28 AR Phaeton's future

Clem Clement

Clem Clement

Well-known member
I really need to vent.

As many of you know I have a tired and dissambled 28 AR phaeton. She has been a dream of mine to do for 25 years now. Prior to that she sat in the late Jack Carouso's barn in Mullica Hill NJ for another 25 years. My youngest son was two when she came to live with us. He is now 30 and at 6'5 and 290# he so good don't fit in the phaeton.

For those of you Fordbarners who visited my booths at Hershey, you got to meet my Hershey partner, John Kandl. He, a dear long time friend helped me to dissamble the phaeton and finish the frame and sand blast all the body parts. He was 1/2 thru building a Model A limo and we had long term dreams of finishing the cars together after he retired. John and I did a lot together over the years and he was deep in my soul as he was in many others. He could not do enough for his friends and his Model A Club. We understood each other without much talk needed.

This Thursday I will go to Arlington Cemetary to help his Mother and siblings bury John. The Lord called him at the young age of 56.

I have tried to sell the car as one car, but no interest. too much work I guess. I have some basic skills but not those to do the body work and rebuilding need on this vehicle. Plus there are some parts missing I'm sure.

I'm at the point of parting out the car, I guess. I don't see me doing it ever and maybe others will benefit from my folly of buying above my skill level. As you know the late Chuck Shaw passed on the same day John did, and I think Chuck would have advised me to do this as well, under my circumstances.

Thanks for letting me cry in front of you, dear Fordbarners

Clem Clement, dreading Thursday
 
Clem, sometimes life does not seem fair, --and only our maker knows the real reason for calling John home. You definitely has lost two great friends!! It is with sadness that I read this because I know your heart aches. My thoughts are with you.

With regard to the phaeton, I guess my question comes as, ...what is gained by parting it out? Will it bring more money for you, be easier to make it go away, --or have a greater potential to help more hobbyists? If you have the room to store it for awhile longer, I feel like the market will be back for you. The other side that I feel is creating a problem for you is many hobbyists are not doing complete restorations like they used to do. I honestly think that one of the main reasons is that most folks do not have the ability and/or the courage to take on such a vast project. Heck fire, ...the majority of today's "under 40" crowd cannot even successfully change the oil & filter in any of their vehicles, ...so how on earth do we expect them to undertake a full frame-off resto project such as what you have??

Again, my condolences again to you for your dear losses.
 
Glen, funerals are tough,my boy,s mate lost their 9mth old boy on sunday,funeral tomorrow.
Re the modelA, its been in the shed for as you say 25 yrs,maybe leave it in there for a while longer.
But have you thought about contacting the local high school, it could be a shop project for them.
just a thought .
Lawrie
 
Clem, I too an sorry to hear about the early loss of your friend John. It's hard to bury a family member, but it's just not right when a parent has to bury their child. This past year my aunt lost both her son and daughter to cancer, both in their mid 50's. Unfortunately most of us are getting to the age where we will have to attend more funerals than weddings.

I agree with Brent that if you can hang on to the Phaeton for a bit the market should look up.

My condolenses to you.
 
Clem,

I'm a young guy, so a lot of people discount my ability to relate to the idea of a long term friend. I've had the same best friend since 1st grade, now at 28 we live a mile or two away from each other and still see each other at least once a week. I've known the guy longer than I haven't, which is kind of odd at my age. We've always said that whoever dies first is going to have the best eulogy of all time after all the stuff we've been through.

For the past several years, every time I check the GWC classified page, I have seen the ad for your Phaeton. I have always wished I could buy it. I learned to drive a Model A on a Mid-28 Phaeton and have fallen in love with them ever since. I've driven that same Phaeton (owned by Andy Honiotes) all across the country, even melted a piston ring on it during a drive to a Nat'l Meet in 2002, not my finer moment. They are perhaps my favorite body style of all the A's. I have always looked at your ad and had a desire to buy it from you and do it justice, but I just don't have that kind of expendable money at this time.

I agree with others, hold on to it, in a year or so, who knows where things will be at.

-Tim
 
Clem,with great sadness I send my condolences to you and John's family.What a wonderful thing God did by bringing John into your life and you in His.And with great JOY I tell you,God will rejoin you both someday.Pastor Jim Baskin III.
 
Hey Clem,

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. You are blessed to have had such a best friend. Some people never have such good friends as you seem to have been.

I agree with the others. Hang on to it for awhile. Heck, maybe your perspective will change on it one of these days. If not, the selling climate will definately be better in the future. I think the car would rather not be parted, but finished and enjoyed someday, even if it isn't anytime soon.

Blessings,
Tom
 
Clem, I did a little research and couldn't find your ad. I know this isn't the swap forum, but can you let me know how much, or post an ad here again? Thanks
 
Hello Clem,
I had met you once at the gw swap meet last year when you brought your truck , sorry to hear of your loss , long lived friends are never replaced but do continue to keep a place in our heart, your friend im certain would want you to keep on with your dream , when a door closes...... i have a metal working shop in dc for welding and patches and a friend who paints and does really good body work at the same building who will be painting for me on my truck. im working through my 31 AA truck and am in the middle of it all ...which means come on by the shop sometime and see whats possible before you give it up , you already know someone initials T.T. for mechanicals, now you know another who does metal work.
Mike A
 
Give it some time and see how you feel in a year or so, you could go in haves with some one in a local club who could complete the car and then sell it as a finished project. many years ago when I lost my dad I almost sold my 30 phaeton for a who lot of reasons but in the long run i kept it and now it is a daily driver for me and could not think of parting ways with it even though dad and me were suppose to restore it together. good luck making you choice
 
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