Posted by Marty [50.68.51.62] on Wednesday, August 06, 2014 at 12:22:06 :
I just got back from looking at a real cool old 1949 International KB8 that's for sale down near Portland. The owner is an 80 odd year old chap that's owned the truck & trailer for 20 years & hauls his 3 big International tractors to the tractor & steam shows with it.
Boy I like spending time talking to these old guys...that's gonna be us in a few more years...you know?
This guys only selling this big beast because it's getting to be a "bit much to handle at 80" :)
Sheesh...it's a handful for me at 50 :)
This guy's a retired aviation mechanic & man...he knows his stuff. He had so much neat stuff to look at...I can't begin to describe but he had several operable radial airplane engines all mounted & made to run. Then he had a 1928 Henderson Four motorcycle that's 100% original other than he's meticulously rebuilt the engine. He's owned it 62 years! Needless to say...I couldn't talk him out of it...I tried to work a package deal but he shut me down but quick :)
Then he had a 1950 International 1.5 ton he'd installed a 6BT & a vintage motorhome on the back....friggin beautiful. Says it'll run at 80mph all day long...it's his daily driver!
Then he had numerous steam engines....A super cool military dune buggy with a 200hp VW Bug engine called a FAV ?? "Fast Attack Vehicle?" Huge guns attached to it...looks like it was off the set of Mad Max! :)
Love talking with these guys....makes me feel better about heading towards 80 :)
Refreshing & sad all at the same time knowing that we're just not grooming our youngsters anymore to have any useful practical knowledge other than how to operate a cell phone, computer or the RC for the TV.
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