The Spirit of '76

[hoover1060]

I've been meaning to post this for a while, and now finally have a chance.
I got this from Andy for my birthday a couple of months back, and I just finished the restoration the other day.
So here it is, my Bicentennial Convertible. I've been looking for one of these for ages!
Thanks Andy for an awesome present, it cleaned up beautifully and runs great!
Here are the pics: first is the cleaner's new home, right inbetween the '75 and '77 Convertible lines

 

[hoover1060]

bag detail

with the Liberty Bell pattern

 

[hoover1060]

The money shot

Thanks Andy, I appreciate this so much, and you know I will treasure it always!

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Hey Jeff, what models are the tan machine on the far left, the gold one in the front, and the blue one on the far right of the first picture?




Thanks, Phillip

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I love that bicentennial model! I would love to find one someday. I also love that gold machine. Those are some of the few I have yet to find.

 

[hoover1060]

models

Phillip,
the tan model is U4057, the gold U4063, and the blue is model U4103.
Thanks for the nice words!

 

[andy]

Yay!!! Glad you like the machine Jeff, and thank you so much for posting pictures! See you guys soon!

 

[buffalo-joe]

1776-1976

Glad to see that you finally got one, Jeff. It looks good in your collection.

Joe

 

[myhooverco]

Seems like this is a difficult to find model. I wonder what the total production was on this upright? I seem to find more of the model after this one which was the same color but with a "plaid" printed bag instead of the Liberty Bells. Congrats, Jeff. That was a nice gift indeed!

--Tom

 

[eluxca]

I remember when this model was new...

...and have this unshakable recollection that they were in the True Value flyers at the time. I do remember seeing it in the True Value store.

My friend's father was a builder and he bought a '76 Chevy Cheyenne (or Scottsdale) pickup with 'Spirit of '76' on the bed and Liberty Bell-adorned hubcaps. White with blue vinyl interior and red pinstriping - a beautiful truck. I guess Chevy offered a bicentennial package on most all their vehicles as I also remember seeing a Nova in town with the same display.

Your machine is beautiful and very rare, Jeff. Enjoy!
John

 

[buffster]

Congrats Jeff

I love the detail on the bag. It's just too cool. Congrats.

M.

 

[rugmaster37]

Wonderful Bicentennial Model...1976

Wonderful machine from the year before I was born. I've never seen one of these that I can remember. And it, thank jesus has an all metal base.

I do however remember the Celebrity QS With Powermatic. Is that an award that I see pinned to it?

Wow...

Is that by chance the one that I gave you eons ago? If so glad that it was able to net you a prize.. That is cooler still...

Hope all is well...


Chad

 

[williamr1248]

spirit of 76

Jeff,
That is a beautiful machine. I love the shade of blue. I have never seen one. Something about it looks very deluxe.
That's like the beige Convertible that Tom posted pictures of from the Hoover vault. It was so much fun to see an old machine in a different color or finish.
Rob

 

[petek]

Well it's unlikely that I"m going to find one of those here but you never know, stranger things have happened. What I remember of 76 is that United or was it American had $76 flights so I took one from Seattle to Detroit that summer

 

[hoover1060]

The blue...

Is called "Sea Blue" and was a color Hoover really got their mileage out of.
It first appeared in 1975 on the Celebrity II Estate model S3059, then in '76 it was the U6039 DAM powerdrive, and in '77 it was the U4103 Convertible Estate/Elite model, plus a few others along the way.
I agree its a nice color, one I'd never get tired of!