Gottlieb Surf Champ Restoration

[Strangeways]

I have two EMs I'm currently restoring. One is a "High Hand" which will incorporate a cabinet repaint, so that will be done in October when the weather improves. The other is a very popular Gottlieb "Surf Champ". There's a bit of a story about this game. A member reserved the game that was from an earlier container, but the playfield had some planking issues that would need addressing either by a full restoration to the playfield and then a clearcoat. The June container had a Surf Champ, but I didn't have any pictures, I just wanted it for this container. After it landed, I  took photos and checked it out and is was in very good condition. I contacted the member, and he agreed - we would proceed with the BETTER of the two !

Condition Report

Cabinet 8/10 - Really amazing for its age. Lower cabinet is really good, the head has some paint lift, but it is really solid. The serial numbers match even though the head looks to be slightly darker.

Playfield 8/10 - Dirty. No planking, but lots of ball swirl. Insert wear and loss of paint around the outhole.

Electrical - 8/10 - Missing the credit unit (will be sourced) and the chimes present but disabled. Everything looks great.

Since this game was sourced from a collection overseas - it worked perfectly when I plugged it in. It played sloppy as the rubbers were hard, but it worked !


BEFORE pictures





Backglass is really nice











No Credit Unit !








Filthy and ball swirl predominant on lower playfield.





Areas of ball swirl removed (lower section) and area untouched (top section)





Lower playfield - Left side untouched, right side cleaned completely. You do get some paint spots lift, but it is much better than the ball swirl.








Left lanes with dirt, right lanes cleaned





After a few hours of work with Magic Eraser and alcohol, we have a very decent looking playfield







Obviously the playfield is COMPLETELY stripped as all new parts will be installed. Nothing worse than leaving all the old broken and worn hardware such as pop bumpers etc !


All the inserts will now have to be removed, flattened and then inserted back into the playfield as level as I can get them. I think we will be mylaring the playfield. A BIG Game specific order has been made with PBR, and the rest of the parts will be from the local Gottlieb Parts supplier RTBB.

[pinnies4me]

I love Surf Champ/Surfer, great to see one getting the treatment!!

[Ford Fairlane]

looks like you have a good base to work with. should come up a treat with your touch! 

[millsy]

very nice 

[swinks]

Very nice Nino,

I will be watching and learning as I have a surf champ (my keeper pin) in the shed waiting for the treatment


if you need artwork for the spinner I have some stencil artwork so you can apply your own small stencils and spray your own. The attachment is just a small pdf version, but have the artwork file if you need.

[oldskool1969]

B E W D I F U L L ! ! ! !
  I am getting a chubby already 
Will go nicely with my new MICKEY MUNOZ surfboard

[goodolddays]

What makes this title so collectible ? Is it the theme or ?
This one should turn out really well by the looks of it .

[swinks]

B E W D I F U L L ! ! ! !
  I am getting a chubby already  
Will go nicely with my new MICKEY MUNOZ surfboard

nice board mate, gotta love being out in the water

What makes this title so collectible ? Is it the theme or ?
This one should turn out really well by the looks of it .

I haven't played many EM's at all so for me it is theme and a nice backglass and it has a mix of everything on the playfield - which I think is what makes it popular is just a bit of everything on there and a mix up in the layout, could be wrong, maybe Nino can share his knowledge on that question.

[skywalker]

starting to appreciate these EM's pins, Very nice title, will be a Stunner when finished 

[Strangeways]

Very nice Nino,

I will be watching and learning as I have a surf champ (my keeper pin) in the shed waiting for the treatment


if you need artwork for the spinner I have some stencil artwork so you can apply your own small stencils and spray your own. The attachment is just a small pdf version, but have the artwork file if you need.

Thanks VERY much for the artwork, Jady. I usually put new spinners and then the artwork, and finally the mylar.

What makes this title so collectible ? Is it the theme or ?
This one should turn out really well by the looks of it .

I think the theme has a lot to do with it, but the layout with the Drop Targets in a difficult space next to the Pop Bumpers makes it a challenging game. A direct flipper hit to the topmost DT will be obscured so you need to use the pop bumpers. The rollovers add bonus to collect on the outhole. A very cool feature. The game is much more of a player, and it has appreciated in both price and also desirability. GTB managed to make a few excellent 4 players in this era. I prefer the Bally's, but you can see where the designs for future SS machines started from.

[Strangeways]

B E W D I F U L L ! ! ! !
  I am getting a chubby already  
Will go nicely with my new MICKEY MUNOZ surfboard

nice board mate, gotta love being out in the water

What makes this title so collectible ? Is it the theme or ?
This one should turn out really well by the looks of it .

I haven't played many EM's at all so for me it is theme and a nice backglass and it has a mix of everything on the playfield - which I think is what makes it popular is just a bit of everything on there and a mix up in the layout, could be wrong, maybe Nino can share his knowledge on that question.

I think it is a "bit of everything". GTB produced some awesome 4 players - Target Alpha and Royal Flush are other very good players. Predominantly drop target games, and "collect Bonus" features.

[Crashramp]

Great start, the art work on this machine looks Beautiful. I'm sure it'll be a stunner once your finished.

[oldskool1969]

What makes this title so collectible ? Is it the theme or ?
This one should turn out really well by the looks of it .

Theme is the MAIN reason for me as I love my oldskool surfing and memorabilia and also it plays like a demon too! definitely one of the better EM's out there IMO and also one of the last as it was manufactured in 1976 if I remember rightly. EVERYBODY needs at least one old girl in there collection, I have 3 soon to be 4!
There are also very few surfing themed pinball out there that I am aware of
SURFER which is the same GTB but 2 player and IMO a much better back glass
SURFING by  SEGA very rare and only a few made in Japan would like to play and own
and also a 1967 SURFERS by BALLY , bloody ugly and a pig to play IMO but hey you never know I might get one?

[4_amusement_only]

Surf Champ is a great game to play. Could have easily been made into an SS

[Mr Pinbologist]

Should come up really nice Nino. The BG looks in amazing condition 

Will you be doing any touchup work around the inserts that have wear around them?
The PF looks like it'll come up nice too