandmother lives on Florida's Southwest coast. I've often heard St. Petersburg referred to as "God's Waiting Room." I'm probably 40 miles north of Venice, Head north on US 41 or I-75, go through Sarasota to Bradenton and hang a left to the beach (Anna Maria).
General (Omar) Bradley is one possibility for my car's name. The guy who built it graduated from West Point in the early 30's and flew numerous combat missions in WWII and Korea. There was also an experimental plane in the 30's called the "Gee Bee". The timing is right, but I haven't been able to connect him to it.
Great to hear from you, Dave
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Eric A
Full Member
It's an obsession not an investment!
Posts: 223
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Post by Eric A on Jul 8, 2010 20:21:50 GMT -5
I am up that way quite a bit. I would be happy to come meet you up there, as soon as I get a few things fixed. I am a professional photographer also so we should be in good shape! My grandfather bought the car for an officer at McDill AFB correct.
Eric A
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Post by geebee09 on Jul 8, 2010 20:43:25 GMT -5
Eric...
Let me know any time you're headed this way. We (and our cars) need to meet! I look forward to it, and I'll let you know any time I'm headed YOUR way.
Dave
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Eric A
Full Member
It's an obsession not an investment!
Posts: 223
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Post by Eric A on Jul 9, 2010 7:02:27 GMT -5
Sounds good.
Eric A
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