Slightly OT- Mixed feelings about selling Dad's T.

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Slightly OT- Mixed feelings about selling Dad's T.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 04:08 pm:

I've been advertising three of my late father's Ts locally over the summer. Mom and I felt it would be best to try to keep them local, just so we might see them on tours in the future, knowing that this would bring a lower sale price than advertising to a national audience.

Well the first of the three left for it's new home today. It went to a nice, local fellow who has been into antique cars for many years and finally gave in to the urge to own a "modern" '12 Ford Touring. I'm really glad that the car has found such a good home. I know that it will be well taken care of and I'm sure that I'll have the opportunity to share the road with it on tours in the future. But, it was still kind of tough for me to take it out for a short drive this morning before the new owner arrived to pick it up, knowing that it was likely the last time I'd ever drive my father's favorite of his Model Ts.

In coincidence that would have made my father proud, I gave my neighbor, his wife and her father their first rides in antique car, letting them tag along on my last little drive. One of the few things that Dad enjoyed more than going for a drive in a Model T, was sharing the experience with others.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 04:19 pm:

Hi Eric - We share your sadness.

It's kind of like when your youngest kid goes off to college and the house now is quiet, really quiet.

Also right up there is when your youngest starts Kindergarten and Mom has to watch him or her get on the school bus and ride away.

All you have left are the memories.

To help the rest of us, could you please post a picture here...maybe one of you giving your friends that ride?

These are phases we all have to go through. Others are when your parents die, first one, then the other. At the funerals it's nice to see everyone, then, afterwards, it's really over.

Again, all you have left are the memories.

A picture will help all of us, and remember, we share in your sadness.

Best wishes,

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 04:51 pm:

Actually, I think the only feeling of sadness that I have over the transaction, is that it's another reminder that I'll never share any T time with my father again. I did have the luxury of deciding which of his cars that I would keep. I couldn't keep them all, so I settled on the one that we restored together and the one that he was working on, but never finished. The '12 was the one that I was most on the fence about because it's a very rare and desirable Model T. I opted to go with my wife's judgement and let it go, because the only way for us to afford it, was to sell our '14 (which we drove on our honeymoon, making it very sentimental to her) or to give up my dream of buying a two-cylinder car.

I'm very happy that the car has found a perfect new home and I look forward to building a friendship with the new owner.

As for memories, I'm truly blessed to have shared so many hours getting skinned knuckles with my father. We loved tinkering and we loved driving. Over the years, we did plenty of both, from the time that he taught me how to put the chain back on my bicycle, to the times that I taught him how to use a wire feed welder and a bead blast cabinet. Over the years, the child grew and the student became the teacher. But, we always enjoyed talking things over and trying to decide the best way to tackle a new problem. I'm looking forward to working with my wife and kids to finish the '15 Runabout project that he started ten years ago. Hopefully, we'll build fond memories that the kids can hang on to, after The Lord calls me home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 05:33 pm:

Keith, here's a shot of the car parked next to Tim Kelly's Model K during the NLNB pre-tours back in August. That was the last official tour that I had the car out on. I never advertized it here, because I couldn't bear to watch the Model T police rip it to shreds over the updated '15 coil box and questions about whether or not Dad should have been arrested for loving a '12 with natural-finished spokes, white wall tires and an Anderson timer.

Perhaps, you'll consider bringing your '14 over for the pre-tours next year. I guarantee that you'll have fun. This year, there were half a dozen Model Ts running the pre-tours.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 06:08 pm:

Hi Eric - Thank you for the picture. Ya, it looks like a very nice car. Those few updated mods don't bother me. Actually, I think we all have some of them on our cars. I know I have a few of those type of mods on mine.

I have the NLNB pre-tours on my bucket list....it will happen one of these years.

In the same way, you have to put the Old Car Festival in Dearborn on your list! I can also guarantee that you'll really enjoy the OCF. Did you watch the 48 minute video that Dan Booth posted? If you haven't watched it, you should.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 06:27 pm:

I tried to watch the video, but my screen got too blurry from the drooling. :-) The OCF is definitely on my bucket list. My wife and kids want to go too. I just don't know when we'll be able to work it out with it happening right at the beginning of the school year. It would be really tough to yank my kids out at that time and I wouldn't have as much fun going there without my family.

Another bucket list item, is to drive a 100 year old car to the top of Pike's Peak. My '14 is old enough now and my '15 Runabout project will turn 100 in February. We'll see what happens.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Burger in Spokane on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 06:34 pm:

My ex cried for a year and a half over her mother's passing. I just don't get it. My old man would beat us kids and it was no loss at all when he croaked out. I only wish I had had parents that gave a sh!t and find it odd that those who lose a GOOD parent focus on the loss rather than be grateful for they incredible blessing/s they got and that they didn't end up with a Dad like mine.

Thank your lucky stars for everything you have and some things you were fortunate enough to avoid. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 08:02 pm:

Eric,

You are so lucky to have had a great father. While the car is hard to part with, you know everything he shared with you is always yours to keep.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 08:15 pm:

Burger, I don't know if your comments were directed at me, but I'm at peace with my father's passing. The Lord gave me a wonderful, 48 year relationship with him. I'm truly blessed to have the memories of that to carry with me for the rest of my life and to use as a guide to help me raise my own children.

My main point in initiating this thread was to share some of the emotion that goes with finding a new home for a car that was important to my father.

The car is in very good hands and I take comfort in knowing that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lance Sorenson, Hector, Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 08:34 pm:

Eric, when I think of your dad, I think of the time I gave him a ride in the Pierce Arrow from Spicer to New London. We took the opportunity to chase after Rob's K, so I could pass him! I later heard your dad enjoyed it. However, Now I am reluctant to bring the PA back New London since I hear Rob has all the problems ironed out! I might loose the pink slip.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Hjortnaes, Men Falls, WI on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 09:21 pm:

Yesterday at Road America I took an older gentleman for a ride in my Speedster. We drove through the paddock and got a lot of interesting looks. When the man was younger he had a T with a Fronty and wished he never sold that car. All I can hope is that I made his day that day.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dean Dorholt - Mpls, MN on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 09:34 pm:

Eric, I can assure you your father it smiling down on you for your decision and knowing that the car could not have gone to a finer person. I know the new owner well and he told me he was going to buy a 12 a couple of weeks ago an it took me 2 seconds to figure out what car it was.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 10:44 pm:

Dean,
You are correct, Sir!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 07:03 pm:

I suggest have a brass plaque made with your Dad's picture and name and city rivet it to the firewall as a historical piece


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gilbert V. I. Fitzhugh on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 11:50 pm:

David, that's a wonderful idea! There are many of us (I, alas, not among them) who have cars our fathers drove and loved for many years. A plaque like the one you suggest could keep that father's name with the car for many years to come. It could also remind everyone in this hobby that we're all just caretakers.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - 01:26 am:

Eric-
I see that the car is a step-side body car. Do you recall the body manufacturer or number? Is it a fore-door car?
-Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Burger in Spokane on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - 10:22 am:

Eric ~

My comments are more general. Too often we lose sight of gratitude. Seems to be the American Way these days. We are all SO lucky to BE Americans and don't even know it. Spend a year in AFG or Ivory Coast or Uzbekistan and it all becomes clear.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDaniel(Indiana Trucks)Star City In on Saturday, September 20, 2014 - 12:55 am:

Eric,

I know how hard it is to let that car go. I still have my Dads truck and a few others I will never sell.

On a side note, that 12 was the body style I would love to own some day and might have considered if it were within my price range. I passed on the other 12 touring that was for sale after seeing it and knowing it was the right year but wrong car for me. Maybe someday........


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Saturday, September 20, 2014 - 09:11 am:

Eric.

Thank you for sharing that part of your life’s story with us. I’m glad you were blessed with such a great Dad. I’m sure the times you spend with your kids rebuilding the 1915 will be fond memories for them in future. I know for me many of my happiest memories were working on or riding in Ts with my Dad. Not just when I was a young boy at home. But also much later when Dad could no longer crank the T but he still wanted to go for a ride with me when I came home to visit. Those good memories are one of the major reasons I hang onto to many of the tools we used together and several of the cars we enjoyed together.

I’ve found that sharing some of those good, bad, or even bitter-sweet moments with others on this forum has been helpful to me. Not that the folks here could necessarily change things for the better, but it is comforting to know that so many of them care. They often understand so much better than many of my friends who have never owned a T and seem to wonder “why doesn’t he sell that old car and get something newer?”

I’m glad your Dad’s T will still be local and you will be seeing it on tours etc. I hope when you see it on the road it brings back the many good memories you had together.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Saturday, September 20, 2014 - 12:14 pm:

Thanks, Hap. As usual, your comments are thoughtful and relevant. You seem to understand exactly the sentiment that I was hoping to share.

I couldn't keep all of Dad's cars, so I picked the ones that had the most sentimental value to me and chose to help Mom sell the other three. I'm very thankful that Dad's favorite found such a good home.


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