Thirty Years Down the Road
It seems strange to write this, but thirty years have passed since losing my Dad. That’s half my life. Naturally, he’s been on my mind more than usual. Many of my memories revolve around him being a “car guy.” So, what better way to pay tribute to him than to write about two of his favorite cars, how they affected his life and how they can still drive life lessons for his family today.
Dad was fond of cars long before my siblings and I came along. One of his favorites was a 1934 Ford 3-window coupe that his older brother had bought in the 1940s. When his brother was drafted and sent to serve in WWII, he asked Dad to take care of the car until he returned. As fate would have it, his brother would not return. Teenaged Dad was crushed. He did his best to keep the car, but as responsibilities with his growing family mounted, he eventually had to sell it.
In the mid-60s, Dad bought a 1937 Dodge convertible with a rumble seat from Universal Studios - for $75.00! The car, which had appeared in the vintage TV show Amos ‘n’ Andy was nicknamed Kingfish after one of the characters.
After buying it from Universal, Dad rented it back to them for use in a movie called Finian’s Rainbow, starring Fred Astaire. In one scene, Mr. Astaire crashes it right into a tree while singing! The studio repaired it and returned it to Dad, good as new. Finian’s Rainbow premiered in October of 1968, and Dad took Mom to the movies to see it. I imagine it was a rare date night for them.
That seemed to be the end of Kingfish. Years passed. The car just sat in our garage. Paint faded. Cobwebs and dust settled in for the long ride going nowhere. When I was a kid, I would ask what he was going to do with it. He said that one day, after all his kids were grown and he was retired, he would restore it to its original condition. His dream was to enter it into a car show and win an award. Then he would sell it and buy a 1934 Ford 3-window coupe to restore in remembrance of his brother.
So, life happened, all of us grew up. Dad retired and put his car plan in motion. He worked meticulously on the car, doing as much of the work himself with as many original parts as possible. He was almost done when life took a turn for all of us. In July of 1996 he was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away three months later.
With a few upgrades left, my brother completed the restoration and in October of 1997, a beautifully restored Kingfish was proudly entered into a car show. It took 2nd place in its class and received a plaque that Dad would’ve been proud of.
Where some saw junk, my dad saw potential. When I thought the car had reached its end, he had a plan. When my mom wanted it towed, he was practicing patience. And when she thought he was spending too much money on it, he saw the value of investing in a meaningful goal. By waiting until after raising his kids, he was prioritizing his responsibilities as a provider. All these traits would come into play at key moments throughout his lifetime. Traits that I would grow to admire, love and carry with me for at least thirty years down the road.