Jade Grenade Ready for the Dance

By Pat Foster

The Jade Grenade stretching out and getting ready for the CHRR Cacklefest.
Photo by Gene Krueger

The "Jade Grenade" is all dressed and ready for the dance in Bakersfield on the 5th of October.

She turned out nice for the piece I started with. 

I can't say enough for the New Jersey-based painter and "Jim the painter" who recreated the unique lettering and airbrush work. The painter is Bob Barber of Paint Works in Stowe, N.J. His work is beyond excellent. "Jim the painter" (lettering) had done the original car in 1968 and has not lost a step, very nice.

All the car lacks now is a little driver training for the owner Don Trasin, who will handle the honors at the Cacklefest.

The engine runs and hits like a 426 should: lots of lead, lots of overdrive on the 8-71, 94 percent in the tank, she is period correct in all ways.

I was only able to save one body part, the under tray at the front of the nose, this also should have been new but I felt by leaving it, it would be an official restoration, not a recreation. The painter had to give that section a lot of love but pulled it off nicely.

Darrell Karst has been a valued friend and contributor to the project and not a half bad chassis painter either. Thanks, Darrell.

Corey Conyers, who worked with my son Cole, has relocated back to Wichita and has been involved. He re-did the original Tony Nancy upholstery. Rough doesn't describe what I handed him and asked him to make it look like it had just come out of Van Nuys yesterday... He pulled it off to perfection...Thanx, Corey. 

All in all, she's a sweetheart and will dance the weekend away at the CHRR. 

This has been a long hard pull for an old guy, but working for Don Trasin has made it a pleasure, for sure. Try to take time at Bakersfield to say hello to him. You won't be able to miss him; he'll be the one with a smile on his face...

Foster 
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