Corona VMC 81

[Pat Pixley]

 just sharing a few pictures you can see more on CSW Face Book Page.
  just finished up today,  had to pick up the JohnieG compressor for it and get that in today then just install the door liner and few other little things .
  
Some of you may have a fit, "how can you do that to a VMC 81?"  it is easy if belongs to a customer and that is what he wants .





And here is the before

[jholmgren]

Looks great Pat. 

Hey, it's a Generic 81 - it's no different (in my opinion) than any of the other Fantasy 81's folks on this board have done.   If the owner is happy with it, who are we to judge?   

Sure would like to get in on that .10 beer!   

Jim

[Blind1968]

I think is is awesome! I just like the yellow on the 81's. Well Done!

[BrianS]

Great looking machine.  I actually really liked the original 7up, but  I am sure your customer is thrilled,  awesome job!

[mygoose101]

Looks like a damn fun machine. Love the palm trees on the side.

[MaineT]

I'll admit it... I'm cringing a little....it looks cool but!  Great job with the restoration. And what the customer wants, the customer gets. They want pink with purple poka dots, who am I to judge.

[Larry]

Looks cool.  Great job.

[johnieG]

Wow! Looks great all put together now!  I adjusted the compressor compartment picture to show more detail..  

The customer insisted on using the original compressor, so I checked the current draw & pressures & it passed, so it got media blasted & painted separately, the base-plate , condenser coil, & fan bracket received powder coating in semi gloss black, new components from top to bottom, the wiring harness and T-stat and an electronic start-run relay too.  It's all recharged with MO-49 Iceon refrigerant.

[BONOVOX]

Another job well done Pat!

As for the palm trees, I could have done without.. but like others have said... if that's what they want...  
Question though... whats with the 6 raised "buttons" at the top of the machine (above and below the corona)?  Just curious is all.


 

[mack65az]

Awesome! I have an Ideal 55 slated for "PACIFICO". Anyone know where I can get hi res files for PACIFICO? I would be happy to settle on CORONA as well.

[johnieG]

Another job well done Pat!

As for the palm trees, I could have done without.. but like others have said... if that's what they want...  
Question though... whats with the 6 raised "buttons" at the top of the machine (above and below the corona)?  Just curious is all.


 

It's were the original 7up tacker sign was riveted onto the machine...I guess the guy didn't want to spring for any additional body work to weld up the holes.. 

[BONOVOX]

I thought that's what it might be... but then I look at the original machine, and he had a dent there.... I mean, if he's gonna pay for the repair of the dent... why not go the extra yard and fix a couple of holes?

I guess we have to wait for Pat to chime in and see what it's all about 

 

[johnieG]

From what I was told, his wife said he was already over budget when he bought the thing...so you can speculate from there!

[tkaz]

I really like the Corona design, you did a great job with it.  Colors really pop. 

[coke_and_stuff]

Not dogging the work but here is a question. The dent was fixed. It would have taken 10 minutes to weld up those holes and get them ready for a skim coat of mud. After the machine was disassembled and blasted it would have even been easier to fix. Anyone restoring these old rust prone machines should have a mig welder in their shop. I do a lot of restoration work and that is such a simple task that it should not of even been mentioned and just done!

Joey

[msanborn]

looks great, isnt that the point of the fantasy machines? I am waiting for a generic gonna do it USMC themed. 

[Slider-Bob]

I agree with Joey...The fantasy machine was nicely done but with a little more effort, it would have looked perfect.

[Jeffmon]

Machine looks great, I love the Corona theme, I was going to do a vmc 27 in the corona them but it required way to much modification to be used for corona bottles, dam long neck bottles, figured it was pointless sacrificing a machine if I couldn't use it for it's intended themed purpose, I think a little counter top vmc 27 would look so cool in a Corona theme !

[coke_and_stuff]

I'm currently restoring a tall Gilbarco pump with station lighter. One door had 22 holes the other 24 where various pump plates and signs etc had been installed over the years. Imagine what it would have looked like if I did not weld up the holes!!!!


Joey

[mygoose101]

They actually do make Corona is small 7oz bottles, they are called "Coronitas".

[Jeffmon]

Lol are you being serious or pulling my leg ? Lol if they do actually make them, we definitely don't have them around here !

[Jeffmon]

Just googled it lol guess you weren't pulling my leg after all, those are really cool... I'm going to see if my local liquor store can have them brought in for me, if they can then I definitely know what my next project is !

[halehouse]

I like it. I like the theme and the palm trees. "10 cents" doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't match the theme of the machine IMO. The Corona theme is more modern than the price decal.
The rivets did stand out in the photo.

[MaineT]

They actually do make Corona is small 7oz bottles, they are called "Coronitas".

I bought a 6 pack one time and the guy and a couple of customers were looking at me funny... An hour later i realized they make a Coronita!!

[BONOVOX]

I was just curious about the rivits on the machine.  It was in no way meant to bring attention to it, or to critique the resto on the machine.  Pat does outstanding work, with every screw, nut, bolt and decal (I know, I personally saw his work).

I was just curious is all.  Either way, the machine looks great!

 

[jholmgren]

Machine looks great, I love the Corona theme, I was going to do a vmc 27 in the corona them but it required way to much modification to be used for corona bottles, dam long neck bottles, figured it was pointless sacrificing a machine if I couldn't use it for it's intended themed purpose, I think a little counter top vmc 27 would look so cool in a Corona theme !

Why not pick up a generic Ideal or Glasco slider?   They can handle plenty of long-necks.   

[johnieG]

I like it. I like the theme and the palm trees. "10 cents" doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't match the theme of the machine IMO. The Corona theme is more modern than the price decal.
The rivets did stand out in the photo.

 If I were doing it for myself, I'd go the extra bucks to fill the holes, but...   "The customer is always right"  if he tells you to leave the rivets, you leave the rivets.

[Slider-Bob]

If I were doing it for myself, I'd go the extra bucks to fill the holes, but...   "The customer is always right"  if he tells you to leave the rivets, you leave the rivets.

I disagree in not filling in the holes...I see your point JohnieG, but the fact of the matter is the customer didn't want the rivets removed because he didn't (or couldn't) pony up the extra cash to do it correctly.  It doesn't mean the restorer couldn't go the extra mile to "wow" the customer for what seems like a nominal amount of work effort.  Everybody talks about how "their work is their name", yet so often it comes down to money.

I get it...time is money, but dumping 3-4k into a restoration merits going the extra mile to me. Just my 2 cents...I'm certain some will disagree, while others will side with me.

[coke_and_stuff]

I agree 100% with you Bob, I am currently in the final stages of a Wayne 605 restore I planned and budgeted that it would have been done a week ago. I'm not 100% happy with it so I am in the finishing stages of it this week and hopefully will have it done by this weekend. Nothing was Farmed out on this everything including the sandblasting, bodywork, paint etc were all done by me in my shop. If I screw up its on me and my fault. There is always something that comes up like the "rivets" that should have not even been mentioned that is something that is so minor it should have been taken care of first thing after it was blasted as with any rust repair.

This Customer has had me build

2 Cavalier 72s
1 Cavalier 96
National A62 Gas Pump
Bennett 541
Bowser 585
Gilbarco 98 with Station lighter
Wayne 605

I'm not saying my work is perfect and its not. I have had problems with my work in the past and I resolved them took the item back and fixed it free of charge. That is the reason my customer keeps coming back as I take pride in my work, and do it right.

Also on your breaker strips if using originals use a DA Sander "if you have one" with 220 grit paper lightly sand it, prime and repaint black, It will look brand new with minimal cost. On the Gaps where the ends meet I use 3M Super 8 black electrical tape it covers the gap nicely and adds a nice finishing touch. Originally there was a black tape there as well.

Joey

[MoonDawg]

        I think that machine looks fantastic Pat!  These yellow 81's, RC Squirt etc. seem to be real eye catchers.

        Yeah I spotted the rivets quickly like others here, but we are also the pickiest when it comes to soda machines.

        The average person would think nothing of it ............ I think it tells a story about this particular machine.

        Before becoming Corona, the 7up company had drilled 4 holes for their round sign as shown in the picture.

        But after stripping the paint, 4 more holes showed up which appear to have supported a previous rectangular sign.

        And who knows how many flavor decals before that?   Interesting, if only this machine could talk.

[johnieG]

Pat also told me that the machine had extreme rust-rot damage to the pan area & walls, so maybe that's were the $$$ got sunk, it's a trade off I assume. so long as the customers happy... and I've never meet a body shop yet that was willing to throw in an hours of extra work out of the goodness of their heart, somebody gotta' pay for it. like MoonDawg said, history

[Pat Pixley]

Ok I've been Sick as hell  due to some medical problems some people here know  and some only know only half, I go in for surgery tomorrow . I then
  read the comments  And I will set you all Straight Right know .  This was his grandfather machine at the general store/Station he owner,  the customer
does not remember the brand it was but he remember some of the colors it was and he does remember  helping Grandpa screw the metal sign on the machine the hole are the one that are on the out side .The sign was Monts with a 10 cent painted on the metal sign   he has whats left of the tin  sign  ( and those are memorys ) , When grandpa sold the store/ station  he sold the machine to a friend of my clients,  the client then painted the machine green with a brush and put on that tacker  7Up sign  then four or five year back my client bought it back  from his bubby .  And YES he wanted to keep those holes  in there  I talked him into the plugs (Not rivet GOOD LORD) they can be popped out  if he want and put on that sign.  
So  yes the customer is always right , when he tell you why .  

  John did have part of this right it was he not her that had the fit  about the price , because this machine was a empty shell with a compressor  ( John remember this ) and yes I had to but a new bottom in and  the bottom left was gone .


Pat  

 
 Honestly do you think for one minute  I would have done that if there was not a reason ...

[mygoose101]

Good luck on your surgery, I hope everything is ok.

[davethebirdman]

"Feel the Love... Feel the love."

Good Luck Pat....

[Smallblock]

I wish you good luck with the surgery and hope they do the work as good as you had restore the Corona machine.

I have searching for pics on  Corona roundtops but this is the first one i ever see and it's looking good.

[Funtronics]

Nice work Pat. I loved the Corona machine. Good luck with your surgery.

[BONOVOX]

All the best Pat.