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Projects My '32 ford coupe found it's way back home after 56 years

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Hapydz, May 16, 2013.

  1. 32 pas side.jpg Callage 5.jpg There are only a few personal firsts that really stick out in a guy's mind,
    I'm sure you can think of at least two. My first car has to rank right up
    there very close to the top of my list and I would bet that you feel the
    same about your first car. Let me tell you about my memories of my first
    (car that is). It was early May 1955 and spring was just beginning on the
    north shore of Lake Superior which meant that getting around and exploring
    car lots on your bicycle was the perfect thing to do when you are one month
    away from your all important 16th birthday. I can remember rolling past
    Dominion Motors used car lot, which was just down the street from my home in
    Fort William Ontario, where something caught my eye sitting in the back row.
    I immediately recognized what I saw and made a beeline to the back of the
    lot. What was sitting before me was, what all of the car magazines were full
    of in 1955, a 1932 Ford 5 window coupe. Wow! This is what they were talking
    about! Fort William (now Thunder Bay)is a world away from San Diego
    geographically but for that instance, they were one and the same. My
    enthusiasm and inexperience overlooked the many imperfections and all I saw
    was the beauty in black. I made my way to the sales office to find out what
    the asking price was for her. After a quick search, I found Mr. Winters (I'm
    positive that was his name) and he told me that "the fine little car was
    $75.oo". No time to bargain, I had to get back home to tell my Dad about it
    as fast as I could as it's not every day you find a '32 coupe for sale for
    $75.00. I had all the finances worked out in my head by the time I burst
    through the front door. I could sell my outboard motor that wasn't needed
    anymore as someone had stolen the boat that my Dad and I had built the year
    before. I could find a job to pay for the balance. It was all going to work
    out, I just knew it was.

    Well,I must have caught my Mom& Dad on a really good day as the coupe was in our yard by nightfall. One very lucky 15 year old, wouldn't you say
    I remember getting my beginner's permit on my 16th birthday and driving MY '32 "B" with its new brushed red paint job, to get my driver's license the very next day.The tester asked me how many miles I had driven with the beginner's permit to which I responded "about 15". He said" We had better make that 150." He then directed me to drive him around the block, then drop him off at the front door of the Vehicle License Office, where he said, " You are doing just fine. Go and park it and come in and get your license."
    YaHoo! As you might expect, I had a great summer learning about cars and driving. However, I was still way too short to pick up chicks.
    Looking back on it all now, It would have been great to have had an older brother that could have tutored me in Hot Rod 101 as I think I had the" Jughead Jalopy" mentality back in those days. With the proper role model looking over my shoulder I'm sure I could have done a better job. Oh, well




    I traded the '32 in on a '40 Ford coupe the next spring,but that's another story. Over the many years that passed, I kept hearing reports that my '32
    was still in town but I could never verify that until very recently when a friend of a friend gave me a name and phone number that might lead me somewhere. Sure enough, it did. So, is this the end of the story?
    I would really hope that it isn't but if it is, I'm sure glad that I experienced this part of it.

    Fast forward to Tuesday, April 30, 2013....
    After coming home from having coffee with some friends my wife ,Joan, said “ you had better listen to the phone messages which I did. To my surprise, the message was from the lady who owned the 32 that let me take the pictures of it a few years ago. She remembered that I left her with “if you ever want to sell it, please call me as that car sure does mean a lot to me. She told me that she had been saving it for her son but tragically he had passed away and asked if I was still interested......
    A few days past and she had someone give her what they thought was a fair price and contacted me again. Naturally I accepted and now my first car will be my last. After selling it once , I cannot fathom selling it again.
    Part of the original story mentions that if I had an older brother to guide me in Hot Rod 101 that I wouldn't have had the Jug Head mentality that I had when I first bought the car when I was 15. With the ‘32 returning home after all of these years I just realized that now I am that older brother.
    Ron Limbrick
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2021
  2. Hell of a story !!!!!!!
     
    dragnut and Hapydz like this.
  3. NortonG
    Joined: Dec 26, 2003
    Posts: 2,117

    NortonG
    Member Emeritus

    Cool story and an even cooler HotRod!
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  4. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    Ok, did i miss when it was turned into a hotrod? Back when you found it first? or?

    Wow is right.
     
    kidcampbell71 and pecker head like this.

  5. Congrat, love the second pic!
     
    Jrs50 and Hapydz like this.
  6. Mr. Mac
    Joined: May 16, 2005
    Posts: 1,965

    Mr. Mac
    Member

    I've read alot of cool stories on the Hamb, But your's is the best.:)
     
    chryslerfan55 and Hapydz like this.
  7. skot71
    Joined: Oct 30, 2010
    Posts: 180

    skot71
    Member

    Congrats!!! Great story.
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  8. Chrisja1
    Joined: Jun 20, 2007
    Posts: 11

    Chrisja1
    Member

    Amazing! What a great story! Can't we all be so furtunate!
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  9. Great story and that special effects photo is fantastic (I would say the best photo I have seen on here to date). You are one lucky man :)
     
    chryslerfan55, duecesteve and Hapydz like this.
  10. low-n-slo54
    Joined: Jul 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,920

    low-n-slo54
    Member

    One hell of a story! Love the pictures, especially the layered one.
     
    6inarow and Hapydz like this.
  11. Fantastic story! I love it. And the car managed to stay in really good condition. I know exactly how you feel. Your story is even better than mine I think.
    You can read it here if you like:
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=737793

    Like the story of the prodigal son. I am really happy for you.
     
  12. It was stock when I bought it and stock (with the B engine) when I sold it. The car was hot rodded by a couple of fellows back in the 60's but it never got on the road. It sat this way in a couple of different garages in town until tomorrow when I bring it home.:D
    Ron
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2015
  13. Retro61
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 651

    Retro61
    Member

    Fantastic Story! Congratulations!!
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  14. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    cool beans bro, that is not an event that happens often. Hang on for dear life this time. Congrats dude! ~Sololobo~
     
    chryslerfan55 and Hapydz like this.
  15. flatheadpete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2003
    Posts: 10,478

    flatheadpete
    Member
    from Burton, MI

    Holy cow what a story!! Congrats Ron! I know we're gonna see more pics of it tomorrow, right?
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  16. James Boys
    Joined: May 13, 2006
    Posts: 174

    James Boys
    Member
    from London ONT

    Great story Ron! It is in good hands!
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  17. Thank you fellows, for all of the kind words !!! I will post pictures of the coupe as things progress, which might be a bit slow but... anyway, I hope you will stay tuned.
    Ron

    :eek:
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2015
    chryslerfan55 and duecesteve like this.
  18. oldrelics
    Joined: Apr 7, 2008
    Posts: 1,727

    oldrelics
    Member
    from Calgary

    Cool, I'd love to have my first back too. Is the ghost image of you as well? if so, I'd like to see that original pic.....
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  19. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,694

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    This is a great, great story. I'm very glad you found your Deuce!
     
    chryslerfan55 and Hapydz like this.
  20. abone1930
    Joined: Jan 16, 2006
    Posts: 1,325

    abone1930
    Member

    too COOL :)
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  21. FalconMan
    Joined: Sep 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,404

    FalconMan
    Member
    from Minnesota

    Amazing Story ! Congrats !
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  22. 46203_464175486957710_916827965_n.jpg
    This is the picture my mother took when I first brought the car home. I was about to turn 16 the next month. When I first visited the same car a few years ago, when I found out where it was, I set my camera up on a tripod in order to take a similar shot. I then used the Picasa collage feature and "poof" there it was.
    Ron
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2015
  23. hiboy32
    Joined: Nov 7, 2001
    Posts: 2,796

    hiboy32
    Member
    from Omaha, NE

    wow, what a great story. Cant wait to see updated pics and follow along as this one gets back on the road.
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  24. Model A Nut
    Joined: Mar 30, 2007
    Posts: 65

    Model A Nut
    Member

    This is the coolest thread I have ever read. Congrats on finding the old Coupe and I hope you get it going soon. And to still have the original picture of you at 15 is a wonderful addition.
     
    6inarow and Hapydz like this.
  25. Mopar Jack
    Joined: Jan 24, 2010
    Posts: 1,363

    Mopar Jack
    Member

    Congrats for you...
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  26. Great story, thank you for sharing it with us!
     
    6inarow and Hapydz like this.
  27. KFC
    Joined: Jul 17, 2008
    Posts: 445

    KFC
    Member
    from UK

    That ghost picture is brilliant, you have the same cheeky grin 55 years on
     
    6inarow, OahuEli and Hapydz like this.
  28. bobfrev
    Joined: Dec 21, 2006
    Posts: 215

    bobfrev
    Member

    I love the collage picture sitting on the running board of the same car 56 years apart, i hope that picture is framed for your family to pass down, I often think about my first car ( same story, bought at 15 working on it and waiting to turn 16 to drive it) and would love to be able to find it again. they always seem nicer in your memories but it would still be something to have the chance to get it back, best of luck and enjoy
     
    chryslerfan55 and Hapydz like this.
  29. tractorguy
    Joined: Jan 5, 2008
    Posts: 894

    tractorguy
    Member

    Thank you very, very much for sharing your great story.......and thank you for the very creative photography. We will be watching for the rest of the story.
     
    Hapydz likes this.
  30. OoltewahSpeedShop
    Joined: Oct 18, 2007
    Posts: 3,103

    OoltewahSpeedShop
    Member

    That's so damn cool....! What are the chances it would still be in the same town and you would be able to buy it back? Great story and can't wait to see the progress. I bet it's hard to sleep at night.

    If you need somewhere to put the roadster while you build the coupe, just let me know. I've got room. ;)
     

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