I hope you guys/gals will enjoy this. Certainly there are a lot of folks out there who enjoy knowing the "vintage" of their respective automobiles.
As you know, I bought my '76 wagon just over two years ago, and have been tearing it down/rebuilding it since. The process has been slow, fraught with all the usual difficulties that face a car restorer - lack of time, lack of money, distractions, family - even a willingness to "quit" at times. When I bought the car from the current owner, he had explained to me that the car had sat for years beside a lake house in the country, no longer driven, but only moved occasionally as a "deterrent" - meaning, a "decoy" to show passers-by that someone lived there.
A few days ago, the guy who sold it to me sent me an email. Since I had touched base with him only twice in the two years after buying it, I was surprised to get his email. He explained to me that the original owner of the car "had the original keys" and was wondering if wanted them. WOW! I jumped at the chance, providing him a phone number for contact.
Yesterday, on the way home from work, the phone rang with an unrecognized number. I almost did not answer, but then decided to. An elderly woman began speaking - with an obvious hint of excitement - and told me that she had been the original owner of the car, and had the keys. After much lively discussion, we agreed to meet this Saturday morning so that I could get them. The woman was clearly elated that "her car" was being restored, as I described what was being done. She talked rapidly, sharing several stories of the Pinto. This is the kind of stuff that gets your blood going.....!
I hope to get more from her this weekend. Her husband is no longer alive (he had originally purchased the car), but visiting her will certainly bring more stories. I hope to get a picture of her as well - and ask if she has some original photos I might copy. I can see the makings of a story for Pinto Times!!
Now, as a final note - I have "hemmed and hawed" about finishing this car. Not any more. Could I have a stronger impetus to GET IT DONE? I don't think so.
MORE SOON!
Chris
Nice story Chris! Show her your resto thread on your iphone (but do hide the antics of your paint-fume-enjoying friend who helped you...)
Sounds like a very visit coming up. After you are done with the car, you need to take her for a spin!
Exciting story indeed! I wish my mom had more stories to share of my 78 between the time it was purchased in 78 and back to when I can remember (about 1991-1992).
Definitely show her some of the progress pictures, and even better, bring it by when you are finished to show her the beauty she used to own,back in action again!
Chris, that is SOOO COOL!!! You have a golden opportunity to have what a lot of us wish we had... someone who remembers when your car was theirs... what adventures the car took them on... where the car has been (across the country?) etc. Two of mine were bought from families whose Pinto-owning relative passed away- alas, no stories for me. Please take pictures when you get this story in the works- I'm eager to read it! ;D
That is cool!... It is always nice to know the complete history of a car, especially from the original owner. I am lucky that my parents are the original owners of two of my cars. My mom with the 67 Mustang and my dad with his 79 Pinto wagon that he ordered as he wanted it. I am working on finding the original owner to my 86 Saleen. Hopefully some day I will track him down.....
Although I will never speak to the original owner of my 73 station wagon, I want to take it north to payette where it was purchased and see if anyone might remember seeing the gentleman who used to own it around town in it. He passed away and the 73 Pinto Wagon which he LOVED was left to his daughter, who didn't want it. She gave it to her husband, who gave it to HIS sister, who ALSO didn't want it (why not?!?!) and it was sent to a local estate auction.
The mister who sold me the car has a brother who frequents the gas station I tank up at and he commented on my blue 78, asking if I knew anyone who wanted to restore an all original 73 Pinto station wagon. I said "I do! ME!" and we swapped contact info. Two days later I went out to look at it and made an offer of $250 (He was asking $500 for it). He had two other people coming in from out of town to look at it that weekend. Neither of them wanted it and Darrel (who sold it to me) told me he just wanted it out of his storage corral so it didn't get banged up being as straight as it is, and so someone to do what he originally purchased it for, RESTORATION! :D
I too tracked down the original owner's familly and got the story on my one-owner car. How did I find them? Facebook, of course.
The woman who drove the car was the mother of a wonderful family with 4 children. She bought the car new and it was her pride and joy. Unfortunately, she passed away at a very oung age. The children and father couldn't bear to part with the car. So it sat, with its original 40K miles, in the garage for 25 years. About 2 years ago, the father passed away. I bought the car...and brought it back to life...with a bunch of simple stuff: new tires, hoses, fuel pump, etc. She's like new now, and her family is thrilled that their mom lives on in the form of a V6 Pinto, loaded, with every available option...and everything still working like new!
They're metal, plastic, glass and rubber. They're just cars. Their metal, plastic, glass and rubber come alive with these stories. The places they've taken us and the people that cared for them is what denotes their value. This is some of the best reading on the site. More, please.
Quote from: beicholz on November 19, 2010, 09:04:38 AM
I too tracked down the original owner's familly and got the story on my one-owner car.
That's a heck of a happy ending! Keep that car up...
I like hearing these stories, too. However, i cannot post one, because mine has never left the first owner's family!
My mom still cannot believe that it is still running and getting me back and forth to work.
It leaves me stranded about once evey 10 years, so i cannot complain.
The reasons I will not part with it is: reliability, it is fun to drive, easy as can be to repair and maintain and it was my high school car.
78txpony - Amazing! Reminds me...every month or so, I have a wonderful dream that I still have my beautiful 1972 Blue Chevrolet VEGA Hatchback. Trouble is, I'm sure it's in the junkyard...where it belonged when it was new. Unlike Pintos, Vegas lasted only about 20,000 before the major troubles started. Mine needed a new engine, clutch, brakes, tires, and much more at 20,000 miles. Disappointing.
Still, it would be fun to see her again. Ahhhh memories! I'm sure I'll see her again in my dreams, soon.