I haven't been on here in over 10 years. No real reason. Some of you know Modifieddriver from discussions on the HAMB, or maybe from Buying or selling Parts. Some knew hi in person. , Two years ago, this month Frank (AKA: Modifieddriver) left us. I was left without a best friend and his Wife was left without a spouse and with an extremely large collection of cars and parts. We have been working hard to sell off his collection but it has been slow. We have sold over 20 cars, most drivable and some not. We have barely made a dent in the parts area. Franks wife has hired an Auction Company to expedite the sale of the remaining items. I am writing this to let all the HAMB gearheads know about this Auction. It will be held in October around the 3rd weekend. Looks to be a 2 day event, Friday and Saturday. Many many old car body parts, mechanical parts and a few Hot Rods. The Auctioneers said the cars will also be listed on-line. I will keep you posted as the event nears. Frank was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer of the pancreas. He fought it hard for a couple of years, over 40 chemo treatment and 10+ Radiation treatment. but even during those time he still added cars to his collection. In his last year he acquired a 28 RPU, Ground up build with a Brookfield steel body and a 283 SBC. The about 4 months into his last days he got a 32 Roadster, Dearborn Duce steel body with a 383 SBC. This car has a build book showing everything that went into building this car, over 65K in parts alone. By the way, that's me driving his 32 in his Funeral Parade
Nothing like going out doing what you love. Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep a look out for the auction. I'm right up the road so if you guys need a hand let me know.
Have been working on helping the family of a good friend do the same, he had a massive hoard. It takes a lot of time and effort, but I'm glad to have helped and I'm glad you're doing the same. Many of those collections end up in a scrap dumpster, and what a shame that would be. You're doing a good thing.
Right after I joined the HAMB, I was fortunate enough to meet Frank in person. He had some parts I wanted and since it wasn't a very long trip from my house to his, we agreed that I would pick up the parts at his place. I was in shock looking at all the cars in his working garage, cars all over the place and an entire wall of ready to run engines. I hadn't embarrassed myself by drooling on anything, so he allowed me to see the cars in the other building. What a collection. My wife fell in love with a '35 coupe and I would have gladly taken the '56 Ford stock car home with me. After the tour, we all went out to eat and I learned more about him. A real gentleman and to all appearances, a fierce competitor. I wish I had more time with him.
Frank and I did everything together for over 20 years. we raced vintage cars together and when I quit racing, I was his crew chief. we went to many swap meets and worked on many of his cars together. Frank was a brother to me and his wife was more or less my Sister-in-law. It is my honor to still be helping him.
The 36 3 window coupe is the one car his wife wanted to keep. Frank had built, his last engine, a 350 HP 327 vette engine that he was going to put in a 66 Wagon. The man that bought the wagon also bought a 383 short block and all the parts to complete the engine. This left Franks last engine build sitting. The 36 needed an engine refresh, so I pulled the tired 350 out and I'm in the progress of installing the 327. I felt his wife's favorite car and his last build belonged together
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