History Submit Pics of Car or Trucks left outside to Rot away

Not it disappearrd decades ago. However I have another Willys story so fantastic I don't even believe. About 5 or 6 years ago I was driving Rosedale highway west leaving Bakersfield headed to Taft. I spied a '42 Willy coupe outside a metal shop so I had to stop by and do some recon. When I walked into his shop this guy had two '42 style and one Willys 77 in various stages of restoration. All were original steel cars. Turns out he foud an old-timer in the Mojave desert with something like 20 pre-war Willys stockers. The guy offerd the owner something ridiculous like $15,000 for the lot and got them! He was in the process of taking orders and restoring/rodding them for customers. The ultimate barn find dream story but 100% true.

 

Hello,

This old neighborhood in a coastal beach community has been around since the early days. It is in an R-2/3 Zone, mixed with commercial interests, work places and retail shops. For us, it has always been called the "surf ghetto," as this is known as the center of the OC surfboard manufacturers and builders locations. Over the many years, we have driven by the area on our way to surf the waves in the city and at the edge of the county, in a southerly direction, just steps past the city limits.

As the industry grew, so did the style and type of surfboards. But, the core was always here. Some builders/shapers have come and gone over the years. But, the lifestyle continues with the latest hot shot young teens/20 somethings doing their thing in the industry, in the small garages and warehouses in this industrial area.

This old Chevy truck has been sitting for many months absorbing the local salt air encrusted weather, day in and out. Rains, fog, salt air fog, and road grime from the neighboring street traffic, all cause early patina on the surfaces.

We felt badly about such a cool truck in its state of mind. But, in the recent weeks, the lot was empty and someone mentioned that the Chevy truck was being worked on by an expert local mechanic. So, there is hope, yet.

Jnaki

We have liked trucks since being little kids and seeing a custom chopped truck sitting in our neighborhood in Long Beach. Since then, we have seen over the years, hundreds of different trucks, so it was disheartening to see something as cool, just sitting and being neglected. Perhaps, we will see it cruising around the coastal area enjoying all the coastal highways and ocean has to offer.

 

I have a few vehicles in “common storage”. Bought them right and they could be sold or parted out and still be on the right side of the ledger. How much would they have to bring if they were in climate control storage for years and years. That is the reality for some of us. Viva la patina.

 

Sitting in Dry Nevada will still be in good shape after I p*** away.

 

Looks like pot o gold at the end of the rainbow or at least a few shillings

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/sitting-and-rotting-picture-thread.330573/

 

awesome pics

 

Flathead six says Dodge Brothers to me…. The rest is somewhat of a mystery.

John

 

Good pics, interesting cars.

Gotta stop and ask, gotta approach it right.

There were 2 mid 50's chevy trucks that I stopped and asked the owner about for years. He bought them to restore with his son, one hot rod one stock. His son was killed in a drunk driving accident half way thru the resto truck build. He said he didn't never sell them.
I'd stop once or twice a year and say hello, leave my number.
It took 12 years, but the trucks were suddenly gone, I stopped and asked. He took me to the garage and showed me a painted truck that was being ***embled. The other one went to a family member.

 

You save them until you can't, then you get rid of them any way you can!

The stuff I usually pick up requires a boat load of work when I buy it, so sitting outside "rotting away" usually doesn't change the amount of work that is going to be needed very much. Some are actually bought because I want to build it. It usually takes me a couple years to determine the path I want to go with a build, and then it takes time to gather funding to get started. Your lack of patience with my project is not my problem. Then there are times a future project gets pushed back, or the vision changes, or you fall out of love with it. There may be some time p*** between falling out of love, and sending it away, some day I might fall back in love with it! Its not costing me anything to let it sit until I decide what to do with it. Even if that pisses you off, its not my problem, its yours. The differences between me and you is, I know what it was when I bought it, and I know I have the ability to fix it, and you probably don't know what shape it was in, and may not be capable of fixing it.

Lots of guys tell you they want to save an old car or truck, but most do not have the skills, the funding, or the ambition, to do so. Many expect you to just give it to them, or they keep telling you they will be by next week to get it, but next week never comes. After its gone they whine and cry, I tell them they should have bought it when they had the chance. I've dealt with many tire kickers over the years. No remorse here on my end.

See pic. At several times over the last 20 years there have been 5-7 old cars or trucks parking in the space between the driveway and the trees (75'). You can still see the places a few of them sat. Most went on to be built by my son or me, or were sold, or become parts suppliers for builds, but a few were simply s****ped! As you see in the pic, that space is empty now (since spring a year ago). As far as I'm concerned, its going to remain empty of vehicles. I've grown tired of dealing with tire kickers. Gene

 

Dave, I always check out your lineup for new additions when I p*** by on my way over the mountains.

 

Sitting in a field in NW Arkansas a number of years ago....
This is as far as I got with it, a guy came along and wanted it more than I did...

 

1926 Buick, I had to fight off a packrat to get it.

 

Sure it's in another thread year's ago..
This is today...

 

Here’s a few that I have come across
It’s amazing all of the crazy things people do with Model A’s



The Packard and “Tow Mater” were on a property that had 30 - 40 cars literally rotting into the ground. When the old guy died it all got dumped on his young daughter. She didn’t know that any of this existed. 90% of what was on the property is too far gone to save. There was a Sunbeam Tiger that I lusted after but it was broken in half. When I opened the hood it came apart in four pieces. My Wife is patient with me but that was not going to fly

The last one was saved after being out in a Montana field for 50 years. My buddies Grandfather bought it new, and his father learned to drive in it. Presently it has displaced my buddies wife’s SUV in the garage. She is not very pleased…

 

Here’s an old pic of mine where I found it. That tree was growing up between the bumper and the grille. Don’t know what happened to the car.

 

I pulled this one out. Broke in half getting it on the trailer. Parted it out.

 

That looks like a Ford bed/fenders on that ‘57 or are my eyes playing tricks with me?

 

Here are just a few of the many I have pulled home!

 

Good eye and no your eyes aren't playing tricks on you as those were a Ford bed and fenders. Got rid if those pretty quick and drove around without a bed for a little while until I found a Chevy one. All good now!