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Projects Project "Jack in the Box" a.k.a. we gave a kid a car......

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by geemann51, Dec 15, 2010.

  1. geemann51
    Joined: Dec 16, 2001
    Posts: 2,120

    geemann51
    Member

    This is Javier; he’s a good pal, family friend, and one hell of a chef/pit master….

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    Javier is one of the driving forces behind the Austin Meatheads; a bunch of car loving carnivores that are committed to driving their hotrods and customs on Fridays for the sole purpose of skipping out early or tricking the boss into an extend lunch break to hit up a greasy spoon or BBQ on Fridays for lunch.

    Javier drives a really cool truck…

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    This is Jack. He’s Javier’s oldest boy and his running buddy. Those of you from the Austin area and those of you, who have visited down this way, would attest that they’re inseparable. Javier’s a good papa and Jack’s the kind of a son that would make any dad proud.….

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    Jack loves Shoebox Fords. Correction; Jack is CRAZY about 49-51 Ford cars. So much, he knows just as much about them as me (which isn’t saying much), maybe more. You might even go so far to call him a “Jack in the box”. When I briefly considered selling the 51 it was this little dude who told me “DON’T SELL THE SHOEBOX”. That’s pretty much when I came to my senses and Jack and I became pals.

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    This past year, I worked with Javier and the rest of the Meatheads to throw a couple of hog roasts and at some point hanging out and cooking meat, Javier mentioned that he would like to get a shoebox so that he and Jack could get an early start on building up a first car for Jack. I said I’d keep an eye out.

    So hold that thought for a minute. This is my other pal Rick aka RIXREX. He’s pretty much a stinking, rotten hippy (I’m just kidding but couldn’t resist the DEADBOLT reference for this self proclaimed Doug Sahm era central Texas hippie). Rick was born in raised in San Antonio and has been a car guy since back in the day. He has built cars, raced cars, run wrecking yards, owned restoration shops, and has one of the most impressive revolving collections of car and car related junk that I have ever seen.

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    Rick and I were chatting one day and I mentioned Javier, Jack, and Jack’s love for all things shoebox. We both thought it was cool that a 9 year old would want an old car to fix up and agreed that interest in old cars seems to be dwindling amongst the utes’ of today . I can’t remember when, but at some point Rick said to me. “You know, I know where there are a couple of shoeboxes in a field”. “You don’t say”, I said. “I do say” said Rick. He went on, “you know they belong to an old friend of mine who’s got more projects than he’ll ever get to, maybe I should offer to trade some of the stuff I’ll never get to and see if he’ll bite”. As it goes, I kind of forgot about the conversation until a few weeks back when Rick gave me a ring and wanted to know when we could take a drive to South San Antonio.

    So two weeks ago, Rick and I took off early on Sunday to do a little recon. The cars were on the back lot of his pal’s rental property. I’ll never get tired seeing a bunch of old field cars for the first time. Some of the sights:

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    Last edited: Dec 15, 2010
  2. geemann51
    Joined: Dec 16, 2001
    Posts: 2,120

    geemann51
    Member

    There were two shoeboxes in all, a 51 which was pretty roached out…

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    …and a 49 that was definitely the builder of the two.

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    Now the purpose of this whole mission was to determine what to offer for trade and to make sure these were worth pursuing. They were. After grabbing a couple tacos and getting bit in the throat by a big ass ant, we headed back to Austin; all the while Rick tossed around his trade ideas.

    Later that day, I got the call from Rick saying that a deal had been struck and that we were on! Now I’m not not going to reveal the terms of the deal; that’s between Rick and his pal, but I will say it was very equitable for both and we ended up with both the 49 to build AND the 51 for parts. Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to give Javier the word and soon we had hatched the plan for recovery and the plan to give it Jack.

    Said plan was to go back down to San Antone the following Sunday to get the car, get it back to my place, give it a cleanup, and then to surprise Jack at the Strugglers Christmas party to be held at my place this past Sunday. A lot of calls back and forth over the week to plan and coordinate and we were off early on Sunday the 5th to get the car….

    Rick and Javier hiking back to the 49…
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    Javier’s first look inside…
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    Assessing the interior…
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    The damn ants that crawled up my leg and bit my neck the week before; nasty SOB’s…
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    So after a little digging and putting on some rollers, the car rolled right out; backwards…
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    Once we got it out in the clear, we saw its true potential…
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    Loaded up!
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    Once back at home, we wasted no time cleaning it up…
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    Even came with an orphaned set of 16’s which I eagerly adopted for the 37 Truck…
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    Last edited: Dec 15, 2010
  3. geemann51
    Joined: Dec 16, 2001
    Posts: 2,120

    geemann51
    Member

    After a long day, the 4-9 was looking pretty good…..
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    All gussied up with some Mexican blankets, a shrunken head and a 9 ball shifter…

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    This past Sunday, the Strugglers C.C. got together out at my place for a little holiday cheer and a little after dinner surprise for Jack….

    Cutting up and waiting for Jack to come outside…

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    No one was really sure how Jack would react so we ditched the temptation to trick him with one of the dozen or so gags and just called him out and gave him the car. As you can see by the following pictures, he was pretty stoked!

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    Rick, Jack and I
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    Anyway, that’s the story of Jack in the Box. Big thanks to Rick, Javier, and the Strugglers C.C. for pitching in to make this happen. As much fun as it was surprising Jack, it was hoot going to get it with Javier and Rick and saving another old piece of crap. Javier has already found a motor and some other parts and pieces, so let the madness begin.
     
  4. So cool! you guys rule!
     

  5. One man's old piece of crap is some kids dream. Good luck.
     
  6. ratrodder34
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 2,219

    ratrodder34
    Member
    from Irvine,ky.

    That was SO COOL........love these kind of stories and JACK IN THE BOX was always my friend!!!
     
  7. Gator
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,016

    Gator
    Member

    Good stuff -
     
  8. That is killer dude! I hope his enthusiasm stays high and he's driving that thing before he's legal!
     
  9. 40StudeDude
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 9,535

    40StudeDude
    Member

    Cool story... the kid will be driving in no time ...

    R-
     
  10. xhotrodder
    Joined: Jul 2, 2009
    Posts: 1,665

    xhotrodder
    Member

    Looks like a good time for all.
     
  11. KooDaddy
    Joined: Oct 16, 2006
    Posts: 753

    KooDaddy
    Member
    from Wis.

    Now thats cool! Bought a tear to my eye. Good luck Jack keep us posted.
     
  12. Triggerman
    Joined: Nov 18, 2006
    Posts: 578

    Triggerman
    Member
    from NorCal

    That was a really nicely illustrated and well written story. Thanks for the holiday cheer.
     
  13. jdubbya
    Joined: Jul 12, 2003
    Posts: 2,435

    jdubbya
    Member

    That is awesome!
     
  14. Gerg
    Joined: Feb 27, 2006
    Posts: 1,828

    Gerg
    Member

    thats really cool i am sure that is something that he will never forget
     
  15. koolkemp
    Joined: May 7, 2004
    Posts: 6,005

    koolkemp
    Member

    Great story and congrats to all those that helped out ! Jack will never forget this!
     
  16. Jack's got some good ole friends. Hope it comes back to you ten fold!!
     
  17. cobramerc
    Joined: Oct 31, 2010
    Posts: 44

    cobramerc
    Member

    Wow great story
     
  18. raengines
    Joined: Nov 6, 2010
    Posts: 227

    raengines
    Member
    from pa.

    kewl way to keep the game going for another generation, great move guys :)
     
  19. metalshapes
    Joined: Nov 18, 2002
    Posts: 11,138

    metalshapes
    Member

    I got my first car given to me when I was 10 years old.

    With the words " here kid, learn something..."


    I did.

    It shaped me.

    You guys did a really cool thing for Jack.
     
  20. rottenrods
    Joined: Sep 17, 2010
    Posts: 211

    rottenrods
    Member

    Excellent thread! Pictures and story and everything!
     
  21. Awesome! That's what a call a great surprise!
     
  22. speedyb
    Joined: May 12, 2010
    Posts: 484

    speedyb
    Member
    from socal

    Every kid that show's an interest in a hobby as great as ours need encouragement from people around them, you guys are to be commended.
     
  23. roddin-shack
    Joined: Apr 12, 2006
    Posts: 2,512

    roddin-shack
    Member

    Great move, you guys rock. I can see the kid loves it. I also see you are missing some dash knobs and switches. Send me your address and I will send you the extras I have, it would be nice to be a part of this. Larry :cool:
     
  24. old tin 38
    Joined: Jul 20, 2010
    Posts: 98

    old tin 38
    Member

    If I wore a hat, I would tip it to you guys for this high class thing you have done. Young guy with old car...and so it continues:D
     
  25. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,420

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Oh, I'm an old Doug Sahm fan, too! Nothing wrong with that. Sounds like Rick is a really great guy. What a cool thing to do for a young man who is wired to like old cars.

    You've now ruined him for life, I'm afraid. :)
     
  26. Malcolm
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 8,030

    Malcolm
    Member
    from Nebraska

    Great story, Gregg... you guys rule!




    Malcolm
     
  27. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,698

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

    That is so freaking cool!!! :)

    Congrats!!
     
  28. olskool34
    Joined: Jun 28, 2006
    Posts: 2,597

    olskool34
    Member

    That is an awesome story, what a great gift. You guys rule!
     
  29. Javier
    Joined: Aug 12, 2008
    Posts: 1,433

    Javier
    Member
    1. Strugglers C.C.

    I cannot thank Gregg and Rick enough for making this happen and will be forever indebted to them.Jack is so stoked about the car and can't wait to have it at our house so we can start on it.He has every detail worked out in his head on how he wants to personalize the car.We've been lucky enough to get a motor for it and my buddy "Moe" here on the HAMB donated the front and back seats.I also have a line on a 51 hood,better doors and deck lid as well so things are already moving along nicely.Things will move kind of slowly at first but we will keep you guys posted on our progress.Awesome!
     
  30. KooDaddy
    Joined: Oct 16, 2006
    Posts: 753

    KooDaddy
    Member
    from Wis.

    Javier Nice truck dude!
     

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