As I recall (considering that memory is the 2nd thing one loses at my age and this was 1974), it was a laugh-a-minute buying 2553, convincing the DMV I hadn't smuggled it into the US (it had no US title & had been in the country about 5 years), convincing my wife this was not just another financial bottomless pit (she was right, I was wrong), finding bits & pieces for it, etc., etc. I would have kept a diary had I realized what was in store. I missed the humor at the time, however, and concluded the chain of events to be just one damned thing after another.
Anyway, give me some time & I'll write up something which you may feel free to edit as needed.
Regards,
Mike P.
I found a photo of #2553 I took in Feb 1978. I had just located a replacement
front bumper, the first of many steps....