Dying Man's Last Wish Granted by Hot Rodder

From Jalopnik today:

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This is the story of how a busted hunk of hot rod hopes spurred one man to honor another man's dying wish.
The Hot Rod
One of a handful built, the 1933 Hupmobile sedan had been the target of previous rodders looking for something different than old Fords and Chevys. Sitting on a Seattle street in various states of disrepair, the Hup caught the attention of Jerry Dahl.
The Dying Man
Dahl bought the '33 Hup in April 2009 because he'd gotten his future back. Fresh off surgery for kidney cancer a month earlier, Dahl wanted a project to put his hands to use. He found the clattered Hup and took it home, planning a purple-and-cream hot rod similar to a Ford he'd seen in a show.
Dahl's future had other plans.
By October, the cancer had come back, this time hopscotching to his lungs. Dahl soon had to spend his limited energy on medicines instead of sheetmetal. Earlier this year, he took the barely running, primer-coated sedan to Dreamers Rods & Pickups Northwest in Everett, Wash., and asked owner Jamey Leckner to do the work he couldn't.
Last month, doctors told Dahl that their work was done as well, and put the portion of life left in his tank at a matter of weeks.
The Rodder
Leckner, 33, opened his own shop a decade ago after doing hot rod work for most of his adult life. Dahl's daughter Kerry called Leckner after the final word from his doctors with a request: Could the Hupmobile be finished before Dahl died?
Leckner said he'd try.
Working about 90 hours over seven days, Leckner and his nine-man crew put other projects aside and focused on Dahl's car. Leckner checked with Dahl to ensure the colors were as he remembered them, and was up until 2 a.m. the morning of the deadline.
About 3 o'clock that afternoon, the rumbling of old engines came to a stop outside Dahl's house in Lynwood, Wash.



To usher the Hupmobile, Leckner had enlisted 16 members of a nearby car club, the Thursday Night Garage ***ociation. They came with their own rides, a**** them ‘58 Chevy Impala, a '65 Ford Mustang, a ‘47 Lincoln and a 1926 Model T.
Dahl couldn't walk, so four men lifted his wheelchair outside, where he could touch the Hupmobile's deep-purple fenders and take in the other rods. Jerry Dahl spent more than an hour of his dwindling time enjoying his own private auto show.


"I felt honored I had the opportunity to do it for him and his family," Leckner told Jalopnik.

Jerry Dahl died Thursday, at peace.

 

Very cool!

 

Hot rodders are a great bunch of people! It's always touching to see how they come together to help when someone is down on their lick....Way to go guy's!

 

Sorry, make that "LUCK"
...

 

Sad story but at the same time inspirational,,ordinary guys doing extraordinary things for their fellow man,,good people all around. HRP

 

There are no better people than car people. Nuff said.

 

Great inspiration and good job to all involved

 

Yup. Rest in peace Mr. Dahl.

 

great story about a great deed but an even greater story about the folks that got involved..
Pontiac Slim

 

Goes to show: "The good that you do is so often left so that others may enjoy."

 

Very awesome story and very awesome guys! Thanks for posting this.

 

To all the "angels" on earth involved in this build....God Bless you all!

Awesome job and story! Prayers for the family!

 

WOW........WOW.......Makes you think. Awesome job guys....

 

Great job guys. Not many get to fullfill the wish of a dying man

 

thats damm Cool, wish there was more love in the world like that, too bad someone has to be dieing to get it. Glad he went with a smile on his face!

 

That's what it's all about, right there.

 

Stepping up to the plate, bless you.

 

Well Done, That's what it's about!! Helping the next guy up!!

Well Done again: OTB

 

great story with a sad ending, but, it's refreshing to know that there are really and truly some good hearted people left in this world, and without a doubt, these guys are some of them.

 

Very inspirational story. Working those hours to help out a stranger like that is what defines the core of what is good about people. You guys humble me.

 

Awesome story. It is always great when you hear about a bunch of guys that put their stuff to the side to come together and help someone out.

Good job guys!

 

What a beautiful story. What a beautiful car and superb friends.
My eyes are getting moist now.
God speed!
Jim

 

very cool...... good deeds go along way man!!!!their is alot of good dam people in this sport for sure,,nice thread

 

Back to the top for the good at heart.
Great job!

 

Great story.

 

Great job by all involved. You're a great bunch of humans.

 

Nice.

 

Car Guys...... Some of the best people on the face of this rock!
GOD bless you guys.

 

X 10. Great words, Truckncoupe.

 

Wow that is powerful. Good on you to do a great selfless deed for another.