I bought a 49 F1 last month over here in the UK. All the history I have is that it was rebuilt out in the USA about 5 yrs ago. It was sold by MJC classic cars in Lakeland Florida to an English guy who shipped it Back to the UK about 2 yrs ago. I have sent an email to MJC classic cars but had no reply. Do any of you guys have any idea how i can make contact with who rebuilt it? I know I am looking for a tiny needle in a massive hay stack but its had loads of work done and loads of modern parts used. It has power steering but i have no idea what front clip it has or what the brakes are from, It has leather bucket seats again no idea what they are from. Who ever built it did a lovely job and it would be nice to be able to know more about it and what parts were used..Thanks

 

Try contacting MJC thru this link. Establish an interest in one of their cars. Perhaps if they think there may be a sale involved, they will be more willing to come up with some answers to your questions about another car. I really doubt if you will get any information from them. Their time is money.
MJC Classic Cars | Pristine Classic Cars For Sale - Locator Service

Edit: Some business owners are reluctant to talk about this type inquiry.

 

i'm going to get a small piece of galvanized pipe with end caps on it.
then i'm going to get some pics of us and any history that i know of plus all the info of what we've done to it. then i'm going to seal it up in a plastic bag and seal it up inside the pipe and mount it in the truck. that way any future owners can see the what's,when's and where's. hopefully they will do the same for future owners as well.

 

1949 Ford F-100 ALL STEEL RESTOMOD | MJC Classic Cars | Pristine Classic Cars For Sale - Locator Service

Your truck is still on their web site.

 

Yes I know its still on their web site merten thats where i got what info i have LOL..

 

That's a great idea! I wish somebody had done that for my truck, when I bought it. Now that I'm rebuilding it, I should do that for the next guy. Sorta like a time capsule.

 

yeh i like that idea jbfrmca if i can find out enough about it i will do something.

 

The folks at MJC surely have in their records the info on who sold them the truck...however, I would bet that they would not share that info with you. A title search might also turn up some info on previous owners but each state is different and there is no guarantee that just because the truck was sold in Florida that it was titled/registered in that state. As for personal build records, I compile a book on each of my projects where I place receipts, component descriptions, photos and other pertinent data. In some cases I copy sections of OEM service manuals to include so that I have all the build info and service info in one place. I am finding that it is simpler now to scan it all in and then assemble it into a .pdf file rather than having all the paper around.

 

To add to what CharlieLed said above and my comments on reply #2: I once contacted a previous owner of a motorhome thru public records. Nothing serious, all perfectly legal, just had some questions about some add on accessory wiring. That guy called me everything but a gentleman. He seemed appalled that such information was readily available and that I had contacted him. I was certainly glad there were miles of land line between us.
I never did get the information from him that I was after but I did figure it out. So tread lightly, everyone is not willing to discuss these things.

 

a few years after I sold a motorcycle I get a call from a lawyer wanting info on any modifications I did to the bike even though I did nothing to it, I didn't sleep for a night or two

 

When taking apart my truck I found a note on the back of the passenger side kick panel that said the speedometer had been replaced, indicated the mileage when the swap was made and was signed and dated by the P.O. I did a Google search of the name in Texas where I had bought it and found an article about someone with the same name who had restored an old building in the area. I searched the online white pages and came up with an address.

I wrote him a letter and included my email address in case he might find email an easier way to responded. I didn't hear anything for several weeks and then I got an email from his son. The P.O. had passed away but the son confirmed that I had found the right person and gave me answers to several of my questions. Like me, in addition to the truck, his father also worked on Model A's. He also explained that before retiring and moving back to Texas, his father had worked in Connecticut, about 15 miles from my home. He included a picture of his father standing next to the truck.

Although some people may object to being contacted, many folks are happy to talk about cars and trucks with the new owners. It's always worth an attempt to contact them. By the way, after I had done all my research and was feeling proud of my detective work, I found all the information I needed to contact the P.O. on the title I had filed away in my desk drawer.

 

A great piece of detective work Dan. Not all POs are grumpy. I have been in contact for years with the current owner on a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T that I bought new. He was quite happy to get the original window sticker, pictures and maintenance records that I had. Suggest that you put all the information that you found together in an envelope with your title. It is certainly worthwhile information that should be preserved.

 

Well MJC classics are not plying ball, and they are the only conection i have to the USA. There is nothing else on the title and all the other paper work is for the import which is all UK related. I have been doing lots of different work on the truck which has involved taking apart lots of bits even been in behind dash and in the doors, carpets out,seats removed and not been lucky enough to find any thing.. I'll just keep fingers crossed some one comes across some of my posts and recognises the truck and maybe gives me a lead :-)

 

Here is the story of one of my Coes. I bought just 3 miles from me sitting in the yard of an old restorer. When i went to look at a F1 for sale and i told the man i had a Coe and where i bought it he told me he was the one that sold to him. months later at a local show i met another man and we showed pics to each other and he recognized my Coe as the one he sold to the man with the F1. None of them tried any restoration they just owned it.

 

You would think you could do a Title search using the "Vin #" & pull up the sale records available on the truck.
Unfortunately our state records are all separate so you'd have to do a search in Florida & then other states as
required. (It probably won't be free but not prohibitive).

Ben in Austin
1950 F1