I found a dag gone 36 5w in a barn.......

Story time, gather round kiddies.....


I took off work today and took my 9 month to her Dr's appointment. Well, we got out pretty early and I was around the area that I had been hearing about an old car for sale. I had hear the usual, "It's a 35 sedan." "It's a 40 coupe." I kept getting bits and pcs of this tale. So, while I was in the area, I thought I'd go hunting.

I'll try to get to the point...

After driving back in the boonies and following some crude directions, I turned onto a gravel road (I told my wife she felt at home, she's from KY). There was a mean looking dude driving a log truck on the road this car was supposed to be on. I asked him and he said, "There's a house up on the left about a mile and it looks like he would have an old car."

So, we headed out that way, driving real slowly because of the dusty gravel road. I came past this little old run down looking place that had tractors, dump trucks and some other old cars.

I saw a newer Ford truck sitting in a little pull-off area and an old man eating, while he was over-looking some farm fields. I stopped and said, "Excuse me sir, do you know Joe? He's supposed to live up in here." The ole' guy said, "I can't hear very good," and he got out of the truck, grabbed his cane and headed towards my car. I wanted to get out and go to him but I was afraid I'd spook him and I had my wife and new-born with me. So, I was scared to leave them unattended.

When get got to my truck I asked him again. "No, I don't know a Joe that lives up in here.", he said. I told him that Joe had an old car, a 35 or 36 coupe. About that time he started to grin and he said, "That's me....."

We talked for a bit and he said, "It's down there in that white building. Go look at it. I'd go with you but I can't walk very good." I really hated to go snooping around without him with me but he insisted.

So, I go down to the little old building. The dogs were barking and you couldn't hardly open the door. I had to move an old truck tire and slip in between the two doors. I realized real quickly that eating *****ies around midnight would hinder my ability to squeeze between two doors that would barely open. But, I got inside. And, there she sat in all her glory. A standard, 36 5w. It almost looked like grey primer, but I think the paint was just really faded.

It was REALLY dark and dingy in that little building. But I'd swear to you there rays of sunshine hitting that car perfectly- at leas on the p***enger side.

At first, I just stood there in awe of it. I could tell it had been sitting for a LOOOOOng time. The tires and rims were off of it and it was sitting pretty high on blocks. I went up front to confirm that it was a 36, or whatever. Man, that little grille was as straight as an arrow.

You know, when the owner isn't around, you can really look a car over and be detailed. You can focus and think.

I raised the hood on it and it was all there, dust included. I went back to the p***enger door to open it. I thought, this will tell the tale. When I opened it, it had that smell to it. You know, the musty, dirty smell. I looked at the floor and it looked like mice had been living there and in the seat. But, man, those rockers were SOLID! The door opened and closed just like it was new. Mind you, the car wasn't rough, but it wasn't too bad. A lot better than anything I'd seen for sale- other than inet ads, ebay and car show stuff.

After drooling, I went back out to the guy and he was sitting in his truck. He said that was he only real way of getting around and he told me get gets his lunch every day from down the road and comes back up on that little look-out to eat. I'd say he's remembering when the farm was fresh and thriving.

I asked him to tell me the history of the car. He told me that his sister bought the car new and then his dad bought it from here. He proceeded to tell me about buying the car from his dad for $250 when he returned home from the Korean War. I asked, "Tell me, did you used to take your girl out in the car? Did you take her to the movies?" He got the biggest smile on his face and actually turned red and said, "No." I really think I embarrased him or got him to thinking about ole' times. I asked him when he parked it there and he said, "I only drove it for a year or two. Do you know that car only has 76k original miles on it. I parked it there in about 59 or 60. It's been there ever since."

He kept wanting to tell me about a plymouth he had. I never went out behind that barn to see what he was talking about. I asked him if he had ever goosed that old flahead to wake her up. He said, "No, that car was never run like that. I used to race down the road here." I said, "You used to race that 36?" He replied, "No, there was a guy that though his Chevolet could run but that Plymouth burned him a new ****." I just laughed and laughed. He was a great ole' guy!! He told me about driving a school bus for 31 years and driving a dump truck on the side. I told him about my grandpa and that he used to drive a school bus too.

While we were talking, two rough looking dudes came up a bank that was below us. I was kind of wondering for a minute. I didn't have anything on me, if you know what I mean. Then he told me they drove a loggin semi and that two of the big double wheels had come off and went through his fence. He was worried about if they were going to fix it so his cattle (which I never saw) wouldn't get out. I offered to fix his fence for the ***le of the 36. Just kidding, but I did offer to fix his fence. He declined and said, "Them are pretty good boys, they'll fix it."

I asked him if he was going to get that 36 out and fire it up and he said no. However, he did put a price on it. It was much more than I have and besides, I just tied up ally my $ in the roadster.

I can't say it enough, he was quite a good ole' guy!!!! Very nice!

I didn't have my camera! I always do that! But, I'm most certainly going back with a flashlight, a camera and my grandpa. I'll share when I get them.

What a find! I won't be able to sleep tonight thinking about that car!

 

let me add something....

Again, sorry for no pics. I know we LOVE pics. I WILL get some and share here!

When I was talking to him, after I was in the barn once, he told me he bought a motor cycle new in 73. He said it was in the barn I was just in. How could I miss that! Anyway, it was a Honda 250 or 350 but looked new. I didn't ask about it, I was caught up on the 36.......I'll see next time, though!

 

WELL? how much? you know we are all gonna ask you that!

 

spill it and tell us how much ??????????????????????????

 

10k......I'd really say it's about a 6-7k car...... but, you know how it works on these ole Fords....

It's straight and it's all there. Frame is solid, and the body only had one or two places that were through.......chrome is all shot, of course......not a bad car!

 

Thanx for the read,what a kewl lil story.....Shiny

 

Awesome story.

 

That was a great story and you treated the old timer right.With respect. Your parents did a good job !!!!

Keep us posted when you get back up there. Don't wait too long,he might be gone.

 

After I've had time to sleep on it, I kind of feel sorry for the ole' fella. He lives in no-man's land and all by himself. When I told him I'd be back, he just kept saying, "Come back, come back and talk."

He lives about an hour away and it's waaaay off of the beaten path so it hard to just "drop by" and see him like I do some of the others.

Yep, his health didn't seem real good......

I'm trying to talk grandpa into going back up there this Sat. "Ah, I've got to get this tractor fixed. I don't like having them down for very long." As he's saying that I'm looking around at his 15+ other tractors and he doesn't even farm any more.......gotta get ready for the stock market crash of 06........we'd be the same way if we grew up hungry and poor.....

 

Great story, the thing is you were nice, you didn't behave like a leech.
When you're nice to people they're usually nice right back to you.

 

Only thing that would make that story better would be if he'd said, "Well, would $500 be too much?"

 

Great story. I can't wait for the next chapter.


Frank

 

hahahaha Funny you'd say that. I first started, before I asked him the $, if he knew you could buy them new for around $550. That's when he told me he gave $250 for it.......

$250 into 10k......what kind of percentage is that on your money?

 

4000% over 45 years. Still equals 89% increase per year. Thats a damn good investment.

even if its a $6k car thats 2400%, or 53% increase per year. Still a good investment.

At least we all know good investments when we see 'em.

 

Neat story!

 

Frankly, not all that great. We're talking about ~47 years...

InDaShop isn't accounting for inflation.

Neat story! Thanks for sharing. Let's hear more about that Plymouth, lol.

 

Infatuation, whats 'dat?


Yeah that was straight line, I really should value with the IR. Such a damn good story got me clouded so much I forgot about how finance 101 works. lol

 

Thanks for the post. I'd much rather read one like this than one about how much of an ***hole the guy was because he wouldn't sell his car. If you liked talking to the fella, go back and get to know him - you can learn a lot....



Mutt

 

Hey! I want to know more about the Plymouth!
What state are these in?
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

 

Ah, but dead men tell no tales.....

I'll get some pics of the Plymouth next time. I know I'm not interested in it.

 

Just be nice..........

I know of a 32 3W the same way.........less than 30 minutes from my house. The old guy ( 80 plus years old ) will not sell. His wife has told me SHE will call me on the way home from the funeral home after his funeral.........She has told him to sell me the 3W. I have already gotten the only part it is missing ( rear window garnish molding ) ..just in case.

He too is a lonely old guy and uses his old cars to get attention.

.

 

I'll have to get the story from him again and remember it well but I heard a really sad story from my girls dad not to long ago.

He knew this lady. She had an old car. her husband bought it brand new. They drove to SF that night for dinner. Came home. he died.

She put it in the garage. Had a mechanic come out twice a year and clean it up, run it, fix what needed fixing. He'd put it up and let it run....keep the ****** turning..etc.

Thing had a couple hundred miles on it. Her gardener came in and said..this things in the way...I'll give you $500 or something like that...and she said ok.

I'll get the year and full story and make my own thread on it. really was a neat story until I heard she got taken like that...and buy a guy that had no respect for the car.

 

Well, boys, I stand corrected and my flame was put out today.

Grandpa and I went back to see the 36 today. No great tales today. We were armed with flashlights and cameras this time however. This car, where it is sitting, must go through floods about every couple of years. Remember the "white rust?" Well, it was mud! You can see silt all up around the engine and in the trunk area. I'll have to say, when it was parked it must have been a good one, though!

In my book, it's hardly worth draggin home, let alone 10k!!! the grille and headlights looked pretty good.....

I'll let the pics speak for themselves...



in the front pic, if you look closely, you can see where mud is in the little driving lights...

 

more pics...

 

two more..

his old plymouth and something else...

his 73 honda he bought new....

 

Well, it looks do-able, but 10K? That's a bit much. If it were here in the UK it'd fetck 10K no problem though. I'd like it because of it's completeness.
Mart.

 

Most vehicles we think are "original" have been redone at some time in the distant past, but no one remembers. When something this old truley is original, and has been in Ohio for all of this time, then this is how it would look.

 

Cool story and pics...like was said before, treat the people that harbor these treasures with respect...you never know what it might get you. "Hardly worth dragging home"? My ***...not worth 10k, bit I'd drag that home any day...!

Brian

 

I'd be dropping by every so often just to shoot the breeze with the old guy. Maybe one day I'd happen to have an empty trailer in tow.

 

Will Rogers said it once. Buy land ( or old Fords ) they don't make em anymore.

Later motor, 8BA I'd guess.

I once said I'd save everything I own,
Now my pile of **** has really grown.
I spend most of my time trying to sell it on E Bay,
This old boy done it with one car, What can I say?