Thread: The One That Got Away...

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A few months back I asked a friend about an old car he had mentioned having under a lean-to behind his garage, and he explained that it had been originally purchased by his wife's grandfather, that it was a Plymouth 2dr sedan that had been parked behind the garage about '83, and had last run about '85 but they could not figure out why it was getting hot. He came back and told me it was a 1940, the last registration sticker on it was 1959, and he thought that it had been taken off the road a few years before that, after a daughter had scraped the rock wall on the way home at night several times - both passenger fenders and the running board were pretty badly banged up. The problem was that his brother-in-law had claimed the car, saying that grandma had written him a letter saying that grandpa had wanted him to have it. Though he was always going to get to it he had let it sit for over thirty years. I went over and looked at it, and told him that based on the condition it was going to need a lot of work to restore or even to update, and that I thought it was probably now worth much more than a few hundred dollars. I told him to offer the BIL $350, and that I wanted to talk to him before he offered it to anyone else. Based on that, he decided that he really wanted the car gone, and he said that he was going to press the BIL to sell it, or get it off the property. After a month or more my friend asked if the BIL had called, and then said that the BIL had initially stated that the car was "worth a fortune", but that my friend had shown him several internet links where restored drivers were in the $4-$6K range, and old iron was less than $1000. Apparently the BIL got his nose out of joint, feeling like he was being asked to "give grandpa's car away" and he went home to pout for a few weeks(he's about 55). Fast forward another few weeks, and my friend asked again if I had gotten a call, and then said that he thought someone was coming to look at the car the next day!! I was a bit ticked, having been the catalyst to get the process started (had I not offered to buy, my friend would have just let it sit for years more), explained how the KS bill-of-sale process worked, and asked for first right of refusal. Yesterday I learned that instead of calling me he called a guy affiliated with an old country salvage yard and asked him if he wanted to buy an old car. The guy came out, asked "How much?" and the BIL said, "I want $500!!", thinking he was being a wheeler dealer. "DONE", was the quick reply, and the next day he showed up with a flatbed wrecker, winched it aboard and hauled it away. Turns out that the BIL doesn't like his sister very much, and especially does not like her husband and he refused to accept anything that my friend told him, including contacting anyone he had suggested. Looks like I'm still looking for the next project....

What year was the plymouth???

Aren't families just great sometimes!

Originally Posted by cffisher

What year was the plymouth???

Sorry, it was a 1940 Plymouth 2dr Sedan.

Frosts your cookies don't it?

There are probably lots of similar stories on here.

Back in the mid '70s, when I was in my Hudson period, I met and befriended an ol' boy who had a few Hudsons sitting around his shop. The neat part was he'd always been "a Hudson man" and had bought each of the cars new. They were all pretty much used up in day to day terms, but being Central Washington cars they were sun fried but rust free for the most part. The one he had that interested me most was a '40 coupe, original maroon color. I asked if he'd sell it to me, but I suspect he just had too much sentimental attachment to let it go. As you'd suspect he up and died one day. After an appropriate time I called on the widow, whom I'd met but wasn't real familiar with. We talked for awhile and I made an offer on the '40. I'd brought an Old Cars Price Guide with me, and showed her the evaluation criteria and we agreed it was a #5 car. The "book" said $600 value, so that's what I offered. She excused herself and made a phone call. Turns out she'd already contacted an auctioneer to dispose of all her late husband's shop equipment, and cars. She relayed to me that the auctioneer "friend" told her I was trying to cheat her and that he was sure he could get at least twice that at the auction. Needless to say I was a bit ticked as I'd gone out of my way to demonstrate my sincerity, but hey, you makes your choices and you takes your chances. A couple months later the auction was held and the '40 ended up at a high bid of $400.............and she got to pay her "friend" the auctioneer 10% of that to boot. Oh well.........

Yeah, most of us probably have a story. Mine is a friend of mine who ran the local wrecking yard I frequent. He passed a few years ago, but shortly before that he had me do the mechanical on a 63 ½ Galaxie 500 XL. I put in a rebuilt 390, rebuilt top loader, did a gear change, disc brake conversion, all new brake lines and on and on. This was a running, driving, nice straight rust free, bucket seat Ford and he had collected the parts to do the paint and interior prior to his death.

Since he passed his kid has moved the car from the shed his dad had it stored in back out to the yard where it sits (I’m afraid to go by and see what parts have been pilfered).

I’ve asked about it a couple of time, offering to either buy it or find a buyer for it (I just want to see it find a good home). Each time the kid says he’s going to finish it someday and drive it ........oh well.

I've a couple but I'll stay away from the family "incident" and share this one.
A friend and his father found a 57 Chevy in the next town and they asked if I would like to tag along. So I went for a ride to get this Chevy. When we get there, the fella has half a dozen "old cars" along a fence. One the piqued my interest was a 55 Ford Ranch Wagon, black, 2 door, v-8 power and I swear it was callin' my name.

I asked my friends father to inquire if the wagon could be bought which he did when the owner came over and the guy says sure! 250 bucks! I was in heaven and said we would be back in a week! The owner said no problem, it'll be there waiting for me. Of course you already know that when we went back the next saturday, the owners son had decided that he wanted the wagon "to fix up"... and yes, it sat there for at least 10 more years and rotted away - even tho' I stopped in and asked and asked and asked.... oh well... sigh...

When I was in the Army (64,65) I helped a guy part time in Alabama who had a big yard--price of copper/brass was up and we removed radiators from about 200 cars and then cut up (before the widespread use of crushers) the rest of the chassis(engines/trans were removed) to be hauled away for scrap metal price--radiators brought as much $ as the rest of the car

I've got a couple -

In mid 70's I lived in Tacoma, Washington. Met an older gentleman who lived next door to friends of ours. I helped him with some electrical wiring and discovered that he had a '57 Nomad in his basement garage. It hadn't been driven in years but was pristine - Orchid and White, original interior and less that 50K miles. Needless to say I was interested but this gentleman's grandson had designs for the car so I wished them all well. Several year later, I saw the car our front of the old guy's house - jacked up in the back with the wheel wells cut out (looked like someone used a Sawzall!) with huge "Indys" sticking out the side - dumped in the front with the bumper gone and fender-well headers poking out behind skinny tires. It was topped off with a hole in the hood and a funky reverse teardrop scoop pop riveted over the hole! Sad, very sad.

Another one with an older lady who went to our church. She had a maroon 49 Ford coupe. All complete, flat head V8 mohair interior, 3 speed on the tree and the original radio that still worked. Belonged to her late husband and she would not part with it (even though she didn't drive!) When she passed, the estate "disposed" of the car by having it hauled off by the knacker man - never saw it again...

Sigh.. Moral of the story buy what you can and enjoy it like it could be the last one!!

Regards All,
Glenn

Hey Rog,
Look @ it this way --
The $$$$$ ya saved will pay for your trip to go out to the L.A. Roadster Show, with the Greybeards.
See ya on the road in June
Don

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Hey Rog,
Look @ it this way --
The $$$$$ ya saved will pay for your trip to go out to the L.A. Roadster Show, with the Greybeards.
See ya on the road in June
Don

Yeah, that sounds like a great trip, Don. LAR is 6/16 & 17 in Pamona, right? When are you guys pulling out of Duncan??

Originally Posted by rspears

Yeah, that sounds like a great trip, Don. LAR is 6/16 & 17 in Pamona, right? When are you guys pulling out of Duncan??

Yep LARS is 6/16 and 6/17 in Pomona, we'll (so far 6 cars) pull outta Duncan early on the on the 11th, run to Alberqerque N.M (475 miles) the first day. Usually pick up 1 or 2 more cars there.
Next morning, Tuesday, up and after it @ 7 then to either Kingman AZ or Lake Havasu AZ (410 or 470 miles.
Then on Wednesday into the L.A. Basin (300miles)
Usually get in around noon -
1 pm .
Lots more goin on than just LARS.
Usually up and goin by 6:30 in the A.M. and usually don't get back to the hotel and hit the rack til 10 -11 pm.
It's nonstop car doins all the way til Sunday nite.
Usually pull out Sunday in the late afternoon and try and make it back to Barstow for the evening, then take 3 to 4 easy days home and do sum short side trips along route 66.
Mark yer calander for the "2nd Annual Great Greybeard Adventure"

A couple more from last year

Here's a couple more to tantilize ya Rog.
Last year even got a personal tour of So-Cal B4 it was open to the public.(it's not what ya know, it's who ya know)
Then off to 1 of the finest collection's of warbirds in the U.S.

Don,
I'd 'a sworn I replied to this, but it's not here so must have been one of those 'thought I did' moments . So from here, I'd need to head toward Duncan (350mi) Sunday June 10th to be ready to go early Monday. On the return, you're looking at pulling back into Duncan Wednesday night to Thursday, depending on the side trips, which would put me back in KC Thursday/Friday, if I understand the plan? Have you guys already booked rooms along the way or do you wing it? How about in the LA area?