Looks great! Maybe you could try wax or a polishing compound to add some sheen to
the hood. I’ve had great luck in the past getting old chalky paint to shine up again.
Great find! I wandered through their grave yard many times back when it was in Salida and Merle owned it. I was always amazed at the treasures they had in there.
Glad you were able to find the right parts with the right patina :cheers:
Only Factory Softops came with hood bumpers and hooks up till about mid to late ‘64 with the arrival of the removable top 45s and the non corrugated 40 hard tops. All models except the LV from ‘65 and up had the hood bumpers and windshield hold down latches.
For fun watch this assembly line...
I’m wondering If that hood and driver fender were replaced at some point. Any hood after ‘64 should have the windshield catch hooks with LVs being the exception. Also that might explain why the paint in those areas aged so much worse. Also along that front in the mid 60s Toyota used a base...
Having restored quite a few early 40/45s I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised how many original parts are still available from Mr. T. You can still get shocks, bushings, shackles, paper fuel and oil filters, wiring junction blocks, head gasket kits, down pipes, mufflers, all emblems...
Those seat covers are definitely originals. The red canister is likely a Engine block Heater for keeping the engine warm in extreme cold when sitting. I’ve seen a few in my early ones over the years.
Such an amazing find and time capsule! Congrats!