Starting in September I began looking every day for some original Ford flatbed gates, the kind that has the swinging side door. I've never web searched so much for one thing. I'm talking weeks of typing every word combo I could come up with on the marketplace and craigslist. Hundreds of thousands of listings searched and no gates to be had. Guess the wood rots away with age and the rest gets lost or thrown away. Came across an add for nine 20" split wheels for $400 dollars 350 miles from my house. Ive been looking to swap my 18's with 20's because there's a better tire selection to choose from. I'd only found a couple here and there, but never 9 in one place. So I decided to make the long drive on my one day off. After I got there and made the deal for the wheels the guy says I have more parts if you're interested. Said sure I will take a look. We walk over to a barn and sitting nicely stacked on a pallet is a whole set of Ford bed gates. The very type I'd been searching for. I was beside myself. Asked him how much and he said $250, so I just handed him the money. I still can't believe how it happened. Months of searching and finding nothing, then I decide to drive 700 miles for some wheels and the gates are sitting there waiting for me. Let me know if these pictures come through.
It happens! I found my Autocar by searching on Ebay for Dodge Dakota parts. A parts truck came up a thousand miles from me which was a deal breaker, but out of curiosity, I clicked on what else the seller had for sale and there it was. I bought both and dragged them home.
...sometimes you get the bear.... Congrats... Nothing like "oh, I have a few other parts".... and it's a goldmine of things you need. I'm still waiting for that to happen with a nice set of tail light bezels for a 1959 Coronet.
The Jalopy Journal
