Customs New member. Searching for grandfathers old ride

Saw this on Hotrodders.com this morning.
What a fairy tale story for sure!!! Nice work fellows. Nice work!

 

Haha the power of the hamb

 

You could try to contact Phil. He replied to the following in 2018....I think he's referring to the pic where he (or someone) is standing by the driver's side door. You can click on his name (in blue) for gmail. I believe he's still with us (82). I also pm'd you with his contact info....address & phone.
https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11...om_cars/phil-kaelins-1932-f/viewcomments.html

 

I found the dads stuff from 07 couldn’t find anything on the son. That’s pretty awesome I’m gonna give him a call as soon as I’m free to do so. Thank you so much for the investigative work.


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Wow, what a thread. What an outcome (to this point) it’s been.
Kudos to the HAMB PIs!

 

I am not surprised that it wasn't covered in Rodders Journal, or it should anyway...

 

Got home a little late tonight had to burn the midnight oil. Done a quick search through a few piles of photos and couldn’t locate the one I was hunting for. I did send over ever thing to my dad and he confirmed that car seems to be the same for sure. I’m gonna give Phil a call tomorrow morning and see what insight he can shed upon this. Fingers crossed he knows everything I need to know. Here’s a picture of my grandparents in 1957


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IF you have a lot of spare time I know I posted some shots of this car in this thread:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ome-on-post-pictures-of-what-you-like.132391/

BUT there is no way to find them other than looking at all the photos sorry.

I would start at the latest post and work backwards as some of them were posted not too long ago.

 

Following and subscribed. Interesting thread.

 

Your grandpa definitely has that "hot rodder" look if there ever was one. Thanks again for sharing. Hoping a call to Phil is the door to lots more information.

 

I rarely really follow any threads but this one has me on the edge of my seat. Please, PLEASE keep us updated with anything you learn.

 

I will keep everyone updated. This site has been a blessing with some hard work from complete strangers. As far as I’m concerned you guys are along for the ride with me.


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Tried to call Phil just now seems number has been disconnected. I’m gonna try and have my wife do a Facebook search for him or possible family members I can’t locate any other numbers for him


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Sent you a pm.

 

A Phillip Kaelin Sr. from Louisville Kentucky passed away in 2012 at the age of 101. It lists a surviving son named Phillip E. Kaelin Jr. There is a Philip E. Kaelin Jr. living in Greensboro North Carolina that looks to be about the right age (80s). You may want to try your search in North Carolina.

 

That’s the son. He is the number we found it seems to be disconnected I also located a son of the jr. but his number is no longer in service most of the number I’m turning up seem to be landline phones which 90% of people don’t have anymore


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On the edge of my seat here, what a fun adventure! Yay HAMB!!!

 

You say it sold to someone in California in 1962. Phil Kaelin stated on another site "I was 20 years old in the summer of 1958 when this photo was taken. Now, 80 years old in the summer of 2018 still looking at these photos. One good car then, one great memory now! Thank you, Phil Kaelin" so it would appear that your Gramps may have bought the car from Phil then when he (your Gramps) was done with it in 1962, sold it to someone in California.

I guess what I am saying is, although contacting Phil Kaelin (or his son) may reveal some history, I am very doubtful they would know who your Gramps sold the car to if they did indeed own it before your Gramps.

 

It appears in the early 70's, a Phil Kaelin of Louisville owned some Formula A and/or Indy cars. Might be another way to locate him if same Phil.

 

First step is confirm/determine whether grandpa's car is really the Phil Kaelin, Watson painted rod.

https://www.customcarchronicle.com/forums/topic/watson-style-32-ford-coupe/

 

I agree 100% that never crossed my mind until you said that. My dad is 99% positive it’s the same exact car just going off the pictures from 1958 white Phil in them. he said my grandpa changed the hub caps and if he remembers correctly it was sold more like 63-64ish. My dad also said he remembers my grandpa and his best friend buying the car together

 

Phillip K married Selene S in Dec of 1962 (explains why he sold the car before 1962 ... probably to your Gramps).

00 B H Drive GB NC 336-000-0000 and 336-000-0000.

Edited out the specifics (whoops, seems it's been copied/pasted below ... oh well, I tried )

 

@Searchingforaclassic , do you have any old documentation listing chassis numbers/engine number? Registration records?

@gimpyshotrods , can anything be traced through the California system?

 

The plot thickens...

 

I don’t have anything. I have a friend at the courthouse I can try and have her search through the transfer records for my grandfather and his friend both. Other than that I have no documentation at all


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If records even go back that far.


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The 4700 number went to answering machine I left message let hope it’s Phillip. The other number is the disconnected one. Fingers crossed


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I think privacy laws won’t let you get info.
No matter your intention, some records cannot be shared.

I/e would you be okay with a fella knocking at your door who traced your daughters plates to your address?

just something to ponder in and why you may not be able to search records

 

Well, this thread is now on the "featured" list. That should get a lot more exposure. Maybe, just maybe, someone here will know something helpful. Being painted by Larry Watson, the car would be considered quite collectable. Do a little research into Larry. It is a real eye-opener. He painted cars for some very famous people. Legend status for sure.

 

I agree with you 100%.


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