brandon:am really proud to have you as a member. if we had a couple thousand more young'ens like you, the future of VCCA would be guaranteed. welcome, mike PS i love the 57 150.

I am glad to see your pictures and read your stories. My Mom & Dad were married in 1927 in Seminole OK. My dad was sleeping under a big oak tree (it was June an really pleasant weather0 He and mom rented a couple of rooms and set up housekeeping. All they had was amy Dad's job as a tool dresser and a one year old 1926 Chevrolet roadster, which he traded for a new Oakland roadster after Mom ran the 26 Chevrolet off of a bridge, learning to drive. He then traded the Oakland for a new 1929 Chevrolet Coupe, It was the cat's meow, with a manifold heater and an exhaust cutout. We have pictures Dad took of the Oakland and the 29. My uncle had a restored 29 coupe and my wife got to drive it around the driveway back in 1982.
All of these stories are neat to have in the family archives. My wife just received a family genology book of 675 pages, that her cousin had published, traceing her family back to 1500 in England.

Hello Brandon I think all of us in the VCCA are glad Bill Barker was smart enough to invite you into the VCCA and we are looking forward to your photos and story in the G&D and what you will contribute to the club. I would like to wish you and April and family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday

Brandon, let me join in the warm welcome to the VCCA. I loved reading your story. Taking your grandmother back to the place of her childhood was such a neat idea. What color was your gramps 37 coupe? If it was black it probably looked pretty much like my 38. Welcome again, take your hat off & stay awhile.

Your experiences and the family history are exactly why so many of us are VCCA members. It is the preservation of history and the small contribution that Chevrolet vehicles contributed to it. I can't imagine anyone of the 8000+ VCCA members that won't think of some of their family history when they read your post or upcoming article(s). The '57 one-fifty two door sure brought back memories for me. I bought one from a college buddy back in the early 60s for $ 50. There are many stories about that car that bring back fond memories. Of course yours is in far better condition than mine.

That is an amazing tribute to the past, thanks for sharing it.

Brandon, This has been a great thread. I have enjoyed seeing your photographs and reading your story as well as the many posted comments. You are a credit to the VCCA.

If you list some of your mechanical needs for the 29, I'll look and see if I have anything you can use. If I do, I'll send it free of charge and postage. I don't think I have much that far back though. We'll see.

She's just beautiful! (You and the cars don't look bad either.) Your grandmother looked beautiful as well and has become grand lady. (From the picture, it appears that your grandfather was a true gentleman, in that it looks like he may have placed a towel or something on the fender for your grandmother is sit on. I bet he even opened the door for her as you probably do for April. When I do that for my wife nowadays, she asks "What did you buy for the 41 now?").

I, too, hope your picture(s) and story are published in the G&D.

My best to you, April and your family and have a Merry Christmas. Charlie

P.S. I wish you good luck in the acting career.

Wow, once again I'd like to thank everyone again for the very warm welcome and especially Bill Barker.
I just received my membership packet in the mail. I'm looking forward to getting to put the sticker on the window. (I'm wondering if it's typical to put it on the windshield or if it goes on the side windows).
Haha, I do quite often open the door for April. One benefit of the '57 having no seatbelts is she likes to ride in the middle, but I eventually plan to install them, preferring safety first (what little lap belts provide, i guess).
41Deluxe: I truly appreciate your offer. My grandfather's car was a '29 and mine is a '31, however this group has already offered so much I feel as though I have accepted too much already. My main concerns are to get the '31 in shape to drive as much as I can after the winter season. The aftermarket carb leaks excessively and must be set at 1/2 throttle to not die. I hope to fix the window channels as the tracks are missing, causing the glass to rattle in excess and the windshield does not roll up or down. My first concern, however, is the water pump. I rebuilt it and an older fellow here in town helped me rebuild it (I got the kit from a fellow here) but it leaks quite badly, even when still. I'll try to deal with that shortly. Eventually, I'll need to replace some kingpins to fix the death wobble and one day I hope to get a luggage rack for the back because the car came with the chest to mount on the back. Even with winter only half over I already miss getting to drive the car into town. My friend gave me a heater for the car, however I believe the heater is from a car from the 40's. My car already has holes in the firewall form a previous heater and I'd prefer to put an original to the year style back in... there's no way i can bare to cut 2 more holes in the firewall.
These are the two pictures I'd mentioned earlier. This is 1939, right after my grandmother and grandfather were married on the square in Franklin, KY. The 2nd picture is my father in front of their old peddling truck from when my grandfather owned and operated his general store. This particular picture showed their GMC rather than the Chevrolet, so I'm not sure if it is of interest to this group, but I thought perhaps GMC was close enough perhaps.
I have scanned other pictures and have more if anyone is interested. My grandmother had an interest in keeping many many photo albums over the years and unfortunately (but luckily for me) no one else in the family has much interest in them. There are quite a few pictures of chevrolets (and other cars) among the albums. Unfortunately, sometimes in part I can't tell the different between some of the cars in the later 30's. I was born in 1981 and most of my knowledge only went back to 1955 until just the last couple of years. I'm sure the different is night and day to everyone who knows the difference so I apologize for my ignorance... I understand, because I can't understand how someone can't tell the different between a 67 and 69 camaro.. haha.





I typed up the story for the pictures. I spent about 3 hours writing it all out and probably got carried away in the process so whoever gets it can edit it down to what is needed. Should I send that to an email or a PM here in the group?

Thanks,
Brandon Garrett

Here's just a few more I happened to have here from what I scanned. I think the last one may be a Ford.. but I can't tell... if so...sorry for the sacrilege...earlier to mid 30's vehicles are still newer to me and I'm still learning.


I found it interesting he had a '37. That had been my favorite year for a long time. I had looked at them a lot before I got the '57. When I met April she said she had always loved cars from the 30's and 40's and said she loved their class. After going to a few car shows I was surprised to hear her say '37 was her favorite year (I had nothing to do with it, really). So she decided one day when she gets an old car it'll be a '37 4 door. I really like how my grandfather's even has a few dents, making it seem like a reliable car that truly got used. I really wish the car was still in our family.

Brandon,

Let me know if you need any help with your 31, if I don't have the parts I will be able to find them.

Unlike you I had the benefit of growing up in the VCCA and all these great people to teach me what the difference was in the cars. It is great to have someone to add to my age group, sub 40 even though I’m knocking on that door. Now if I can just get some of my other friends with Chevy's into the club.

Also has anyone noticed the 28 Chevy in the background of the first picture?

Bruce

Yep, I saw it!

Yup, sure did and also the Fleetline behind the GMC too.