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My dad collected cars and automobilia since he was a kid. Since he was born in 1927, that amounted to a lot of cars and "stuff". One of my favorites was a 1940 Master Deluxe 2 door sedan he bought in 1975 and sold sometime while I was in the Army (1987 - 1994).
Here's her story. A salesman with Malcolm Brothers Chevrolet (Belle Plaine, Iowa) decided the purchase a black 1940 Chevy Master Deluxe 2 door sedan from the sales floor because he was sure that the impending war would limit automobile production soon. He put the car away in a concrete garage and did required maintenance on the rare occasion that he drove the car. Although availablility of cars did become somewhat limited, the lack of income did hurt his plan of quick returns. So, he held on to it until 1975 when he sold it to my dad. Still all original except for some paint repair in ~1977 from a small underhood wiring fire and later in around 1980 dad had someone repaint all four fenders. The fender repaint was a terrible job and dad always regretted doing it. Today, the paint on the fenders is absolutely the worst part of the car.
My dad was a member of a local antique auto club here in Iowa and I spent nearly every late Spring, Summer, and early Fall in the back seat of that car. We would participate in almost every parade, car show, and club cruise. I loved that car. The smell, the sounds, and the ride. There was nothing else like it.
Sometime during my time in the military, dad sold the car to buy something different. I never thought that would happen....but it did. In 2001 when my dad died, I had lost track of the car and began looking for it. For almost 10 years, nothing. No trace. Then, one afternoon in 2012, I was driving in an unfamiliar part of my town of ~25,000 people and turned around in a driveway. The garage door was open, and there it was! I tried to buy it on the spot, no dice. I kept trying over the years with no luck. Then in 2019, I read the obituary of the old gentleman who I was trying to buy her from. He was unfortunately a victim of Covid. After almost 3 years of legal issues with the estate, I was able to make a deal with the family and I brought her back into my family this past July.
As soon as I got her home I started changing fluids, checking bolts, and letting her run for small periods of time as I made sure she was safe to drive. I was pleased to find out that all fuel had been drained, brakes had been completely serviced, and she was stored with no weight on the suspension in a climate controlled setting by two different owners spanning almost 30 years. The bad? Not much really other than a dent put in the driver's rear quarter and fender by another car in the owner's garage and some other issues I'd say would be expected for a car her age.
My plan? Fix what needs fixed to be safe and roadworthy - I don't want to hurt her, and I don't want her to hurt me. I want to drive it like it was supposed to be driven and just enjoy her.
I was pleased to find a group of guys that seem to have the same feelings toward these cars as I do. I look forward to being able to lean on you guys for information and support, and I hope to be able to do the same for you all!
