Fresh out of the barn, amazingly complete and rust-free example. This car may have had only three long-term owners. Purchased new on July 25, 1940 from Jones Sales Company in Gordon, Texas by Charles C. Hamilton of Palo Pinto County, Texas. License fee in 1940 was $8.10. Mr. Hamilton kept the original license receipt and every year thereafter through 1968. There is also a Texas State Inspection for 1952. All these records will become the property of the new owner. In 1968 or 1969 Mr. Hamilton may have sold the car to a Mr. James E. Long of Hurst, Texas. Although I was able to obtain a mailing address, telephone number, and an email address for a James E. Long, I was not able to verify that Mr. Long was the only owner from 1968-1991, when the ownership transfers to Mr. Gerald O. Hill, of Lubbock, Texas, whose name was on the title I received when I bought the car, which also listed Mr. Long is listed as the previous owner. Despite several attempts to reach Mr. Long, I have not received an answer from Mr. Long or his heirs. The State of Texas maintains vehicle owner information for only ten years. Mr. Long obtained a title March 8, 1991. I bought the car from a barn in Lubbock where it had been stored for many years. Mr. Long still lives in Lubbock but is suffering from one of the memory diseases so could not talk to me. His wife does not remember the car. Mr. Hill registered the car in Lubbock County four times (1992-1995), after which the car probably was placed on blocks for storage. Mr. Long's registration cards are included in this sale.
When I bought the car, I replaced the battery, gas tank, blew out the gas lines, replaced the fuel pump and the carburetor. The car started right up and runs very smoothly. Although I was able to bleed the brakes and get a pedal, I decided to take it to Keith Fox, a car restorer in Lubbock, who replaced the master cylinder and rebuilt all four wheel cylinders. Keith could find no rust in the car, but did find one area on the lower section of the right rear fender that might have been body worked at some point in the car's history. Keith believes that the car was repainted the factory black color sometime in the car's past. Some of the glass is bubbling but not cracked. Windows roll up easily. Dash is complete, including the radio with the roof mounted antenna. The odometer reads 60,393, but I cannot verify that as the original miles. Could be. Grille and bright work trim are very nice. Car still has what appear to be factory wooden covers for the tool storage compartments in the trunk. Spare tire is in place and holds air. I have no idea about the age of the while wall tires. I replaced the tube in the left front. None touched the ground for 24 years that the cars was on blocks. No disappointments here. This one is about as original as they get.
Since the listing first appeared, the seller removed the covers on the trunk storage compartment to find that the area is rust-free with the drain holes clearly visible. Inside the compartment, wrapped in carpet what is likely the factory jack, lug wrench, the tool pouch with a couple of screw drivers and assorted tools. There is no heater in the car but I have a period-correct Allstate heater that is now included with the sale of the car.
