There is a guy close to me with a killer '36 Ford pickup rotting beside his house. He greets most with a shotgun when they ask about it. Last month he built a fence all the way around it, with no gate! Now you can't see it, and I guess it's not going anywhere. Such a shame. But, it is his car and sadly he can do whatever bonehead thing he wants with it. I would be going crazy to get that thing if I was you. Do what you gotta do!! Nothing is cooler than a survivor hot rod!!
the car might still have lead fuel in it or something... what about the EPA? i dunno either that or you poison his oatmeal cuz i don't have any ideas lol.
that sounds scary! I would never piss on a snake. call the cops and tell him your neighbor stole your car! he may not have a title. or better yet, say he touched you as a child, but you could never come forward. then say his wife is a witch and the car is free for the taking, because it is wrong to steal something.
Holding on to dreams lieing to yourself is one thing. But FIERO seats and a 6 cyl? You are obviously dealing with an insane person, so I wouldn't expect too much rational thinking on his part..
It's been my experience that there's a reason folk still have this early tin sitting around after all these years. I find them to be somewhat eccentric and that's why they still have it. As has been mentioned previously, all a person can do is make a fair or more than fair offer and see what happens. Show some respect and catch a person at the right time and they may just let loose of it. It's said you can catch more flies with honey than you can vinegar. On the other hand, this beautiful ol' coupe may seee it's demise right there. Who knows? If this makes ya feel any better, a friend recently purchased a 71 Corvette ragtop that was sitting in a garage since 1979. The old man informed us that he had an offer of 10 grand on it several years ago. My buddy asked if he'd sell it and much to our surprise he said yes...and said he'd take 7 grand for it today. That day was the old gentlemens birthday and he turned 84. I guess he was feeling good that day. Of course the engine was seized from sitting so long but it was ALL there with a good top and interior. This is one of those instances of catching a person at the right time. Lots of other folk have tried to buy it but he wasn't ready to sell.
It might not be a good idea to post this on this thread,...... ( and for some of you ,you have seen this before, please forgive me ) but given the tennor and frustration of this thread a couple of you sick folks might get a kick out of this,..... I to have been shut down by guys that won't sell a car and just let's it rot, than one day you drive past and see the car is gone because someone else was there at just the right time,........ When I moved to northern Michigan I thought I would find old cars and Hot Rods hiding in old barns , garages and fields everywhere,...... no dice, the country was picked clean years ago. Not being one to disapoint other ill informed car guys I put together what I affectionatly called " The Decoy" out of junk or really rough parts and set it where you could just see it from the highway,... when someone would actually be able to hunt down my place and ask about the old car in the field,....... I would tell them "NO it's NOT FOR SALE, That's where my cats live !" May I present ,..... The Decoy Yes, that is a junk 57 Bird behind it,...... it was in a fire and is junk,... I stripped all the good stuff off of it, I took the decoy apart last year and have sense saved the frame and front suspension,...........
Sorry Jan. I Have To Disagree. If We All Thought Like That My Grandkids Will Only Have Glassbody Repops To Hop Up.
There's plenty of cars for sale...why do you HAVE to have THIS one? Is it because you think you're going to get it for nothing, or be able to take advantage of the old guy? If the original owner treasured it so much, WHY DID HE SELL IT? How many threads have we gone through about this subject? If you ask the owner to sell, and he says no, find another car! If you really have to have it, then wave $20Gs in front of him. If he turns that down, buy another car. You young guys seem to think that if someone isn't using something the way you would, then they should give it to you. Some of you morons are even suggesting that you sic the government on him, or even just steal it?!?!? Because he doesn't want to sell it????? What wonderful neighbors you must be! No wonder this country is so fucked up. You're no different than the clowns using the government to take homes by eminent domain so you can make money. IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY - MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!!!!! Mutt
Naw just burn his house if he makes it out alive screwing up the car will be the least of his worries and if he doesn't you might be able to talk to a more sane family member ..... oh ya i guess that's illeagal... any other ideas??
Junkyard Jan nailed it! Us rod guys allways covet what we don't or can't have. I do it still. Even with more projects in the field than we can do, there is allways the "next one." Thing is someday some of us do get to them. Bought these Plymouths way back in the early 1980's Over the years had many tell me what junk they were and how they would buy them. No offers got my attention. Not for sale was me reply. The same thing I hate to here, "going to fix it up one day" Well someday does come for some of our dreams. After 26 years, 24 years of marraige, several homes, three kids, and many finished projects (mine and friends). The Plymouth will be setin' on duece rails, collected a 413 with long ram intake (one of those dreams from 1978 when I first saw one) fenderless highboy. Point is this guy may or may not get his dream done, but its his dream. Some real good advice though, the more you share your dream car with the more dreamers try to "steal" your find. Keep in touch with the owner often. Keep your dream of buing it one day alive. Theres nothing worse than one of the guys you told about your find buing it out from under you! And trust me it does happen. P.S. Keep dreamin' it's still out there, just harder to find!!
i feel your pain man!! i've been after this one for 5-6years now! i know it's not a 32 ford, but for a mopar man like me it might be the grail!! bought new in 32, given to son when he was in high school. 4 banger with a cam, aluminum head, and atruck 4 speed. son is now a 50-60 year old retired fireman. when i first asked it was "i won't sell it, to much history". since then i stop buy now and again to "say hi". i've even helped him with other projects he has going. the last time the plymouth came up the story was "it would be nice to see something done with it, and i probably won't ever get around to it... but i don' know" I'M GOING TO BREAK HIM ONE DAY GOD DAMN IT!!!!!! the key is still in the ignition!
I have read every single response on this post and have seen many good points made. However I kept thinking of one thing throughout the entire 3 pages of responses thus far. Being a young guy (25 this month) who is fairly new to the hot rod world compared to most of you out there, the one thing that has always made hot rodding so appealing to me through the years is the simple fact that no matter what, each of us sees something different when we look at one of these pieces of "rolling art". I may not agree with the guy who puts 18" chrome wheels on a 32 ford, or the guy who has airbags and more money on stereo mods than engine modes. But the bottom line is that my name is not on either of those titles. Thats what makes this hobby great, we can each start on something and make it exactly how we want it! That being said, as much as I hate to see this car waste away as much as any of the rest of you do, the bottom line here is that our names are not on that title, so its his to either restore 100% perfect, period correct hotrod it, make a gold chainer car out of, or just let it rot in the barn behind his house. The joy for him of knowing that its still sitting back there, and being able to remember whatever memories he may have with the car far out weigh the miniscule amount of money that we may be able to offer him. Whatever amount that might be. OK, so now that I have blatently abused my soap box, I in no way think there is anything wrong with stopping and asking people to part with sheet metal. I do it on a nearly daily basis. I think its awesome that you want to save this priceless piece of automotive history, even though it may only be historicle ot a few people. I guess that my whole point here is that there is some respect that needs to be given to owners of these vehicles that we so often covet as we approach them. I guess it was the "steal it, burn it, and call the government in" comments that really rubbed me the wrong way.
Hey wait a minute. The "BURN IT" comment came from me and was a total joke. It was a statement made to poke fun at the mania that manifests itself in the brain of the parts seeker. I used to feel all sorts of malice towards "parts hoarders"...... ....back before I became one myself. Things look different from this side of the fence. Those "old cars rotting away" become less significant. Less special. Its just the way it is. Anymore when I see an old heap in a field or behind a barn, I don't get all sweaty palmed and dizzy. I just let it rest. ....its hard to do. Why, in the last couple months I've seen a '74 mail jeep that was calling to me...Also saw a divco milk truck....a falcon....and a few others. I just keep telling myself to let it go....let it go. WHY? cause I already have 9 cars setting around my house as it is. I'm actually SELLING them off and my head is still telling me to get more. Its a sickness....a sickness indeed. BURN BABY BURN! If I can't have it NOBODY CAN! (see how crazy that is?) Yes, show the owner plenty of respect. Don't get all worked up over that car....its just a car. In the end, ALL of the cars will turn to dust, just like us.
Good point Tingler! I'd venture to say most of us have out own pile of stashed parts somewhere in barns, garages, basements or out-buildings. I like to consider mine "future projects" or trading stock. Chances are, I'll give the parts to a friend when and if they need them. As far as future projects, I'd do well to sell them and invest in ONE nice car...but...can't hardly bring myself to do it! I am getting better at talking myself out of something though. I guess that's the reality check coming into play.
The Jalopy Journal
