I was told for what had to be the 50th time about the early '60s Chevy being advertised in the .newspaper for a really low price and when someone who knew someone went to look at the car it turned out an elderly man or woman was actually selling a low mileage Corvette that person's son bought before being shipped off to Vietnam and never came back. The story is always relayed by someone who knew someone who knew someone, although I was told once by the person who was actually the person who responded to the ad, at least according to him. When talking to this person it was usually a good idea to wear a pair of boots because it could get deep. He also added to the story by saying when he got there he realized that the car was worth a lot more than the old lady knew so he tried to help her see what she had while another person showed up a few minutes later and offered the old lady twice the asking price. The person telling me this story aid he grabbed the guy and escorted the second guy off of the property. He convinced the old lady she should find a trusted relative to help sell the car at a more reasonable price.

Then there's the story about the practically new Cadilac being sold for $500. Turns out the car belonged to a lady's husband who ran off with his young secretary and sent her a message telling his wife to sell his new Cadillac and to send whatever she got for it to him in some island paradise so she was selling it dirt cheap to screw him. I've heard this one almost as many times as the Chevy story.

I was just told about be friend's friend's son-in-law who found a beat up Harley at a yard sale that he got for $500. Turned out this was Elvis's bikes and Harley bought it from him for a small fortune.

When some goes into one of these stories I just grin and bare it.

There most be others. What have you heard? Car or truck related please.

 

Bob, we don't actually hear urban legends up north here on the edge of civilization where I live. Once in a while we might see things on the internet, but that's about it. We get our news from Rhinelander, where all the on air personalities are teenagers and Milwaukee and Madison are never mentioned. We like it that way. You bet'cha. LOL.

 

Just read your thread about buying a good find while I am sitting in the bank waiting for a loan officer to seal the deal on the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

When I was growing up near Chicago, there were always stories about great deals on near-new Caddies and Lincolns. Problem was, they'd had a body in the trunk for a week and NOTHING would get the smell out.

 

Bob,
I've heard variations on all of those tales you've mentioned. I don't have any new tales to add but I do find it amazing that every hot rod or other vehicle you see that has a SBC engine in it will, amazingly, have a 327 Corvette engine installed.


Bobby

 

Ran when parked--30 years ago.

 

I've heard the Blue Oval version of the Corvette story a number of times. The car being advertised was a 60's Ford, and turned out to be either an early 289 Cobra or, even better, a 427. It's the same tale, just different cars - son lost in Vietnam, parents didn't know what they had, stored in a barn for 20 years, etc., etc..

-----

Last week, while waiting in line at the local Harbor Freight, the guy behind me wanted to know what I needed Evaporust for, and I told him I was working on my '53 F100.

He looks at me and says, "Oh, a car guy, eh? Well, my neighbor's got one of them Cobras sitting in a barn on his back lot. Won't sell it, but I keep bugging him about it."

Stupidly, I ask, "A Shelby Cobra?"

He says, "Nah, a Mustang Cobra, you know, one of them."

Thinking he's talking about one of the SVT Mustangs, I ask, "What year?"

He says, "Oh, '59 or '60, one of the first years those Mustang Cobras came out."

Uh huh.

 

I bought a 1970 chevelle SS396 convertible, factory red / black interior, black top, no cowl induction so no stripes, bucket seats / console car, matching numbers Muncie 4 speed and 12 bolt rear, manual top, factory 8 track stereo, original AO wheels, in fact very original other than the 396 being replaced with a 327. Found it sitting behind a body shop in very restorable condition and bought it for $800. Found two build sheets in the car. Sold it for a slight profit because I already had a 70 vert (still have it)
Guess that isnt a urban legend since it was actually there for the taking, but when I was told it was there I didnt believe it and put off checking it out for weeks.

 

Bob, that corvette story was actually a song

 

About thirty years ago I thought I'd give selling cars a go. I lasted about five weeks. The first thing they taught us in class was "There's an *** for every seat." The second was "Customers always lie more than the salesman."

Crappiest job I ever had and I grew up mucking out the cows' winter barn stalls at my grandparents' farm.

 

I've heard a version of the Elvis Harley story where the buyer was an agent for Jay Leno. Totally happened.

 

When I heard this story, the car was a 1955 Packard. The wife was instructed to sell it and give the money to the secretary.
The only thing I know about Rhinelander WI: This was the location of the lodge where the Dillinger gang shot it out with the FBI

 

I'm afraid that the only thing Rhinelander has to do with Little Bohemia is that it is the largest town in the general area. Manitowish Waters, where the shoot-out took place, is 40 miles, about 50 lakes, and thousands of trees from Rhinelander.

 

Original news reports of the shoot out named Rhinelander as the closest town to Little Bohemia.

u-rah-rah Wisconsin .. Civil War battle cry = On Wisconsin!

 

Rhinelander also has Hodags running around in the woods. I haven't seen one yet, but I always keep a sharp eye out.