Driving down the road the other day I saw a 68 or 69 F100 sitting in someones yard, had junk all in the cab and bed. It looked to be in fair shape, but the owner had painted NOT FOR SALE across the entire passenger side (which is facing the road). So, being a lover of the 67-72 model ford truck, I thought to myself, hey this guy likes them too, so I'll stop and chat with him about it. So, intending to ask about it and his plans for the truck, the guy comes out and sees me standing beside it looking at it. He says "It's not for sale, so just get out of here". Mildly amused, I said, "I'm not buying, so you're safe, I just wanted to see waht you're plans were for it and if you had spare parts, needed spare parts, etc. He says, "No, that truck is just going to sit there and rust."

Is that unbelievable or what? Dude is just letting it rot... oh by the way, it is a 68 F100 short box with a 390 (i think), 2wd, power steerinng and what looked to me like 2 alternators on it. It was also sitting pretty high, so may have had a 2 inch or so lift on it.

Oh well, maybe I can wear him down and get it from him later, but he was pretty mean about it. He told me he didn't like folks stopping and looking at it so he painted that on there and they still stop. I told him of coourse people stop, that is the best truck ever made sitting there, why don't you put in the backyard and then we can't see it. I was getting angry so I left. It's sad to think of it just sitting there. Sorry for the rant, but I reckon you guys could sympathize with me.

 

I know how that goes. I found a 1946 ford pickup beside someones house but they refused to sell it. No plans for it but to just let it set there and ruin.

 

Have some understanding. He may not want to share his plans and your probably not the first person to stop. It might have special meaning. Consider yourself lucky; you didn't get shot and/or fed through a wood chipper. One of my worst experiences was selling my father-in-laws' new car. He died before he could even peel the sticker off the window. Car listed for $24,800+. It only had the mileage from Florida to Ohio less than 1000. People offered $10000, $12000, trade-ins. Had to deal with ridiculous offers and people all day. I put it in Trading Times; sold it over phone for $17,500. Buyer was jubilant and I maintained my sanity.

 

A friend of mine's grandfather bought a brand new Plymouth in the early Forties out in Utah. Him and his buddies got drunk and one them said "What do you think it'll do in plowed ground?" So off they go hell's bells across the fields until it wouldn't go any further, for whatever reason. Then they got out and left it. Forever. Brand new car. My friend's father said it was still sitting in that same spot many years later. They plowed and planted around it. To move it or sell it or do anything would ruin the story, or at least end it. I guess you never know what you're really looking at.

 

Good points gentlemen. I reckon there are some sentimentals out there, and I do understand that. If it's yours, treat it like it's yours, which means whatever you want goes... I reckon for that fellar, he's doin what he wants with it. Don't hurt none at all for mean to dream and wish though.

 

I see that all the time.i find some realold VWs and either the folks wont part with it cause they are gonna fix it one day or they want 5 times anywhere near the real value.

I found a 69 charger sitting in a nasty garage. i was installing a playground at the house so I asked about it. Turned out the owner lives in Washington DC, no plans for it, but doesnt want to sell. I guess when the garage finishes falling in he will have to sell it for scrap.

 

When I was a kid, I worked for a rancher that had a 57 belair 4 door post. They quit driving it and got a newer car. It sat for several years and I asked them about it once. Well It seems some ignorant deer hunters from Wisconsin told them that 57 chevys were worth 10 grand. At that time a cherry fully optioned 2door hardtop fuely might have made 5 figures but that farmyard chevy was worth maybe 500 tops, more like 250. I don't know what ever happened to it but I think after it rotted down for another 10 or 15 years they might have realized they were a little misinformed to it's value, and sold it for the 250 I offered.

I also stopped and asked about a 67 shortbed recently. It may never move again and is just rusting away but it was her dead fathers truck and she doesn't want to sell it. If my relatives choose to let my cars rot away in the yard for sentimental reasons instead of giving them a good home, I will come back to haunt them.

 

Sometimes they may have plans but aren't sociable and get tired of strangers stopping by to chat so they say what they know will drive you off. Some people really prefer a little privacy.... ohters are just wacky!