Vintage shots from days gone by!

The Boy watching Looks Like - Ron Howard's little Brother
Clint Howard - who played the part of Leon , on Andy Griffith Show -


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This little rod is nineteen fifties any way you look at it. Actually it would almost qualify as a ratrod if built that way today. Just the pipes up behind the cab alone is a big clue to the vintage. But it's not a rat intentionally, merely the best that some guy could do with what he had.

 

Yep, Desert Center. Still pretty much intact, just weathered a bit.

 

We used to call them "beaters".

 

This guy must be Johnny Depp's grandpa! Gary

 

Just to put these pictures in context, the first picture was taken in I believe 1942 when the cars were being lowered into the position of standing on end to save space. This building had metal siding put on it afterwards and was on the western end of the property. When completed that building held several hundred cars in this position. The second picture was taken in the 70s the day after the fire that burned 110 cars. That building was wooden and had been erected first, prior to the one in the first pic. The building held quite a few rare cars and was at the opposite end of the property. The third picture is my grandfather as photographed the day following the fire.

 

The big Austin, the Chalmers, the Cadillac and the St Louis were owned by my grandfather. The Chalmers was a great car to drive, a big horsepower six. You could cruise all day long at 70 in this car if you wanted. The Austin was just massive- a great car-Jim

 

Someday Jim, you need to tell us a little more about your grandfather.

 

Very interesting. Why were all those cars being stored? Hasta be a interesting story to this.

 

Kurtis I recently wrote an article for the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) publication which is published 6 times a year. The first article was in the last issue and was the introduction that spanned two pages. The article is somewhat long and I cut it down but at the rate we are going the article should go on for quite some time. It is difficult for me to publish much of what I wrote before it comes out in their magazine as you may understand. Additionally I am not sure if my article would be HAMB approved so to speak. Since it is my story and I lived it of course I can comment on whatever occurred but I may step lightly a bit here and there, prior to the story being printed in their publication. PM me and I will email you a copy of the story as it is published if you wish-Jim

 

Long story short my grandfather was a car nut and collected so many cars he ran out of room.-Jim

 

It is a story I would like to hear as well!