Painstaking Restoration of a 1926 Gardner Pays Off for Phoenix Man
Culture
Classics
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American
Ernest Kummerfeldt, who lives in Mesa, Ariz., knew that a high school friend had a 1926 Gardner in storage in Montana. Kummerfeldt said he wanted it—that is, if his friend ever wanted to sell it. Patience paid off, when the transaction finally occurred 12 years ago.
Despite having no previous experience with a restoration project, Kummerfeldt embarked on what would become a seven-year project with his grandson to restore the Gardner 6B Roadster to its grandeur.
The Gardner marque was born in St. Louis. Its founder, Russell Gardner, started his automotive enterprise by making Banner buggies in 1920. With the car era beginning to boom, Gardner shifted to crafting bodies for Chevrolet—and later to the full assembly of the cars. He sold the company to General Motors during World War One, but when his sons returned from the war, the marque started up again. With experience assembling cars, The Gardner Motor Company started created its own models—managing production for a decade until 1931, when it become too difficult to compete with major car companies.
The 1926 Gardner was available in either a six- or eight-cylinder engine. Kummerfeldt’s example carried the 122ci six-cylinder engine, capable of producing 60 horsepower. The passenger side of the car had a golf club compartment and a rumble seat for extra passengers. The side pocket on the passenger door served as the “glove compartment.”
During the restoration process, Kummerfeldt had problems finding spare parts, so for some items such as hubcaps, he resorted to ordering custom-made components. Kummerfeldt found a supplier that could duplicate the embossed leather seat material. Despite the rough condition of the Gardner when the project commenced, there was enough there to determine the factory color and interior choices. A local shop in the Phoenix area studied the roof bows and figured out how to sew a top for this classic.
Kummerfeldt is not alone in restoring classics that hail from the early auto industry in St. Loius. Later this year, he’s planning to take his Gardner to a convention where other local classics, including those produced by the St. Louis Motor Carriage Company and Dorris Motors Corporation, will be convened. Few if any are likely to look as grand as Kummerfeldt’s splendid example from the era.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.