Garage Find

[rick60]

A coworker of mine saw one of my old car magazines and told me about his Dad's model A. It is a 1931 slant window. It shows 54000 miles. He purchased it in 1953. He drove it for one year. He joined the Navy in 1954. The car was put in this garage. It has not been driven since then. The last time it was registered was 1961. It's still wearing the 1961 license plates. He painted it in 1953 and installed model B wheels. The original wheels are in the garage. the body appears to be perfect. No dents, rust or filler anywhere. The doors fit perfect. When looking at the body through the rear fenders there is only mild surface rust visible. The running boards and fabric top are factory original. The radiator and headlamps are in great original condition. I don't remember seeing ant dents. The cowl band is dinged at the top where the hood rests when open. The bumpers are rusty, but not banged up. i didn't crawl under the car, but the front axle was visible. The casting looks like it was made yesterday. Very mild surface rust. All four of the fenders are dented, but not rusted or cracked. The interior is original. The owner said that the engine was replaced with a remanufactured unit before he bought the car. He turns it over once in a while to keep it free. The tires on the car date to WWII. He is going to give the car to his son (my coworker's brother). As soon as he gets room in the garage he is getting his 56000 mile Tbird out of storage.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

like everybody else , I thought you were getting the car,Rick. Anyway, I'm sure you'll be watching it. Looks like Illinois plates,right?

[rick60]

The car is in the Chicago area. The owner said he would consider me if it does not stay in the family. I was thrilled just to see the car. Even the neighbors are unaware of the car.

[Dandy Dave]

My Grandfather had one just like it back in the 30's, and drove it through the war years. My uncles ended up building a doddle bug out of it in the 1950's and used it on a small family farm. Neat to fine one untouched for so many years. Thanks for sharing. Dandy Dave!

[Guest mercman86]

BEAUTIFUL A! I wish it were mine! I wouldn't change a thing, get it roadworthy and drive it as is. I love seeing unrestored A's and any old car at that. Nice find! It must be near the western suburbs, i see an old Wheaton College sticker on the back window!

[rick60]

The Model A has been moved from its resting place of 50 years in a Berwyn Il garage! It is now in northwestern Wisconsin. The son of the owner is the new caretaker. Plans are to get it running and drive it as is. We installed the correct 1931 Model A wheels with new tires. The car rolled nicely. Nothing was frozen after sitting 50 years. I had an appointment and was not able to see the car loaded on the trailer. The pictures show the car as saw sunlight in 50 years!

[Guest longman]

Lovely car, a testament to the good old days of car making. I wonder how a modern car would fare if it was shut up for 50 odd years?

[Lebowski]

Lovely car, a testament to the good old days of car making. I wonder how a modern car would fare if it was shut up for 50 odd years?

This '57 Plymouth didn't turn out too well after 50 years in an underground vault in Oklahoma, but the little girls did pretty well....

[Guest Old48Truck]

Hmmm....I thought Sarah Palin grew up in Alaska.

[John_Maine]

Very, very interesting. I love seeing old cars like this with plans to make roadworthy and use as is. Nothing like an original - or almost all original.

I just recently found a diary in my deceased uncle's things - one he kept from 1936 - 1940. In it, he mentions purchasing a neighbors 1930 Model A for $80.00 and that it was in great shape. He bought it after getting his first job out of college. He was making $18.00 a week for 37 hours full time. Sometime later, he talks about having to get a new starter. Took it to the garage and it cost all of $5.00 for parts and labor.