I was born in 1938 and I grew up in Maysville, Oklahoma. Ever since I was a kid old enough to remember, my uncle talked about wanting to buy a 1931 Ford Model A. Here’s the story about that memory….
Around 1931, there was a doctor that lived in Maysville — Dr. Taylor. Apparently sometime during the year of 1931, Dr. Taylor died — only a few months after he had purchased a brand new Ford Model A Roadster — complete with a rumble seat.
Doctor Taylor’s wife never learned to drive, and the car remained parked in their garage after the doctor died. Mrs Taylor continued to live in Maysville for many years (I’m not sure if she died there.)
Anyhow, my uncle was the butcher in my dad’s store and Mrs. Taylor came in at least every week to shop. Several times every year — for almost 30 years — my uncle asked Mrs. Taylor if she’d like to sell Dr. Taylor’s car. Her answer was always no, not yet.
Finally, sometime around 1960 (I’m not sure of the year) my uncle said, “well, Mrs. Taylor, are you ready to sell that car yet?” And Mrs. Taylor said, ”yea, I think it’s time.”
When my uncle asked about the price, she asked if the amount the car cost in 1931 would be too much. My uncle explained the he was willing to pay much more than the car cost in 1931. But Mrs. Taylor said that no, she thought the original price of the car would be fair — I don’t remember for sure, but I think that was about $1,200.
So around 1960 my uncle became the owner of a (almost) new 1931 Ford Model A Roadster. The car had less than 1,000 miles on it. Of course, sitting in a garage for 30 years or so, it needed new tires, battery, fan belts, etc. — but it still looked brand new, the upholstery was dusty, but not worn at all and it had the original owners’ manual in the glove compartment.
Needless to say, my uncle was thrilled — after he put new tires, battery, etc. on the car, he was the “talk of the town” tooling around in his spiffy new car.
The purchase took place after I had left Maysville, but when I went back to visit, I usually got to drive Uncle Ralph’s 1931 Model A — complete with rumble seat.
I don’t know what happened to that car — I asked a number of times, but never got a satisfactory answer.
— 30 —