that you never find the really cool stuff that actually has a family attachment until you just can't afford it ? i got told about a " dwarf race car " sitting hereabouts and went to investigate it out of curiosity and lo and behold ....... it wasn't one of the dwarf race cars . it's a mid 50's model a modified with an nasty flathead , in all it's patina'd glory !!!!!!!!!!! nonetheless it's one my grandfather drove for the owner for awhile !!!!!!!!! don't know if it's for sale , but with the tight budget , and even tighter it has become , i don't dare ask as if it is and it's something i normally could afford it's gonna break my heart !!!!!!!!!!!!!! so it shall remain in it's secret location until ............................

 

I'd go ahead and ask. Who knows, you being the grandson of the driver, the owner just might jump on the nostalgia bandwagon and cut you a good deal. Never hurts to ask.
I think that it would be so cool if you wangled a deal.
Good luck!

 

Hello 55F350,

I can empathise with you to some extent at least. In my approximatley 45 years (out of 60) that I have been interested in modes of vehicular transportation, I have come across numerous cars and m'bikes that I have desired. Perhaps in someones front yard, buried under someone's house or on the side of the road for sale or abandoned in a paddock or a shell beside a country road.

Vintage cars, abandoned hot rods, classic motorbikes, old race cars. You have done it, we have all done it, seen these things over the years and decided for what ever reason not to follow it up. I really regret not buying some of those cars.

Do what you think is right, I have approached people about old derelict stuff and couldn't afford their price, and later seen the vehicle towed away or in a car yard. I think my enquiring got them thinking they might as well get something for it and away it goes. Sometimes I have thought if I didn't say anything it might still be sitting there.

But it is a tough decision isn't it, because perhaps the next person to be shown that old race car will buy it. And I too, as you have indicated, have been anywhere but in the right financial position when I have wanted some new found jewel in the rough.

All the best, hope things work out well for you. One last comment that comes to mind from the real estate investment people, "The deal of a lifetime comes along about once a week" Don't we wish!

Good luck,
Neville

 

really don't have the funds at present but keeping it's location a secret and so is my good bud who told me about it as he knows of the family connection . i went through the pictures my little brother has , and i found it in it's red and white gab with gramps standing next to it with the owner and a trophy , as well as a pic of him driving it in it's current garb and him behind the wheel . there was a pic of it too with a 430 lincoln under the bonnet , modded of course , in the early 60'6 also . someone put the much modded flatty back into it thankfully . i may stop and chat the owner up and see , but thanks to major medical expenses for the wifes health it really isn't in the cards right now . i'm just hoping and praying to have a windfall that will allow me to get it if he wants to sell !!! as if i don't have enough project now ...........

 

Well it sounds like you have the situation covered, maybe you are meant to get it and it will work out when you are ready for it, I certainly hope so for you. I hope things work out well for you and your wife with her health. Sometimes as you say, there are things we definitely have to do, get our priorities right and move on,

All the best to you and your wife,
Neville

 

When you do talk to someone, and don't reach a deal, about a rust queen leave a card and say "you can call me if you change your mind."
Perhaps they'll save your card.

 

The usual wheeze you get when you inquire about some old rolling pile of misery is: "I'm going to restore it some day."

1935 Packard V12 sedan was parked next to a miners shack in Atolia CA for many years. Everytime I was in the area, stopped by, asked if it was for sale, got the same response.

Then one day I stopped by, car was rolled over on its side, powertrain gone, sheet metal full of bullet holes. Owner had died, and then, so did the car. A crying shame.