In the late 40's, grandpa traded his buddy a model T roadster (stock) for some cash- he needed a flathead motor. He had painted it yellow, put red polka-dots all over it and put little slogans all over it. "Constipated, can't pass a thing. Don't laugh, bud, your daughter may be riding in here," etc. He had told me about this car before, actually, many times. Like most of us, grandpa tells the same stories over and over. However, I'm glad. It helps me to remember them. Well, grandpa's buddy drove it for a short while and parked it in a little, well, shed/garage. This same guy bought a Ford thunder bird (can't remember the year) brand new and he also was in the Air Force during the Korean war. He went on to retire from the air force after about 30 years. Nevertheless, this guy, after he had bought the car, moved out west- leaving everything here. This is one of "those guys" that likes to "collect" things. Some would call him a hoarder. To get off on a tangent, I wrote this gentleman and good friend of grandpa's a letter. Grandpa traded him THE Colt .45 that he carried in the war for a flathead engine. I wanted to see if the guy would let me buy it or replace it with one of equal to or greater value. I never heard back from him. About a year ago, this guy passed away. For 50+ years, when he'd call grandpa, he'd ask him, "Are my cars still up there, Ken?" And, grandpa would stop by this old shed from time to time and check on them for him. One day, when we were out swapin' parts and stopping by old guy's houses to talk to them, he said, "Turn here." So I did and he took me to a little falling down shed that was kind of hidden but right in the middle of a subdivsion. Somehow, it just blended in with all the weeds and trees around it. As I tip-toed up to see through the broken glassed windows, the first thing that came in sight was the Thunder Bird. Then, the next thing to come into focus was grandpa's old model T, tucked back into the corner of this old run-down shed. There she sat, forgotten and alone- but fairly protected from the elements. I didn't have my camera that day (which was a lesson well learned). Grandma and grandpa stopped up there a few weeks later, but they didn't get out. Besides, the neighbors had some big dogs out running around that day and the building is about 50yds. away from the street. Well, I really wanted some pics to share here with you guys. I just LOVE to see threads of things hidden and tucked away and I knew all you enjoy them just as much. What is it about knowing where an old car is, nestled away somewhere to very few or no one knows about? We went to a little car show in this little town today and little did any of the attendees know that this car was about 100yds from them. All car lovers and all from this area......makes you really think when you drive past that old run-down shed that has weeds up to the roof, huh? As I said, the man passed away about a year ago. His wife probably doesn't even know the cars are there and she moved from their home out west, to NY. She's not even from around here. Regardless, his brothers are still living around here and they are about the only ones that know.......... Pics for your enjoyment......I couldn't hardly reach up high enough to get the shots. So it a little hard to tell anything about them.... if this doesn't make sense or there are any errors.....the little laddy is saying, let's go...... you get the gist
Cool story! That's why I love this place too. That is a '56 Thunderbird with a non-porthole top, btw. You should see if someone would be willing to part with your grandfather's old T.
Holy moly!! Thats a 57 T bird and a 26 or 27 T roadster! This is the stuff dreams are made of, you need to get your grandpa to contact the widow on your behalf and get these cars, looks like might be other goodies in there too. This is unreal. If I were you, and there was a chance I could get these cars, I couldn't sleep at night for the excitement. Are you going to try to buy them?
The Thunderbird is a '57 for sure, although it does have the earlier style non-porthole top. The T is really cool too, looks like the one that I just bought at an estate sale here locally. As much fun as it would be to get these cars back on the road, it's pretty damn cool to see them tucked away where no one knows about them, and it would almost be a shame to pull them out, ending the ongoing story. Thanks for sharing.
Well, I tell ya, I was reall hot on these but grandpa won't get going on it. He says that the guy has a brother that is pretty, well, crazy. So, he won't chase down the details. But, grandpa, for some strange reason, won't chase leads on cars that his buddys have. I haven't figured it out yet. When I ask him what they guy's wife's name is, he tells me he heard that someone is coming from NY to get them. Keep in mind, grandpa is a crazy ole' bird and sometimes you just can't figure what he is thinking...... When I get the wife's name, I will try to track down a general location in NY and then start checking some phone #'s....... Yes, I don't even really like T-birds but just the history and knowing that it is resting there. Squablow: You're right, I kind of like seeing them like that too. We stopped and talked to a neighbor that was putting his trash out the first time we went to look at them. He's about 3 houses down, and he didn't even know they were in there. Someone, however, keeps the grass cut. The windows are busted out but they are tall. I think this is the only thing that has kept out vandals and the weather off of the T-bird. It's only a few inches from the front door.....that's why I couldn't get a clear shot of is. Grandpa says it should be really low mileage. The guy only drove it when he came back home on leave. Another cool thing about this old guy. He was a real Ford man...loved 'em! He used to tell grandpa that when they had target practice with the fighter planes, "I can't bring myself to shoot the old Fords, Ken. But, I'll shoot the h*ll out them old Chevrolets!" Just some good old humor from THE guys back in the day....
Just a note you shouldn't tip off too many neighbor"s or they might just beat you to scouping them up. I can see it already, one of them neighbors tell the old lady "looks like yer yard needs a trimmin" old lady say "yea, I had cousin' Jethro cuttin it for a while, and he'd dun moved to Florida" neighbor "Hey, I'll keep yer yard clean and even get rid of that old junk in the geerage! fur free"
Yep, the t-bird is a '57. Looks like someone has chunked rocks or pieces of cinder block in on it on the hood. You should get some plywood and a cordless drill and go patch those window holes before another little asshole really screws things up, then talk to the guys wife about people chunking stuff in the windows at it & how you'd like to get the old car that your grandpa used to have back for sentimental reasons, and you'd buy the t-bird off her too before it gets totally ruined by vandals. just a thought :-D
This is your lucky day. My wife has always wanted a '57 T-Bird,espically one with a hard top. I've been looking for a '27 T roadster for years. I'll come right out to pick them up as soon as you make arrangemnts. Like I said it isn't aften you get to make two people happy at the same time. I'm not expecting you to do this for nothing. Just name your price and I'll talk you down from there. Very cool story BTW, If it were me I couldn't stand it until they were siting in my garage. Please keep us informed about your progress in tracking down the right people to see about getting them. Frank
I KNOW!!!! what's up with that? i rented a room from this guy that was sitting on 6 built flatties,2 40 fords,4 dueces(3w,p/u,and 2 roadsters),38 truck,1 29 doodle bug,and a load of speed equipment.he and his brother were san francisco street racers in the 40's and 50's.he would become evasive when i would make offers,but he kept showing me more stuff! it drove me crazy sleeping directly over the cache' in the garage just knowing he'd never use any of it,and his kid's could'nt care less....i tried to get him to get interested again,but he'd just get quiet and weird.i eventually found out his brother died racing after installing a chevy overhead in his duece roadster,and crashing.he still has the intake manifold from the car(the only piece salvaged from the crash).cool story man,i hope it works out for you...
wow, nice story and nice find. Its amazing...how "junk" like this is still around. Junk to others but gold to us. Great find...keep us posted.
holy shit,i'd be sleeping that that T-bird with a gun.... i love those cars,but there like fucking gold now,and i'm broker than broke...
HOLY SHIT!!! That is so cool!! I have to agree with everyone else, you need to act on this somehow. That time capsule won't last forever, someone will sell that property, or some shithead kid will burn it for kicks. It seems that nothing would happen to it until YOU are aware it's there!! I'm sure the guys brothers are about the same age as your grandfather. I just have a sinking feeling that they'll either get junked, or the old guys wife will die, and all their property will go to an estate seller for a quick easy buck. My aunt did that when my grandfather died. The bitch estate seller complained that I was taking HER property when I took my grandfathers old neck ties, and war photos out of the attic, but didn't want to sell them to me either. I told her to call the police, and left. Sorry for the rant, I'm still pissed years later.
The T-Bird is (as already mentioned) definitely a 57 - note the canted fins on the rear. In '57 the porthole hardtop was standard. Now - get this - If you DIDN'T want the portholes, you had to order the OPTIONAL 57 -only non porthole top. Keywords: OPTIONAL, 57 -ONLY. See where I'm heading? That tops worth $$$ to the right person. Mart.
didn't want to sell a piece of my own family's history? i'd beat her eyes shut before i'd even think about "buying" something that belonged to my family. you're right though, he has to move now. some estate jackass vulture type will beat him to the punch.
Ooops, didn't notice the fins in the one pic. Yep, it's a '57 with the non-porthole top. Incredibly rare - and valuable. Still, that is just an awesome story. Please help them get those cars into a more protected area at least. Something bad will eventually happen to them in a decrepit old shed...
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