G'Day 413,
Back in 1985 I took a Trip to Adelaide for the First Chrysler Nationals.
While I was there a Fellow Club Member took me to a Blokes Place who had a Yard Full of Old Chryslers.
Apparently he & his Brother had a Contract to Supply "Goods" to the U.S. Base at Woomera for many years.
Over a Number of Years as the Military returned Home, he Purchased a Large Number of Cars from
the Troops who Didn't bother taking them Home.
All Late Fifties & Early Sixties, Mostly Coupes, 4Dr H/Tops & a Few 2Dr S'Wags.
61 Imp Convertibles, 57 300c Coupe, 57 Saratoga Coupe Just to Name a Couple
He Obviously Purchased them for a Pittance as they were all left in his Very Large Back Yard to Rust & Let the Grass
Grow All Over Them.
Apart from the Cars, What Also Saddened Me was the Fact That his Three Children only had about Six Feet from the Back Door to
What was a Pretty Solid Wall of Cars in Which to Play.
Those Cars sat there & Rusted away for Decades, All were Drivers when he got them, Most went for Scrap Metal when he Died.
He Wouldn't Sell Them, Wouldn't Repair Them, The Fella that took Me around was an Excellent Panel Beater / Spray Painter & had Offered
to Repair All 30+ Vehicles in Exchange for being Able to Choose Three for Himself. (Negotiated of Course)
He Refused!
His Cars, His Choice. Fair Enough, But Oh What a Pity.
The Only Conclusion I could come to was that He Owned them merely to be able to say "I Own Them & You Don't."
This was somewhat confirmed to me when, as we were leaving, I mentioned that we were going down the Road to look at a 58 Dodge
Custom Royal a Bloke had Restored.
He questioned Why we wanted to Look at it as it was Only " a Dirty Old Sedan"
When We Formed Our Dodge Owners Club Forty Odd Years Ago We lay Down a Few Basic Rules.
One was, 1900 - Whenever,
Although We Intended to "Cover the Early V8 Years in Aust. (1957 - 1972) Anyone Who Owned a Chrysler Veh whatever Vintage,
or,
Who just had an Interest in Chrysler Vehs was Welcome in our Club.
We had 1918 Models, Plymouth's, Desoto's, Fargo Trucks Etc., All were Welcome.
Another Rule was Although we Preferred "Original" Unmodified Vehs " It's Yours, Do what you Want BUT if at all Possible Modify it in Such a Fashion
that a New Owner could Return it to Original if he so Desired.
I have Loved Old Cars since I was 7 Years Old.
I remember being out with My Dad when he was looking for a Car.
He was talking to a Salesman in a Second Hand yard when I spotted a Perhaps 1924 Chevy Wreck at the back of the Lot.
I turned to My Dad & said "offer him 10 Bob ($1.00 or perhaps a little more in Them Days)
The Salesman grinned at Me & said Keep that Up Kid & You'll Own It LOL
Anyway the Joy is not Only in Owning a vehicle but in Driving It / Working on it & Bringing it Back from It's Demise.
And to Me this Process Helps to Slow us All on our Journey to our Dotage.
While I have Purist leanings I must admit it is only towards "Some" Vehicles.
"Now My Own Car That's a Different Matter" LOL
All the Best & Take Care.
Tony.M
