SHE RUNS!!! -- THE NEXT EPISODE!
As you will recall, in the first episode Charlotte Mae (1932 Chevrolet Special Sedan) was removed from her cocoon in the back of my shop after resting on jack stands for 37 years. The vehicle is a “barn survivor” and she was purchased from her original owner way back in 1972. The car is all original and when her engine became extremely worn she was parked in the proverbial barn back in 1953. We drove the vehicle off an on after the purchase and then put the car in dry storage in my shop in 1974.
Fast forward to the present time: After removing Charlotte Mae from her dry storage in my shop and repairing everything that needed to be repaired, i.e. the shorted headlight wiring, the broken tail light assembly, the horn, getting her running, adjusting the brakes, changing oil and much more, she was ready to go on her first maiden voyage in 37 years. This was going to be a great experience!
What a better way to introduce her back into society than have a “face-off” with one of Chevrolets staunch rivals…….the Model A Ford! Hounded for months by the owner of a 1929 Model A Ford the date was set for her first road trip and for the “face-off” with her arch rival. The date….Monday, June 20th at exactly “High Noon”!
Prior to the competition the two vehicles met at the Junkyard Dog’s shop in Eagle Point, Oregon. Parked side by side an immediate comparison can be drawn between the two cars…..one, a “barn survivor” and the other a nicely restored driver. From here the two cars were driven to the place of the “showdown” previously selected several months ago.
Charlotte Mae led the way to the destination of the dual between the two cars, with the Model A following close behind. You can see from the smoke depicted in the above photo why Charlotte Mae received her recent nickname of “Old Smokey”. Besides, what is more appropriate than a Ford following behind engulfed in a cloud of smoke from a Chevrolet? The smoke that you see here is real and there is actually more “blow-by” bellowing out of the breather tube under the hood as well!
The site chosen for the “face-off” was an old historic house owned by Mr. & Mrs. Junkyard Dog. The location is about 7 miles from home and the house was built in 1870 making it 141 years old. Called the “Wood House”, it is named after the man that built the structure….Marvin Sylvester Wood. Old Marvin was a Civil War veteran and he was wounded and presumed dead during the Civil War. Found on the battlefield still alive three days later, he was nursed back to health and in 1869 he moved to Eagle Point, Oregon from back east and he built the “Wood House” a year later.
Rejuvenated back in 2001, the “Wood House” is open to the public by appointment and on special occasions. Here in Oregon, a house that is 141 years old is pretty darned old, while back east this house would probably be considered fairly new. The “Wood House” is the most photographed and art-painted house in the Northwest and there are photos and paintings of it all over the world. Thus, this place was chosen as a perfect site for the much anticipated “face off” between the Ford and the Chevrolet.
Also on site, among a host of cool farm equipment for the enjoyment of visitors to the old house, is this 1950 Chevrolet farm truck.
Upon arrival to the “Wood House” the two rivals were parked nose to nose in the front parking area and the “face off” began! Though similar in appearance, the more chrome on the front end of the Chevrolet definitely stands out.
After numerous photos were taken of the two cars, the vehicles were moved into the yard on the grass in front of the house and once again the “face off” continued.
The comment was made that Charlotte Mae looked more “natural” at the “Wood House” than the Model A Ford because of her dilapidated condition……her condition matched the house perfectly!
This is a natural setting to display the two old cars. However, the vehicles are young when compared to the house which is 59 years older than the Model A Ford.
“He did it!!.....No…..he did it!”
That is the Junkyard Dog on the left and George Rambo (he owns the ’29 Model A Ford) on the right. Yes...."Rambo" is George's real name!
Continued...
