Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Peter_L]

Locals say that this truck has sat in this guy's backyard for about 30 years. He has been approached by several enthusiasts, but refuses to sell because he is going to "do it up".

Rats, mice, squirrels and who knows what have destroyed the inside. Grass and weeds grow through the floor and during the spring melt it is often stood in water.

The owner is now in about his 80th year.

To me it seems a waste, but then who am I to judge ?

.

[47p2]

I agree with you peter, such a waste.

If only the owners would wake up and smell the coffee

I do wonder how many vehicles in this situation are lying around
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One of Britain's Fine Cars

[clan chieftain]

Plenty....but its the same story..They are going to fix it. I have watched a Marina van and a couple of 105E Anglias decaying in a garden in Muirhead over the last 5 years or so. They are well beyond saving now...Shame really hardly any Marina vans left now
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[Kaybee]

This sillyness happens everywhere, there was a local guy here in sunny Croydon who bought a nice '46 Mercury off his friend in 1965 , after the gearbox turned up it's toes....he pulled the 'box out...and it sat in his yard until about 1990 ( with a bunch of other oldies), then he moved it and them up the road about 10 miles to another outdoor location featuring some large overhanging pine trees....where they all sat until about 8 years ago when we were lucky enough to strike at the right time and he consented to sell the Merc to us ( still had no gearbox ). Of course,by then the old Merc wasn't looking all that flash. Once we got it back home and cleaned all the years of accumulated grot off it, it became pretty obvious just how bad it was. The doors had been shut so long that the hinges were locked solid....copious amounts of penetrating oil made little difference, so out came the oxy and eventually we managed to get 2 doors on one side opened up....and then the entire body framework that supported the doors fell straight out onto the ground (with doors still attatched)We were able to peel the entire roof panel off by hand...so, scratch one Mercury ....But...the mechanicals live on, we used the chassis and running gear,also the firewall in a r/h drive conversion of a '46 Merc Club Coupe, so at least something was saved.
The same guy had a number of other interesting cars that were left to waste, he has since passed on but the family tradition of allowing the cars to revert to nature has been continued by his son....still under the trees is a '56 Packard, a couple of 2 door Morris's and an A30, a '51 Ford Ute, and FJ Holden Ute,a '56 Customline Ute and a bondwood ex-boat...all not for sale.... ...must be something about old cars that fries people's brains....... Regards, Col.
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If it's old...it's good !

[pigtin]

There is a strange beauty about a vehicle decaying in a sylvan setting that possibly gets to them. (Personally I wouldn't be able to resist restoring it before that state is reached) Maybe they feel it's like having the remains of a castle or some other historical ruin... no one asks why Stonehenge wasn't restored?

Sounds like a case for Greeney, but I think he's already tried.

Don.

[Kaybee]

[poodge]

Peter,that really is a shame.(the Dodge Pickup).
But if it's frequently stood in water,I doubt there's much left of the chassis.
Although the body actually looks in fairly good shape.Or is that wishful thinking?

[pigtin]

Quote Kaybee: Sylvan,eh?....those oldies are in a place called Mt.Evelyn, right next to Silvan.... .....and Stonehenge...isn't going rusty.

Aha! Stonehenge did go rusty, all the metal bits corroded away centuries ago and now no one can find 'em.

[Rick]

yes it doesn't look to bad in the picture, but sitting in water for long spells may not have done the chassis too many favours. What a shame!!! think I'll move this into the Dodge/Fargo section, seems appropriate

Rick
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