The first "hoard" of cars I read about was an old Chrysler dealer in the TX panhandle area. He'd find a car he liked, then drive it as a demo, then put it in the barn. Cycle repeat. When he passed away, his decades of doing this yielded some very nice mid-'50s Mopars. The dirt floor and ventilation, in the drier climate, kept them very nicely. Even if dusty. In reality, the dust settling in behind the moldings probably did more harm than not. That was in the middle '80s.
So, as the "Old Cars Weekly" article mentioned, a frenzy of activity took place before the auction. A full-frenzy situation with so many nice low-mileage middle '50s Mopars.
More recently, an older guy came to work for us delivering parts. His brother apparently got into the early oil boom where he lived. A smaller country town in N TX. His brother bought cars. He had barns they stayed in. Didn't limit himself to just ONE of anything or of the same model. Not sure where he found them all or why, but from what I was told, he had some very interesting cars. His wife always put a car in the local high school homecoming parade.
The husband passed away, so Don seemed to be charged with taking care of the cars, as the widow directed. They went on a "landed cruise" to Branson one weekend. In a very nice IROC Camaro convertible. But also one which both of them barely fit into!
Don went through a partial list of the cars his brother had accumulated. It would be a full time job just to keep them washed and running! Possibly a nice retirement job? Never did hear what happened to them after Don passed away.
She had him do what her late husband probably did with the cars, including get one detailed for the homecoming parade. Don spent a lot of time up there, about an hour from his house. Don already had some health issues, so I suspect this added activity didn't help things very much. He passed away suddenly, unfortunately. He was a good guy. Probably was too nice to say "No", too.
In order to preserve vehicles, the building needs some construction upgrades. One thing is a vapor barrier under the slab, much less an insulated slab. Otherwise, moisture from the slab can "rise" as it warms and then "falls" at night. Cycle repeat. Not to mention good insulation and wiring, as a matter of course. Ventilation can help, too. But even then, dust can happen over time!
As we get older, we like to keep things around that remind us of our "more fun" days. OF the neat times we had, back then. Cars are a good thing to do that with. Even better if they are driven and used, but as time progresses, that "good intent" can be replaced by other life issues.
In another forum, there was a thread about "To rebuild or not to rebuild" an older car that had gotten whacked in the rear at a red light. Not that it couldn't be fixed, just that it might take a parts car or two to get it done. There was an attachment to the car, by the owner and his family. After proposing how it might be repaired, I also commented "Sometimes, the best memories are fond memories". Which kind of buys-into the old "It'll never be the same again after a body repair." In modern times, anything seems to be possible, IF there is adequate funding and time to make it happen by an accomplished/motivated person.
Is it better to let a vehicle "rot" in an old dirt-floor barn or in a well-lit, covered-floor museum? Where the UV rays from the lights can/will fade the paint/upholstery? At least the museum started/continued by heirs to the Merle Norman cosmetics fortune get all of the cars out one weekend a year and drive them to a large picnic! Quite an event. Reputedly, visitors in shorts and jeans are not allowed into the museum. LOTS of classy cars!
CBODY67
So, as the "Old Cars Weekly" article mentioned, a frenzy of activity took place before the auction. A full-frenzy situation with so many nice low-mileage middle '50s Mopars.
More recently, an older guy came to work for us delivering parts. His brother apparently got into the early oil boom where he lived. A smaller country town in N TX. His brother bought cars. He had barns they stayed in. Didn't limit himself to just ONE of anything or of the same model. Not sure where he found them all or why, but from what I was told, he had some very interesting cars. His wife always put a car in the local high school homecoming parade.
The husband passed away, so Don seemed to be charged with taking care of the cars, as the widow directed. They went on a "landed cruise" to Branson one weekend. In a very nice IROC Camaro convertible. But also one which both of them barely fit into!
Don went through a partial list of the cars his brother had accumulated. It would be a full time job just to keep them washed and running! Possibly a nice retirement job? Never did hear what happened to them after Don passed away.
She had him do what her late husband probably did with the cars, including get one detailed for the homecoming parade. Don spent a lot of time up there, about an hour from his house. Don already had some health issues, so I suspect this added activity didn't help things very much. He passed away suddenly, unfortunately. He was a good guy. Probably was too nice to say "No", too.
In order to preserve vehicles, the building needs some construction upgrades. One thing is a vapor barrier under the slab, much less an insulated slab. Otherwise, moisture from the slab can "rise" as it warms and then "falls" at night. Cycle repeat. Not to mention good insulation and wiring, as a matter of course. Ventilation can help, too. But even then, dust can happen over time!
As we get older, we like to keep things around that remind us of our "more fun" days. OF the neat times we had, back then. Cars are a good thing to do that with. Even better if they are driven and used, but as time progresses, that "good intent" can be replaced by other life issues.
In another forum, there was a thread about "To rebuild or not to rebuild" an older car that had gotten whacked in the rear at a red light. Not that it couldn't be fixed, just that it might take a parts car or two to get it done. There was an attachment to the car, by the owner and his family. After proposing how it might be repaired, I also commented "Sometimes, the best memories are fond memories". Which kind of buys-into the old "It'll never be the same again after a body repair." In modern times, anything seems to be possible, IF there is adequate funding and time to make it happen by an accomplished/motivated person.
Is it better to let a vehicle "rot" in an old dirt-floor barn or in a well-lit, covered-floor museum? Where the UV rays from the lights can/will fade the paint/upholstery? At least the museum started/continued by heirs to the Merle Norman cosmetics fortune get all of the cars out one weekend a year and drive them to a large picnic! Quite an event. Reputedly, visitors in shorts and jeans are not allowed into the museum. LOTS of classy cars!
CBODY67
