RE: [T3] 71 automatic squareback

[jmailliardfleming@verizon.net]

<x-flowed>I am not sure how to reply to a thread only to the list itself.  I hope 
I am doing this right.
After Toby's comments I have gone back to my friend of 15 years, who 
took possession of this car when her mother died, to confirm the 
odometer mileage.  Sara Jane, the original owner, bought the car in 
1971 and died in 1985.  She drove it for 13 years to the grocery store 
and to get her hair done every week.  She lived in New Jersey where the 
car was garaged.  I am guessing she was not such a good driver in the 
last few years due the the dents and dings on most areas of the car.  
Then in April 1985 the car came to live with my friend here in 
Arlington VA.  She parked it outside under a cover and left it.  When 
we took it off her hands in March of 2004 there was ivy growing in the 
engine, a family of mice were in residence,  the tires had rotted and 
the car would not even register gauges when the key was turned. 
Mechanics worked on the car to get it running but every time the car 
was driven it, would die.  Finally after several unsuccessful attempts 
to flush out the gas tank, we just had the whole gas tank relined.  
Now, the car is driving well.
The seat belts are not retractable. As far as I can tell they never 
have been.  The three point belts just puddle on the floor and flop 
around when not being used. There is nothing to grease or repair as 
there is no retracting mechanism.  It seems folks think the'71 should 
have retractable seat belts, is it possible this was a no frills  
squareback and therefore didn't?  This car does not have 
air-conditioning and has an AM only radio.  Nor does it have any of the 
other "features" described in the original owners manual.  The plate on 
the door says it was built 01/71.
As far as body rust, there are pin holes in the floor (my son pulled 
the carpeting up) and one larger hole in the battery compartment. There 
is rust on the bottoms of the doors, luggage compartment door and rear 
hatch, on the vent grill on the hood, around the wheel wells and so on. 
 The chrome bumpers are also dotted with rust.  Don't car covers 
accelerate rusting if left on for years and years? The cover actually 
rotted away before it was ever removed. As a result the car was 
uncovered in the snow and rain for probably the last 8 years.  It had 
not been started since 1990.  I will take pictures on the next sunny 
day we have.  I am certain that the odometer reading is correct but 
guess that since the car was very badly treated for the last 3 decades 
it has broken down in an accelerated fashion in spite of its low 
mileage.  I can find no paper work showing anything but low mileage on 
repair slip, dealer mileage maintenance coupons and title tranfers.
Good News...I got the windshield wiper fluid spraying today and the 
drivers side door able to be locked and unlocked with the key!

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