Posted on 10/18/2022 6:23:01 AM PDT by rktman
People love pirate movies because deep down we all love the idea of a good treasure hunt. And if you're a gearhead like us, that treasure is more likely to be hidden away in some forgotten garage instead of a wooden box with an ancient lock. Now, finding one car that's been squirreled away is pretty cool, but what if you end up finding dozens? Well, these hoards of classic cars are still out there waiting to be rediscovered. A perfect example is what is being called the Firehouse Find. It's a huge collection that will be going up for auction at the Chattanooga Mecum event in early October.
So how do so many cars end up being stored in one place like this? Like many of these stories, it started with a young man and his love of cars. John Force (who isn't related to the racing legend) was 14 years old when he bought his first car for just 35 bucks! That was nearly 70 years ago, and that first car was only the start of what would grow into a collection numbering right around 70 vehicles stored in an old two-story firehouse. Force, now in his mid-80s, decided it was time for his beloved cars to find new homes, so his son Mike contacted Mecum to help with the logistics of selling so many classic cars, some of which haven't moved in decades.
Another one of our favorites was this 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 with a 427ci engine and four-speed trans (Lot F58). By the way, if you're into Tri-Fives be sure to check out this video.
(Excerpt) Read more at motortrend.com ...
Too late.
Chattanooga Auction was this past weekend.
All the vehicles were sold.
Dang and I just got another load of cans. Shoot.
Yep.
I was drooling over that Cougar XR7 (302).
I went to look for it on the Mecum site and found out I was too late.
I was interested in whether that 302 had been “Cleveland-ized”.
LOL! Some folks will have no idea of what you speak. The Galaxie 63 1/2 with the 427 had my eye. When my dad got transferred back to the states in mid ‘63 my mom and I went to her home town in the hills of Pennsylvania. The local ford dealer had a 427 dual quad 4/spd galaxie black on black on the show room floor. Dream for a 15 year old. It was gorgeous and sent me down the muscle car path for years to come.
I was intrigued by BOTH of those punched-up Camaros [Camaroes?], too.
I think the purkle one went for $130K+
That was a very expensive hobby.
My wife and I have purchased a total of less than a dozen vehicles in the past 35 years, including vehicles we bought for our kids. Nearly all were used. Our first new vehicle was a Ford Ranger truck that we bought when I was 30. Our last new vehicle was a Suburban that we bought almost 15 years ago.
It’s a good thing none of us were able to buy any of these gas-guzzlers.
Think about what it would’ve done to your ESG score.
I miss that car.
The one in the Firehouse was a 1968 model year like yours.
In the triacic period, new cars were introduced in the fall.
(You know this).
Early model-year cars were assembled starting in July, previous.
Walking home from school past the dealerships with wide eyes is a good memory for me.
Does that show up on ‘creditkarma’? Or experian? Oh, wait. At my age (level of ‘seasoning’) I don’t care much now. 😎😂👍
I read the earlier article on ESG....and realized every comment I’ve made today cost me points.
Oh well.
I used to work at a GM assembly plant many years ago. We could tell how much change would be coming to the new model year in the Fall by how long the shut down and retooling was going to be.
Not long before I enlisted in Uncle Sam’s Army I went to the local Oldsmobile dealer and drove a new ‘57 Olds 98 Hardtop Coupe which had the largest engine with 3 two-barrel carburetors on it. Clipp’s Oldsmobile, Dallastown, York County, PA, which went the way of so many others.
Loved me some Oldses.
Ping
Back from Japan and in my career, I eventully had two Olds Toronado diesels, an 81 and an 84. I travelled a lot in business, so I liked the diesels, but they eventually developed the problems GM diesels were noted for. I switched to Ford Taurus and had 3 of them, and then 3 Explorers, putting 200k miles on each one. My current Ford Edge has 175k on it. Since Ford has gone Woke I want no more of them. Prolly go for a Hyundai Santa Fe.
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