Previous Owner of My '56
10-27-2013, 10:27 PM
#1
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Previous Owner of My '56
Sadly, my Dad passed away in March of this year. He left me his old driver '56. Dad bought the car back in 1981 and the only thing he changed was replace the 3 speed with a powerglide so Mom could drive it.
In the late 80ies while attending a car show Dad and I returned to our cars after sight seeing and a note was on the windshield of his car. It said "I am quite confident my Dad used to own this car. If interested in the history give me a call. Dave"
Well, we never called but while cleaning out some stuff recently I ran across the old note. I gave this Dave a call but after so many years what was the chance he'd still be at the same address. Well, he was and today I drove the 30 miles from Tolland, MA to Simsbury. CT to meet him.
The car was purchased by his dad in the 70ies from Village Vettes in CT. There was no engine or soft top and had some front end damage but he put it all back together and drove it a number of years then decided to move on to the next project.
My Mom and wife had been tag saleing and spotted it with a for sale sign on it (in 1981) and called me. She told me the asking is $6500 and it's a straight axle. I said what year? She didn't know. I said listen carefully, did it have 2 headlights or 4? She said I think 2. Man, I was working OT on a Saturday but I bolted out of there collected my Dad and we went to look at the car.
He bought it and it has been in our family since 1981. Dad did nothing to the car except for the previously mentioned transmission change. He didn't even bother removing the clutch pedal.
When Dave saw the car he said "Man, it's like a time capsule". Nothing had been changed. Even the '56 Chevy hubcaps with the spinners Dave's Dad had installed were still on the car. I suspect the OEM caps were a bit pricey so he made his own.
We had a nice conversation and we both enjoyed the experience. He filled me in on a lot of the details. His Dad who is now 68 would dearly love the car back. I think the only person I would consider selling this to would be Dave's pop. Kinda keeping it in the family. That is me, Dave and my brother Mike.
Thank you for indulging me this story.
In the late 80ies while attending a car show Dad and I returned to our cars after sight seeing and a note was on the windshield of his car. It said "I am quite confident my Dad used to own this car. If interested in the history give me a call. Dave"
Well, we never called but while cleaning out some stuff recently I ran across the old note. I gave this Dave a call but after so many years what was the chance he'd still be at the same address. Well, he was and today I drove the 30 miles from Tolland, MA to Simsbury. CT to meet him.
The car was purchased by his dad in the 70ies from Village Vettes in CT. There was no engine or soft top and had some front end damage but he put it all back together and drove it a number of years then decided to move on to the next project.
My Mom and wife had been tag saleing and spotted it with a for sale sign on it (in 1981) and called me. She told me the asking is $6500 and it's a straight axle. I said what year? She didn't know. I said listen carefully, did it have 2 headlights or 4? She said I think 2. Man, I was working OT on a Saturday but I bolted out of there collected my Dad and we went to look at the car.
He bought it and it has been in our family since 1981. Dad did nothing to the car except for the previously mentioned transmission change. He didn't even bother removing the clutch pedal.
When Dave saw the car he said "Man, it's like a time capsule". Nothing had been changed. Even the '56 Chevy hubcaps with the spinners Dave's Dad had installed were still on the car. I suspect the OEM caps were a bit pricey so he made his own.
We had a nice conversation and we both enjoyed the experience. He filled me in on a lot of the details. His Dad who is now 68 would dearly love the car back. I think the only person I would consider selling this to would be Dave's pop. Kinda keeping it in the family. That is me, Dave and my brother Mike.
Thank you for indulging me this story.
10-27-2013, 11:08 PM
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That's a great story and a good looking '56. Thanks for telling the story. 
Dennis
Dennis
10-27-2013, 11:16 PM
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A great and touching story. Once in a while things line up right and a good history can be filled in. I sold a '59 in 1968 and a '56 in about 1975 and neither of them show up today. Glad you were able to make that contact.
10-28-2013, 07:06 PM
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