My name is Taylor Richardson, I'm 37 years old, dad of 5 (12 year old identical twin boys, 10 year old boy, 8 year old boy, 4 year old daughter, yes we are done), happily married and love old cars. But, with a large family, working full time, making the house payment, buying kids new shoes, there never really was money for a hot rod to play with. I had a 63 Suburban for a little bit, then a 65 Chevy p/u with an early vette 327, but after the 3rd, maybe 4th kid, the funds kind of dried up and projects got sold. Now my dad, Larry, was a hot rodder from the age of 14, when he bought his first model A for $12 that he saved from hand haying fields with a scythe. He also had help in that two of his uncle's owned the Melvin Village Garage in Melvin Village, NH, so inspiration and hot rods were always around. Up until he got married at the age of 27, in 1964, I think he said he was at about 58 different cars he had owned, including an original 62 Corvette convertible with the factory FI, a 59 El Camino with a 348 and 4 spd, various A's, B's, V8's, etc. Growing up, he always had some kind of project going, but nothing really got to a completed phase, which I never appreciated, until I, too, became a dad, with the daily worries and costs. But he was a faithful hot rodder, ordering a 73 chevy p/u with a 454, turbo 400, putting in 4.11's and then smoking all the kids at the stop lights, or our 82 Pontiac Safari station wagon. Somehow, he got order codes and had this wagon come from the factory with the z28 motor, police car suspension, front rear sway bars, factory posi, etc. I can remember my dad embarassing many kids in that station wagon, of all things. So about 8 years ago, my dad was diagnosed with an extremely rare bone marrow disorder, of which the doctors said he would only live 2 or 3 more years. Well, he proved them all wrong, and lived 8 1/2 years, up until Feb 13 of this year. I was able to be here (NH) since January, and was able to keep him at home with my mom and not be admitted to a hospital or home of some kind. Now at this time, my dad had an early (june manufacture date) 1928 Model A roadster pick up that my grandfather had purchased from the original owner in 1955. My grandfather gave it to my dad in 1992 and my dad kept it 100% original, only updating the saftey items (brakes, lights etc), but it was an amazing original truck - paint, pinstriping, correct red 4 spoke steering wheel, forged hood latches, etc. My dad knew that neither my brother nor I were really into the vintage cars like the A, and so it was sold to a very good family friend that has it in his collection with a sign on it in memory of my dad. The other car, though, is a 1939 Ford Tudor Deluxe, 100% original also, purchased from the documented 3rd owner. My brother has no interest in hot rods and prefers his import type cars, but my dad knew I was in love with the 39 and thus gave it to me before he passed away. If I've done things correctly, I've included 3 pictures of the car, 1 with all my kids and 2 of just the car. Hope you enjoy it. Now the major caveat here is my lack of knowledge of older cars. My dad was a store house of information - "That piece is from such and such a car, made only for 3 months in such and such a time, etc etc etc" - but now I'm without the Dadcyclopedia and have found this website. I've spent many nights lately, reading this site, and quietly crying to myself about being robbed of my dad and then laughing about his and my discussions of old time hot rodding or our 2 road trips to Hershey. So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I plan on asking lots of questions, because my knowledge is lacking for old cars, but I'm a voracious reader and have already gone through many of my dad's books and manuals, so hopefully my questions don't come off too stupid. Thanks for letting me ramble, glad to be here. Sincerely, Taylor
Taylor X 5, Hello & Welcome to the HAMB from South Texas. You have a lot of wash & waxers to help. Enjoy. Get an old Motors Auto Repair Manual from Amazon, they have good prices. That will help with a lot of answers. Good Luck. Lucky667
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