The Ford Barn

29FordGuy · 01-15-2011, 04:21 PM

Just had to pass this on. Three years ago I acquired a town sedan to restore. It was in pretty bad shape but had been stored in a barn. As I was cleaning it out I found the registration papers dating back from 1960 to 1970, during which time it moved from Central Point, OR to Gold Hill, OR, then to Etna, CA where it was last registered. During the last three years I have done several searches trying to find information on the former owners but could not find much.

Recently there was a TV car dealer ad and an older gentleman from Etna appeared in it. He had the same last name of the last registered owner. I called him and he said he was not related to the owner but someone else he knew was. I did another compter search and happened on to the name of the last registered owner. I called him and it was the correct person! He is 90 years old and was so thrilled that I had restored his old car. I then sent him pictures of the before and after look. This Saturday he took it to his senior breakfast get together in Etna and had a wonderful time showing the pics and reminiscing about the old Model A. He called me this morning after he returned home to tell me about his adventure. It really made me feel good when he told me that I had made his day, no, week, no year! He was so impressed that I would take the time to restore the old car and then seek him out. Needless to say, I felt real good especially when he told me that his son, who died young, drove it all over the countryside with his buddies. I had always guessed that it was owned by a young kid as his first car.

This July they have their annual Scotts Valley Bluegrass Festival and I have it marked on my calendar. I told him to expect me in July and we will go for a ride. I sure hope he hangs on till then. He is not in the best of health.

Sorry for my rambling, but I just had to pass this on.....

Robert Elayer
Brookings, OR

01-15-2011, 04:21 PM	#1
29FordGuy Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brookings, OR Posts: 62	One thrilled 90-year old! Just had to pass this on. Three years ago I acquired a town sedan to restore. It was in pretty bad shape but had been stored in a barn. As I was cleaning it out I found the registration papers dating back from 1960 to 1970, during which time it moved from Central Point, OR to Gold Hill, OR, then to Etna, CA where it was last registered. During the last three years I have done several searches trying to find information on the former owners but could not find much. Recently there was a TV car dealer ad and an older gentleman from Etna appeared in it. He had the same last name of the last registered owner. I called him and he said he was not related to the owner but someone else he knew was. I did another compter search and happened on to the name of the last registered owner. I called him and it was the correct person! He is 90 years old and was so thrilled that I had restored his old car. I then sent him pictures of the before and after look. This Saturday he took it to his senior breakfast get together in Etna and had a wonderful time showing the pics and reminiscing about the old Model A. He called me this morning after he returned home to tell me about his adventure. It really made me feel good when he told me that I had made his day, no, week, no year! He was so impressed that I would take the time to restore the old car and then seek him out. Needless to say, I felt real good especially when he told me that his son, who died young, drove it all over the countryside with his buddies. I had always guessed that it was owned by a young kid as his first car. This July they have their annual Scotts Valley Bluegrass Festival and I have it marked on my calendar. I told him to expect me in July and we will go for a ride. I sure hope he hangs on till then. He is not in the best of health. Sorry for my rambling, but I just had to pass this on..... Robert Elayer Brookings, OR