ford gpa g504

Hi All,

I am writing this part because GPA owner Wibo de Vries has some problems with putting pictures on this forum.
As a good friend, I am glad to help him with this.
Placing text is no problem for him, only pictures.
So reactions to Wibo .
Wibo bought his GPA 7023 in 2011 in the USA, as a good running and sailing vehicle.
He got the correct Dutch licence plates for it and repaired some spots.
He arranged correct parts that were missing or that were not original.
A lot of work with then already a lot of unknown bad spots
After several trips in the last three years, with every time problems, he made a brave choice
to strip the GPA completely and do a correct full restoration.
In my opinion, the only way to get your GPA reliable
Here a picture of the GPA just arrived from the States in 2011.



Wibo was working on on for months to get it safe on land and in the water.
A lot of unknown unpleasant supprices became visible




After a lot of work, wibo decided to make the outfit like the Canadians had their GPA's, when they libarated a big part of Holland.








As mentioned, he made the brave decision to strip the vehicle completely and do the correct totall restoration
I adviced him to get some bottles with boose, when the GPA returned from the sandblasting company
But even before that happened the need of a good restoration became visable.
A lot of polyester repairs and bondo!!




To be continued.................

Endorsements and lots of booze needed!!
The pictures below is the result of sandblasting the hull of Wibo's GPA.
I expected some bad spots, but this result gives me also a reason to reach for the bottle
Words of help and / or compassion can you send to Wibo:
741b@hotmail.nl
Also bottles of booze can be send to his address, he shure will need this!



















Lret's start the work
























So far the pictures.
Let's hope he will make it to Amphib England

Wibo,
It looks very familiar for me a lot off body work. It is always the same spots.
I hope you finish your project.
Cees

Hi Cees,

I'm going to try to complete it.

Best regaerds
Wibo

Wibo,
Sorry to see what you are seeing in your just acquired GPA. This GPA body was either never restored or done a long time ago. The holes and rusted out portions are all typical of a GPA. My suggestion is to go through everything and fix/restore now. The body obviously but I would go through the engine, transmission, transfer case, axles, everything.
Good luck,
Donovan.

It is all worth it

There were some discussions of the price of a GPA .
* you can buy a good one
* you can buy a very good one
* you can buy a almost perfect one.
You have to take a very good look on the GPA you are interested in, and take a specialist with you!
What is the condition of the hull. (as far as you can see this)
Is the vehicle complete?
Are the parts all original?
Auto-lite gauges fit and work very well, but original, and what is the price for the original dash gauges?
So, what is the price depends in my point of view:
original bilge, original surfshield, all original gauges, all tools are there, snow chains, hand bilge, all Ford parts,
Original leather cushions, canvas complete, manuals, early or late model, original matching engine, etc..
I think Wibo bought a "Good one" for the price of a very good one

Bob

Here the latest developments of 7023
Wibo is still working to get his GPA ready for Amphib GB. august 2017
We shall see.............

Hi Wibo,

You are doing an excellent job of restoring your GPA.
I know its hard to take a running vehicle of the road to do such a restoration but really the only fix.

Sand blasting really shows the weak spots on a GPA, but once properly repaired you will have a very nice GPA.
Many collectors think GPA's are over priced for a well restored one. Personally I think they are realistically priced when your realise just how many hours it takes to restore one properly, then there is the cost.

Keep up the good work, it will be well worth it in the end, if I can assist just email me.

Best regards
Richard sanders

Still people are wondering, why is a good Ford GPA so expensive?
Bob