In 1994, Rich Thompson of Green Bay, Wisconsin found a '64 Spyder club coupe sitting behind a barn with some of its linkages literally held together with bailing wire and coat hangers. However, it had clocked only 63,000 original miles, and the body was sound and straight expect for a few minor dings and dents.

Working from his home garage, Rich began the restoration in July of 1998. He started with the body work and undercarriage, then redid the trunk, engine compartment, suspension, the stainless trim and the entire interior, and all mechanicals before having the car stripped and painted with BASF Glasruit 55 base/clear urethane. He credits his friends Rick Nelson  and Jim Jimenez for the excellent exterior paint work, for help putting the drive train together and for getting him out of some "sticky situations."  

The restoration took almost 2 years to the day to complete, and was finished only a week prior to Daytona 2000. Had a little more time been available for the preparation of the car, Rich could have competed in the Factory Stock Restored class. He was "basically 6 screws and 4 clamps" away from the class.

He registered the Spyder in Street Stock, where it won a gold award in the Concours d' Elegance and was promoted to the Senior Division. It scored 96.99 points after a .50 point deduction for being transported by trailer to the event. The black club coupe with a red interior is equipped with the 150 horsepower turbo-charged engine unique to the Spyder series, and has a 4-speed manual transmission with a Positraction rear end and 3.55:1 gearing. It is black with a red interior. The level of detail put into the restoration, and the depth of the paint on the car can be seen in the pictures.

An impressive array of factory and dealer installed options includes all-around tinted glass, Powerbar radio with front and rear speakers, comfort and courtesy group, padded dash, dash mounted clock, deluxe seat belts, spare wheel lock, dual rear mounted antennae, front and rear bumper guards, luggage compartment lamp, gas door guard, locking gas cap, exterior right hand door mirror, emergency brake warning light and a tissue dispenser.

At right, we see the period correct bias-ply tires and full wheel covers with the Spyder insert.  

Thanks to Rich for sending me the pictures of his car. I'd missed my opportunity to photograph the car during the Concours.