Customs Ya just never know what’s in you neighborhood

Lat year i met a neighbor who lives a few hundred feet from me. I’ve been in my house for 30 years and he’s been there since the 50’s. Last year he had something for sale and that’s how i met him. Well today he pulled up in this cool Merc. Nice car not overdone like some are. Nice old guy in his 80’s.

 

I keep my eyes open as I drive or walk my dogs through my neighborhood. I know where there are quite a few cars sitting in garages that you never see on the street.

Devin

 

Criminy, that's one steep driveway.

 

Camera angle!

 

Make that poor old feller walk uphill like that ....

 

He's gunna fall down now....

 

Now it’s leaning the other way

 

Years ago there was an old Bonneville Racer in my neighborhood and I didn't have a clue. I finally met him the last year he was alive . Had a garage behind the house with his belly tank and a couple of 32 Fords. His name escapes me at the moment.....

 

Go walk the door or take a bike ride, be surprised what you don’t catch when you drive by

 

Adjustimated. Beautiful car! What engine did he have in it?

 

Fred Lobello

 

Very cool! You just never know what might be in the garage down the street. Hopefully you had a good visit as well.

 

yep, never know. friend discovered that immediate neighbor has a '67 Camaro purchased new by his Dad. has never been out of garage for many years. another of friend's neighbors had a beautiful Hot Rod '34 Ford just sitting because owner not able to drive. friend bought it.

 

Fred was a dear friend of mine for over 50 years. He had his 32 B roadster since WWII. The motor was used in his lakesters before he hooked up with John Vesco. He had a complete machine shop in that garage also. He was Paul Shiefer's first machinist when Paul went into the clutch and flywheel business. And, you are right, you would never know what was in his yard and garage unless you walked down his driveway and the doors happened to be open. Fred was also a 49er at Bonneville. Great interview with him on the American Hot Rod Foundation Web site.

 

Nice guy for sure

 

Maybe I'm that old guy in the neighborhood whose car hasn't seen the light of day for decades. I plan on getting back onto it - someday.

 

Older resto 46 Chevy pickup, it’s been in this garage at least 10 years. They pushed it out to change their hot water heater when I was doing my lunch time walk. Never seen it out before. It is available.

 

Lots of folks see my car under the carport, they don’t know me but recognize the car when I have it out. Talked to one guy Saturday, he said he drove by every day for several years going to work and never saw it moved. I told him he just drove by at the wrong time! Unless I have it torn down working on it, it gets driven regularly, so I guess it’s possible some folks think it never moves.

 

Hmm cars that never that the sunlight never touches, I'm not going to say a word!

 

It had a small block chevy and a/c pretty typical of modern-ish build

 

He lives around the corner from me, i live on the narrow county road but he lives on the two lane highway and his house sits way back from the road. His garage faces away from the highway. As the crow flys he’s about 300’ away. I had no idea there was a car guy there until he had some 50’s trucks for sale last summer

 

I've lived in my house 21 years. I hear dirt bikes from time to time. I just found out the guy behind me, and over the hill, has a full on dirt bike track on his land. I have been looking for a vintage Go Kart for years, I just found one about 5 miles from my house. Guy has a bunch of Go Karts, Mini Bikes, and all kinds of related toys. I know of some cars sitting around the area too, and they never come out. People that come to my place for the first time, are amazed at what I have too.

 

I`ve owned my car for 38 years. Drove it over 5 thousand miles last year. Live in a town under 6 thousand. Some people here have never seen it. ?

 

Go to the local coffee shop or where older gentleman gather to visit. Sit and listen. Drive an older car . I learned of a couple model A’s one stock one a hot rod in pieces while visiting with my Son in laws Grandfather at a Family gathering. I tried to buy the hot rod but no deal . It’s still in a shed covered with the guys kids junk .

 

There is a guy here in town I graduated from HS with. He bought himself a 74 GTO new. The car hasn't been licensed since 1980.
I'm betting there are 100s of old cars locked in garages right here in my own town that haven't been seen for years, I know of several.

I suspect my town isn't the only town with those hidden gems.

 

My backyard neighbor bought something interesting a few months ago. The problem is I can hear him starting it up and blipping the throttle but because there is an overgrown greenbelt between us, I can't see it. Through the trees I've seen slivers of red paint, a chrome grill, and a blower. We're on a hill and he's 40' lower and there's no line of sight or walkable path. So his house is 100' away as the crow flies but a half mile by car. Every so often when I'm on my way in or out of the neighborhood, I'll take the side trip past his front yard to see if I can catch him outside.
The attached photo is taken from my back deck and his house and driveway are about 30' lower than the sunrise and another 50' through the ticket at a steep downward angle.
I guess I'll have to scratch on his door one of these days.

 

@The Shift Wizard , "slivers of red paint, a chrome grille, and a blower" a hundred feet away. What are you waiting for?

I met my longtime friend, Bob Taylor, when I was driving past his house one day and he had his race car out in the driveway tuning it. He lived three blocks away from me on the same street and I had never seen him or his car. I stopped, backed up and introduced myself. As a result, I learned a lot and became acquainted with some genius engine builders and other car people in southern California. We were friends from 1968 until he died 25 plus years later. I'm still friends with Bob's son and through him, I've met some amazing people and experienced some equally amazing things in the NASCAR world that I would have probably missed had I not put forth an effort. What I'm saying is, if I had just driven on by thinking I ought to stop there some day, none of that would have ever happened.

 

Beautiful landscape!!

Ben

 

There is (or was) a'69 COPO Camaro near me. I've only seen it out a couple of times in the 22 yrs I've lived here. I've been told it has 9,000 miles on it.

Gary