Local man collects classic cars
TYNDALL – Harold Stevens’ basement and garages are dedicated to his hobby of rebuilding old cars.
“I enjoy working on them and taking them from nothing,” he said.
The bulk of his collection is different versions of the Ford Model A. He has several unique ones including a Model A31 pickup convertible and a limousine he built for his girlfriend Donna Felton. He also has a delivery truck that required a lot of detailed work.
“I made all this woodwork out of Curly Maple,” Stevens said. “They’d drive around to different towns in these and sell everything from fruits to pots and pans out of them.”
A Ford Model A Sears and Roebuck Tractor also is part of his collection.
“You could farm with this and then head to town,” Stevens said.
He even has a Bonnie and Clyde car.
“If I get one more, I’ll have all the Model A styles they made,” Stevens said.
Ford made its Model A from 1927 to 1931 to replace its Model T. According to corporate.ford.com, by the time production of the Model A ended, more than 20 million Fords had been built and almost five million of them were Model As.
“I’ve always liked them,” Stevens said. “The Model T didn’t run as fast. The Model A could go 55-57 (mph) right on down the road.”
It takes him a couple of months to build his cars, but the length of the project all depends on if he has everything he needs to put them together.
“I make parts for them,” Stevens said. “I couldn’t afford it if I didn’t do it myself. Everything has to be right though, or I won’t put it on.”
While he’s traveled out of state to find some cars, Stevens also has discovered others not far from home.
“Sometimes your next door neighbors will have them stuck in old barns, but they are all rusted when I get them,” he said.
The poor condition of the vehicles, however, doesn’t bother Stevens.
“I take all the bolts out, sand blast them, paint them, put new upholstery in and get them back on the road,” he said. “They all run.”
Stevens’ collection also includes a few other vehicles, like his 1955 Crown Vic.
“When I bought it, it was in boxes,” he said.
People routinely stop to see Stevens’ cars and even call to ask for advice.
“We have a guest book in the basement for them to sign and have had people from all over including Germany and Arkansas,” he said. “They just tell someone who then tells someone else.”
Just this past weekend, Stevens had a Ford Model A club come to take a look at this collection.
“It’s nothing to see 50 people come down the driveway,” he said.
Stevens is 78, but he has no plans to turn people or cars away anytime soon.
“I still work every day,” he said. “I’m out here from daylight to dark, seven days a week.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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