How can you explain a grown man stompin through a field of waist high weeds (on private property) to checking out a 50 Chevy? A crusty, frosted glass, mouse infested, long forgotten fastback, with decent stainless, and just a little rust! Then rationalize draggin home a Model A chassis (that was propped up behind an old hot rodders garage for 40 years) the one with 3/8 steel plates welded up front to catch the split bones. Abused by mother nature without a sign of his original hand rubbed laquer. AHH RUST... fire up the grinder, strap on the ear protection and go for it! Enjoy the brown cloud that fogs your shop, filling the air with that familiar metallic smell until you uncover the treasure... bare metal! Then theres the part I hate. Hours of patch panel repair, replacing floor pans & drip rails, fabricating inner trunk lips & non-existent bracing and applying rust kill paint. Months searching for a decent cowl vent, buyin it, then somebody tells ya you coulda made one you already had work better. Not to mention broken bolts, brass screws without heads, and the unavoidable busted knuckles. Hours of straightening, body work, coats of sealer/primer and final metal prep. Multiple coats of paint and clearcoat. Then you pull her into the light of day and realize... it wasnt that bad after all... RUST,both a blessing and a curse, it's the soul of forgotten tin. Enjoy the pix, the yard was called Hog Heaven... near Toledo, Ohio. It no longer exists, but I feel fortunate to have captured a dozen rolls of film before it's demise... Stitch
When did Hog Heaven go out of business? Had to have been in the last 2-3 years - I just visited shortly before I moved out here. dan
The Jalopy Journal
