Chris
Well-known member
This goes back a little ways. Back when I was in my early 20's (I think I was 22 or 23) I bought a 1946 Ford pickup. It was my first flathead car that was complete. Also the first running flathead I ever owned. I was looking for one and this was about the only one I could find. I always liked the deco styling they have even as homely as they are, and the fact that most people hate em makes my love for the 1942-1947 Ford pickups even stronger. I loved that ol 46. It was my only car at times. It had a 59AB and a three speed. It was a beat up ol farm truck and smoked like crazy. But I loved it. I put a dropped axle in it I had sent to Mor Drop and just drove the snot out of it.
Not long after I bought this old 46, I spotted a green 1947 1/2 ton not too far from my house. It looked in a lot better shape so I stopped one day to ask about it. A women in her middle age owned it, she said it was her Dad's pickup and she used to drive it to school. It was not for sale, she was going to have it restored. That was about 10 years ago. I would drive by it now and again. It sat behind their house, behind a cyclone fence in the alley. About every year or so I would pay the woman a visit. "Not for sale" was always the answer. I ever tried to leave my number but she said she would never part with it. She was always kind and polite, but made it known how much she liked that ol pickup.
I ended up selling my ol 46 years ago. Something else better popped up, and like always...something had to go. Out of all the old cars I have had, I miss that ol pickup the most. I just loved that thing. Jamie Loved it too. We went out on our first date in it! I have been looking for another 42-47 pickup for a few years. I even got another one a couple years back...but shortly after I bought my 33 pickup and that 46 had to go.
So last Friday I did not have to work. I was downtown running errands and on the way home noticed the women was home who owned the 47. I knocked on the door, and again asked if she would ever consider selling the ol truck. She had rememebered me from years past. I was shocked, as this time she said yes, her and her husband had just discussed selling it a few days prior. Her Father passed away last year, and she said she realized she would never get it under cover like she always wanted to, let alone restore it. She was pretty excited though about how much I seemed to like the ol pickup. So I looked it over (first time I had seen it up close), and a deal was struck! Hence the title of this thread. Keep after those cars that are never for sale. One day, they just might be!
It is ugly. I mean, old faded green paint with every inch of trim painted the same green. But it's a strait ol truck with very little rot. It is a 6 cylinder, three speed. I think it will run, I have not had too much time to mess with it though. Both fan belts are shot, and I am having a heck of a time finding replacements. I gave it a quicky wash job and the oxidized paint cleaned up and darkened revealing a nice dark green. I think if I waxed it up it would look pretty decent! I want to paint all the trim the factory yellowish-white color, tune it up, brakes, glass... basically clean it up, make it safe and comfortable and drive it. I eventually want to get another dropped axle and kind of copy my old 46. Anyways, here it is. I am right in the middle of moving into a different house, so progress on this ol girl is going be pretty much nill for a while.
Here she is how she looked sitting since 1991
On the way home
And today after a bath. You can see the faded color compared to the cleaned up color in some of the pics.
Not long after I bought this old 46, I spotted a green 1947 1/2 ton not too far from my house. It looked in a lot better shape so I stopped one day to ask about it. A women in her middle age owned it, she said it was her Dad's pickup and she used to drive it to school. It was not for sale, she was going to have it restored. That was about 10 years ago. I would drive by it now and again. It sat behind their house, behind a cyclone fence in the alley. About every year or so I would pay the woman a visit. "Not for sale" was always the answer. I ever tried to leave my number but she said she would never part with it. She was always kind and polite, but made it known how much she liked that ol pickup.
I ended up selling my ol 46 years ago. Something else better popped up, and like always...something had to go. Out of all the old cars I have had, I miss that ol pickup the most. I just loved that thing. Jamie Loved it too. We went out on our first date in it! I have been looking for another 42-47 pickup for a few years. I even got another one a couple years back...but shortly after I bought my 33 pickup and that 46 had to go.
So last Friday I did not have to work. I was downtown running errands and on the way home noticed the women was home who owned the 47. I knocked on the door, and again asked if she would ever consider selling the ol truck. She had rememebered me from years past. I was shocked, as this time she said yes, her and her husband had just discussed selling it a few days prior. Her Father passed away last year, and she said she realized she would never get it under cover like she always wanted to, let alone restore it. She was pretty excited though about how much I seemed to like the ol pickup. So I looked it over (first time I had seen it up close), and a deal was struck! Hence the title of this thread. Keep after those cars that are never for sale. One day, they just might be!
It is ugly. I mean, old faded green paint with every inch of trim painted the same green. But it's a strait ol truck with very little rot. It is a 6 cylinder, three speed. I think it will run, I have not had too much time to mess with it though. Both fan belts are shot, and I am having a heck of a time finding replacements. I gave it a quicky wash job and the oxidized paint cleaned up and darkened revealing a nice dark green. I think if I waxed it up it would look pretty decent! I want to paint all the trim the factory yellowish-white color, tune it up, brakes, glass... basically clean it up, make it safe and comfortable and drive it. I eventually want to get another dropped axle and kind of copy my old 46. Anyways, here it is. I am right in the middle of moving into a different house, so progress on this ol girl is going be pretty much nill for a while.
Here she is how she looked sitting since 1991
On the way home
And today after a bath. You can see the faded color compared to the cleaned up color in some of the pics.
- just kidding! Great find, nice story, and once she's running good I'd run byt he seller's place and give them a ride!
