I have gone past the 60 year mark and have outlived every male in my family. My wife has started to strongly suggest that I could keel over any minute and she'd be left with my truck "junk". I told her I enjoy my trucks and my "parts", I enjoy just having them. I like looking at everything. I have over a forty year collection, longer than I've known her. She knows what she was getting into when on our second date I took her to visit the F-2 half together in a storage warehouse.

She keeps bringing up the fact of my impending death and having to get rid of all of my "junk". I have tried over the years to get her to think of my "junk" as a valuable asset but she doesn't see it that way. Anyways, I told her when I croak it would be very easy to get rid of my truck stuff. All she has to do is log onto this board using my account access and tell all of you guys I passed and everything I have is free for the taking, bring a trailer. I told her there would be plenty of people here who would help her clear out my shop and barn garages and anywhere else I have parts stored. Heck, she could even give away the F-2 but I do request I get one final ride in it, or at least my ashes. Or she could turn it all over to my youngest son and he could dispose of it the best way he sees fit. I will warn you, he's a wheeler and dealer and he will get the best price for anything even if it's a little questionable.

Keep an eye out, my wife thinks my days are numbered, there might be a pretty good give away coming up soon.

 

That is the dilemma of this "hobby". At 70 now, my boys keep wondering how long I plan to keep this stuff. My wife never bought the "investment" argument, and yeah, she would give it all to anyone who comes by with a trailer. So until I croak, I just wander around the pasture and enjoy looking at it.

 

I hope you stay around for a while. I am almost 64 and have no one to leave all my stuff to. I told my sisters to give my 49 to a old friend in KY if he is still living when I go and do what you want to with what is left. I don't plan to get rid of anything while I am living.

 

I also just turned 60 and longevity is not a bountiful characteristic in my family either. I have nothing organized but everything in a "place".

My basement is packed with stuff. I told my wife to just have a clean out company come with dumpsters and haul it all out. There are a few things of true value that I have pointed out, otherwise it can be trashed. Until then I keep finding things I need down there.

I have 5 16x12 sheds and a large outdoor storage area. One is a construction materials shed. For the dumpster when the time comes. Until then, I use stuff out of it all the time. One has all the pool stuff in it. That can go to the next owners. The third is general storage and dumpster bound. The 4th is all garden equipment and also dumpster bound. The outdoor area is all dumpster bound and the 5th is just getting installed will have all my overflow tools from the garage like my engine hoist, bandsaw and other space consumers so I have more room to work on the truck. No more sheds!

So until the day, there is something in all of those spots that as soon as I throw it away I will need it again!

The garage itself is the tricky one. That's where I have a bunch of NOS Camaro parts all my tools and all my truck parts. I have 1/2 an attic filled with almost every replacement part for my 1978 Camaro in case something breaks or I need the parts. The garage needs some more structuring.

I haven't found anyone to take my truck yet or help her sell it. Not enough people in the area I know yet. My Camaro is in Pittsburgh now going on 5 years waiting to be painted. If I go before it comes back they will just have to work it out. He can finish it and sell it for way more than he has in it for labor. If I ever get it back I will try and find someone locally.

My kids have no interest and are not mechanically inclined so it is all just junk to them.

Need to have something, meaning get my truck done, to take to car shows to start meeting like minded people so some lucky person will get all my car stuff and tools to add to their pile for their wife to deal with someday!

 

I think about this now and then. I've had a few friends pass lately in their 50's. My wife will get rid of everything as fast as she can so she can move away. I have a few car guy acquaintances that will gladly haul it all away. Just need to let them know when. I just hope she doesn't call them when I'm still around, lol.

 

My parents have told me their stuff is my problem. They moved into their current house in 1994. They have boxes that haven't been opened since that move.
My dad's shop is packed with stuff. Mostly woodworking tools.

 

I'm pushing 70 and have 1/2 dozen cars and trucks. Still enjoying them. I've told my daughters to contact an auction company if I pass. My wfe would not be able to do this.

 

Live auctions are fun, and usually the new owners are giddy with joy. The stuff is gone in couple of three days. The question is when to do it?

 

My wife and I have had this discussion and I joke with my son and sil about "all of this will be yours one day". They just shake their head. Neither are gearheads. I'm fortunate to have a good next door neighbor who promises to help my wife liquidate when I'm gone..He'll probably buy most of it but he will give her a good price. He's young enough (in his 50s) to still be in the accumulating phase of his life, where I'm old enough (leaning on 77) to be starting my 'disposal' era. Another car guy will help her dispose of truck and parts stuff.and get her what it's worth. I wrote an epistle years ago on this subject and several folks commented 'why are you worried? you won't be here" Well, because it's multiple thousands of dollars sitting there and I don't want some flea market shyster to take advantage of her.

my son, who is a Phd Psychologist recently bought a house and needed tools. I filled up a 3 box rolling toolbox full of stuff for him. I had to show him what some of it was and how to use it. I look around and can't even tell it's gone. The SIL (He's kinda handy ) gets first choice, then my neighbor takes over from there. Anyway, that's the plan for now.

 

I have 1 son living with us that the wife dose not get on with.
She knows he has no money or a place to put my stuff.
The 81 F100 truck she might try and sell as it runs unless the son can move it somewhere.
Told he is not getting the house!

I also have 2 AMC cars in "my garage" only 1 runs ATM but is apart for a complete rebuild so cant be driven.
I have a bunch of parts for them and extra for the truck and she has hinted it all goes to the dumpster.

Think the same with all my tools, body, mechanical and shop, as my son again will not have anywhere to put them.
I tell her she can get good money for everything I have and could go on a good trip if she wanted to.

I also have a shed for the garden tractor with attachments and yard tools.
When we moved in in 2015 I said no yard stuff was going in "my garage" and why the shed.
I see that going with the house with everything in it.

At 64 I do have some health issues and why I am on my 2nd day of retirement.
I now have the time to go to the gym and to get out to my garage to work on the "projects".
Also have a few house up keeping to do but the health is the big thing at this time.

What happens when I am gone to all my stuff I cant do anything about but I hope to enjoy it as long as I can
Dave ----

 

I'm 71 and told my daughter here, the other one is in Chicago, to call BIGWIN56. He's seen it and will give her a fair price for it all. It's worthless to any of my family so He'll sell the stuff to someone that can use it. I'm sure he'll curse the day when he receives the call but at least he's been warned.

 

The "junk" keep my wife from leaving me. If she left, she'd have to take half of it.....

A good friend of mine's wife told him recently that "he wasn't going to live long enough to start another project". I'm kind of worried for him. To me, that sounded like a threat...

 

I've a crap load of stuff here and had left a couple of cars to a friend, now he is in worse shape than me. Garage attic is packed with stuff I can't even get up to it. Left my newer truck to a younger friend and yes, my wife knows I want one last ride in it. Suppose that's something I should get settled now. Ain't going in no damn Cadillac.

 

Although I think I've worked fairly hard at collecting my parts and vehicles I have gotten to the point where I am trying to thin some of the parts out. I've been trying to sell some off but the market seems pretty soft. Part of it is the terrible economy we've been dragged into from the last three years. With the price of food and energy going up more than 20% people are more concerned about putting food on their table and a warm roof over their heads and not as many people have the extra cash to spend on less important vehicle parts. I've placed a number of parts on the the different websites and nothing moves, the few items I've sold have been soaking on these site for months when finally someone inquires about them. Second, is demographics. The parts I have are for mostly stock builds. Most people getting involved in this hobby are people in their 30s, like my sons. They have more spending money than I do but they aren't interested in stock restorations. The only parts they are interested in are sheet metal that they can mount on a modern chassis with a newer, faster drivetrain. So, the stash of parts I figure could be worth $20K probably is worth a little over scrap price because the people in their 60s who tend to buy stock parts are starting to think out their inventory and aren't interested in buying more. I hang around with a group of 70-80 years old who while having a vintage vehicle or two, only buy now to flip but that could be drying up soon.

 

Yep, the sad reality is that this hobby, along with many other traditional ones we grew up with are drying up. It makes me sad to see, but young people are entitled to choose what they spend their time and hard earned money on. It's not like there are fleets of Conestoga wagons cruising the main drag on Saturday nights after all!

And like Bob said, the combination of high interest rates, high prices for basics, older folks exiting the hobbies, and changing demographics has led to a pretty soft market for used stuff, generally. In my area alone I saw a 32 steel Vickie in buildable shape go for $1500, and a couple of late 60s fastback mustangs sell for a few grand, clearly sold by folks who want to be rid of them. Along with plenty of affordable projects too. Heck, I thought I got a good deal on an 80s craftsman USA made tablesaw at a garage sale for $25 bucks that I had rehab for a few hours to get it looking good. But keeping an eye out, I could have gotten one like new for $50-100. A lot of this stuff is just gonna get tossed out eventually.

One thing I've been thinking about for a while is that it would be nice to have a central place to donate old truck stuff to, like a museum. At least then it could be saved from the scrapper. The obvious choice for me would be The Henry Ford down in Dearborn, although I don't actually know if they want it. There's also tons of smaller museums around the midwest, particularly in towns that have had some automotive manufacturing in the past, but I don't know of any off the top of my head that focus on old trucks.