The One That Got Away

A few years ago I sold a rough but drivable 29 Tudor to a young fellow here in town. He drove it all over that summer. One day he had a flat while driving through one of the older neighborhoods. While he was changing the tire, an old fellow that lived across the street came over to chat.

The old fellow offered that he too had a Model A out in the shed. "Put her up during the war" he said, "couldn't get tires". Yes, he would sell it but it would be a lot of money because it was a Deluxe Roadster. "Wouldn't take less than $900.00 for it".

Now this young fellow is the type that really relates well to old folks and he left that day with a new friend. He called me right away to tell me about his find. I said "You are going to buy it, of course"? "No, I don't have the money and I have what I always wanted which is an old sedan".

I told him I would give him a finders fee if he let me buy it. I explained that now that he stirred the old mans memory someone else would get the car anyway. The next time the old man went to the grocery, the barber or where ever, he would talk about seeing a car like his and the cat would be out of the bag.

My young friend agreed to help me buy the car but thought it best if he made the contact. No problem, I will stand by with the money and the tow truck. He set up a meeting with the old man for 5 PM and I waited by the phone. And waited. And waited.

At 7 PM the call came. It seems that while the old fellow was looking for the title, Grandma started ragging him about the nephew that may want the car. She insisted he call the nephew to see if he still wanted it. He did.


January 2, 2007

Rainmaker Ron Stories on Ford Garage:

  1. Ron Cloat's Story
  2. The Way It Was
  3. Sleeping Beauty Awakes
  4. How Time Flies
  5. The Milk Run
  6. The Overhaul Job
  7. Impossible Propulsion
  8. The Leaky Model A
  9. Rubber Bands and Peanut Butter
  10. The High Dollar Ford
  11. Life in the Fast Lane
  12. Do Good Anyway Ron's Philosophy!
  13. Ron Cloat's Shop Day by Robert Hesselmann (8 pics)