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p38arover
22nd March 2011, 08:11 AM
Shamelessly stolen from the Stromtroopers forum:


If you dig cool garages and old tools (and who doesn't, really), or inspirational stories in general then you might dig this. On the surface, its the story of how a gent named Thomas Payne brought a 1930's auto repair and welding shop back from the dead through sheer hard work and determination; underneath that it is an extremely rewarding story with many twists and turns and off-topic meanderings into unexpected subjects such as bee keeping and anvil restoration, but above all a very impressive and wide-ranging story about touching the lives of other people and what was best described by one author as "restoring automotive soul" (I read that as "mechanical soul").

No kidding, be warned, this is possibly also one of the HUGEST threads ever, as it's currently over 100 pages and over half a million hits...for good reason, since it's quite a read. So without further ado:

Restored 1930's Auto Shop - The Garage Journal Board (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php't=51567)

Some of my favorite highlights: How after having purchased the property and while restoring it, the wife of the former owner/operator (Virgil) was allowed to remain in residence on the property, until ultimately passing away at the age of 97...and the tale about Virgil's name tag that's related around page 24 of the thread. Like I said. good reading.
Hope you enjoy it!

Restored 1930's Auto Shop - The Garage Journal Board (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php't=51567)

Scouse
22nd March 2011, 08:58 AM
No kidding, be warned, this is possibly also one of the HUGEST threads ever, as it's currently over 100 pages and over half a million hits...for good reason, since it's quite a readDo you want to pick out the good bits & post up a condensed version for us?


Pretty please :p.

bblaze
22nd March 2011, 08:59 AM
Thanks Ron. you just ruined my day:)
cheers
blaze

Marshall
22nd March 2011, 11:50 AM
I just saw the before and after pics, and I love it! I love the way that he has kept a lot of the original items and restored them too, like the vehicle lift, the Pepsi can dispenser and several tools just to name a few.
Stuff dreams are made of!

Scouse
23rd March 2011, 08:41 AM
I had a look at the site at home this morning.


I don't like it. I thought it was going to look like a proper 30's garage but instead it's been way, way over restored & just looks like a modern replica of an old garage.

It's like coming across a barn find Austin 7 that's been tucked away for 60/70 years. All it really needs is a bit of work to get it back on the road again but still keep the patina of the original car.
Instead, you strip it down, change the motor for something a bit more modern, fit a new replica body shell (maybe a boat tail), change the trim then call it a restored car.

If you read the Motorfest write up in the last NRMA magazine, the car that attracted the most attention on the day was the barn find vintage car (sorry, I don't have the details).