Met My Car's Main Po And What A Time That Was :)

[bmw2002e3]

Well, I'm moving from Alberta to Ontario, so my fellow german car buddies and
I got together for a farewell drive into the rocky mountains. 

I took the dodge just to be contrary. It was sort of a "run what you want" day, so there were some non BMWs there for a change. what fun.

Anyway. The trip was great, the 49 handles like an oxcart and scared me through every single turn, but once I got use to it, it wasn't bad.

One of my friends looked at the car and said: "Hey, I know your car, it's john's from down the street"

Well, there is registration from 1984 in the car with this guy's name on it, I was going to drive it over there in the chance that he's still around. This wasn't the guy I got the car from, but the oldest known owner.

Sure enough, The main PO Of my car lives down the street from my buddy. I drove up and his wife comes running out the house "THE CAR'S BACK, THE CAR's back"

Long story short, he got the car in 1979, sold it in 2006, i bought it from the guy he sold it to in 2012. Its got a bitching trailer hitch that he put on, and we spent about 3 hours talking etc.

He daily drove this car during the summer, just like me, with utter faith it will go anywhere. He towed trailers and crossed the rocky mountains out to vancouver and back "It's slow, but it'll always get there" he said.

He takes me to the back yard and goes "Oh, I've got some stuff for you"

2 spare rims, a head, a cam, a crank, a transmission, and a complete flathead if I want it. A sun Visor and fender skirts. He's still digging in the basement for the other stuff. He pointed at the fuel filler and said "I have the stainless trim peice for that" and he goes on and on. I'm laughing. 

The crowning bit on the cake? A cool magazine which features him and the car in 1984. 

I know more about the car's history than I ever expected. Things like where the decals on the rear window and dash came from, how fresh the drivetrain is, (20k on that flathead), where the car's been and came from. 

This kind of stuff almost never happens. 

Also, a 49 dodge/plymouth special deluxe will hold 3 bails of hay, you take the rear seat out, and put 2 in the back, one in the trunk. Hah. The stories... Its this kinda stuff that makes having these old cars worth it.

He's pleased the car is in my hands, and was even doubly pleased when I turned the radio on. It didn't work, I rebuilt it and he was just tickled. 

Enjoy the pics. 

I am not driving the car across canada due to time and such. i'm shipping it, but already planning some route 66 trips in the USA. 

I move on the 25th, so the timing for all this was just perfect.

(note, I posted this to the h.a.m.b forum too, in case some of you browse both sites)

[Dodgeb4ya]

Cool story! The crank in the trunk looks to be a chevy six crank?

[bmw2002e3]

Cool story! The crank in the trunk looks to be a chevy six crank?

Its apparently a long block dodge 6 flathead crank. I haven't looked into my parts book yet, I need to prep the car to be moved, so I'll do it when I get back.

There's a flywheel and pressure plate in there too.  

[48Dodger]

Wow.....really enjoyed that story!

The PO made it that much more cool by sharing what he remembered and the parts.

Hats off to him for that!

 

48D

[GlennCraven]

Neat story. Got my day off to a good start!

[mrwrstory]

Great option to drive with the Euros.  I'll bet they all had fun giving you crap.  And, how fortunate to come across the previous owner.  Great stuff!

[Plymouthy Adams]

_{NIce outcome to your search for the PO.  I bought a car, actually the coupe I am working now.  It had been off the road for years and never touched by the guy I got it from.  Long story short  after getting it home (stored at my buds house in Indiana for 6 months) found a registration card in the glove box.  Tracked it down, made a phone call..man answered, introduced myself as the new owner of a Plymouth owned by XXXXXXXX ..........answer, grandpa  just died and he hung up..Talk about bad timing..}

[Mark D]

Wow.....really enjoyed that story!

The PO made it that much more cool by sharing what he remembered and the parts.

Hats off to him for that!

 

48D

Ditto!