My car was put away for decades after the owner died. I found no mechanical reason for doing that. In your experience do most future classics get permanently parked just because no one wants to drive it?
They spent to much for it and dont want to get rid of it. But they want to drive something else so it sits.
Or for my car. The owner actually inherited it from her parents in 76. She did not drive it. But did not want to sell her parents car. So it sat until she died.
I think there are likely 100's of possible reasons and they are all made easier to justify if there is basically a 'free' storage option. I say free in quotes because maybe there is some sort of a trade deal in place and nothing is truly free.
Where it gets more curious is when you hear about cars that sit for a long long time where someone is making regular storage payments. I'm not talking about the person that has a large collection of what ever and the car is just part of it I'm talking where they are renting a garage or parking space specifically for said car and it sits for years or even decades in that state.
Mine is parked not because I don't want to drive it but because I unfortunately do not have the time to drive it. Hopefully that will change soon. Prior to my ownership, it was parked for decades because the engine had seized.
Old people cant drive anymore and don't want to get rid of it.
Family car handed down.
An All it needs is new tires, I'll get to it someday project.
Many many reasons.
Im just glad they do.
I have had the same story for the last couple-three 1966-68 Fleetwoods I purchased.
The grandpa gets sick and his pride and joy gets parked in the garage....a few years later he passes away.
His son doesn't want the car and his grandson doesn't know what end of a screwdriver your supposed to hold, so he doesn't want it.....
Then I buy a well cared for car from them that needs anything rubber to be changed.....Tires, hoses, belts etc...clean out the gas tank....maybe change the fuel pump and wala...A nice solid Cadillac is ready to go and be enjoyed.....
I think somewhere that grandpa is looking down and smiling, his baby is back on the road!
Mike
A couple of years ago I became aware of a '59 convertible that a guy had gotten for his wife many years ago. About 25 years ago, it needed a brake job, so he parked it in a small barn on his property, and took the front wheels off. Then he got preoccupied with some other cars (he had a bunch) and other projects. never getting back to it. A few years went by and his wife could no longer drive. Then she passed away. He didn't want to sell it, but never got around to fixing it, so it stayed in the barn until the gentleman was too old to fix it and needed to sell the property. Unfortunate that it sat for so long, but I understand that it is now roadworthy.
Yeah I understand how it goes. Beyond my LaSalle and 5 other cars, I still have a 1985 Lincoln Towncar which I purchased new. It had been in storage for 15 years. Got it out 6 years ago and drove it about 1,500 miles. Then parked it in my hangar. Sold my airplane, over a year ago. Gave up the hangar where I had three cars stored along with the airplane. Now the Lincoln sits under a carport near my house. Haven't driven it in a year. It was my first "luxury" car. Just cannot let it go.....41 years and 257,000 miles later.
Old guys and their old car,
Bob R.
That's one reason all my projects are little ones. Im afraid that if I get the card too blown apart, I would never get them back together.
I sent a letter to the estate of the original owners offering to share the car if any family visited Colorado. I figured they might like to see/drive Grandpa's car for old times' sake. No takers.
My family always love having a loaner for their visits (not the Cadillac 8) ).