I have always loved automobiles
-- almost ALL cars, but particularly "Classic Cars"... the older ones that bring back great memories.
I drive my Classics regularly, attend my car club's events, go to as many Classic Car shows as possible and
am webmaster for my car club's website... I own a 70 & a 78 MGB and have recently owned a beautiful customized 50 Ford,
an all-original-restoration 50 Ford, a 50 Ford "project car," and a 68 Mustang... and a large collection of diecast car models
entrepreneur exec consult Barnes auto car customer relation manager grand child kid personality
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Ford 1968 Mustang 1978 MG MGB
1950 Ford Sunliner
A Life-Long Interest in Cars:
An Early Interest in Automobiles: When I was about six or seven
years old, my dad almost bought an old Ford from the very early 1900's (the first one was produced in 1903).
All through my boyhood, my dad would "shop" for used cars, ocassionally buying one, quickly fixing it up, then selling
it for a profit.
When I was in the sixth grade, I memorized the makes, models, engine options, available color combinations, and prices
of every single U.S. auto manufacturer -- then I drew pictures of every single one of them.
Although I've forgotten most of that detail, I still recognize cars from the 50's as good or better than most people
from that era. A great deal of America's excitement and pride about itself was tied up in its automobiles back then.
My 49 was similar to this 50
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A 1949 Ford Started My Driving Experience: My first car back in the
50's was a 1949 Ford. My Dad bought it for $85, and we worked all summer re-building the engine. Dad was always
a perfectionist, so it was some re-build job: Bored, stroked and balanced.
Like most teenaged boys, I drove it hard. He had no idea what I did with that car. I could turn 55 mph in
first gear and 90+ mph in second.
He drove it to work some and let my older brother and I have it after about a year; then, when I was a junior in high
school, it became mine.
I drove it through high school and until I got married in college. By the time I sold it in 1964, it was a bit
of a mess - a clicking reverse, three different colors, an army blanket for a front seat cover, a light switch under the dash
to turn on the ignition, and a wire with a wood handle hanging beneath it to open the driver's door - but it ran like a scalded
dog!
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A 1956 Ford Was My Next One: My next car
was a red & black 56 Ford Fairlane exactly like this one (I found this picture on the internet).
I took meticulous care of it: I had just finished installing custom red & black
upholstery with silver piping, new whitewalls, and lots of extras... when a drunk hit it one night in front of my house.
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My First NEW Car Was a 1966 Chrevrolet: 1966
was the year of what was probably the most elegant Chevy Impala... long, sleek, semi-fastback, and very aerodynamic.
I factory-ordered one with the 283 V-8 and overdrive. It was dark blue with black interior -- not practical for steamy
hot northern Louisiana, but beautiful.
On a straightaway I decided to see what it would do (this was back when I was quite young and immortal)...
it was still accelerating rapidly at 127 mph when I chickened out, not wanting to risk my life any more just to see how fast
it would go.
32 Chrysler; 37 Cord
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Cars Tend to Last Me a Long Time: Over the years, I've been frugal about cars, driving them for years, but I've always loved
them.
A Wide Variety of Brands: I had also owned a 55 Oldsmobile back in
college and a 59 Ford Galaxie 500. After
the 66 Chevy, I bought a new 67 Buick, then moved on to a 71 Pontiac, a 68 MGB, a 74 Mercury Marquis Estate Wagon, another
Buick, a Ford station wagon, a Nissan, a 79 Buick, an 80 Oldsmobile, an Olds wagon, an 87 Starcraft custom van on a GMC 2500
body & chassis, a 98 Chrysler Concorde (a delightful car), and a Chrysler PT Cruiser - another truly delightful, fun,
and very "hot" car. About half the time, we buy new cars; just as often, we buy good, low-mileage used ones.
Fords: '57 Thunderbird and '55 Fairlane
Click Picture to Enlarge
Several '50 Fords
Click Picture to Enlarge
A Collection of Model Cars: I have a large collection
of model cars, ranging from a 1903 Ford up to a 2004 Jaguar "S" Type. Most of my models are from the 50's, though I
have some in the teens, a good number from the 20's & 30's, and a few from the 40's. I also collect photos and books
of older cars.
Jaguar "S" Type
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32 Cadillac Phaeton
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The Cars I Admire Most: I tend to like cars that have strong classic looks and which are
well engineered... far more than the "status" autos. Thus, I really admire the Jaguar S Type, a modern MG/TF (sold
in the rest of the world, but not in the U.S.), and the Chrysler Concordes and 300's... but don't care for Mercedes nor BMW's.
50's Jag
After 17 Years of Trucks, Back to Cars &
Classics:
Vans & Pickups Forever: We bought a custom Starcraft van on a 3/4 ton GMC
body in 1987 and drove it for 157,000 miles. Then I got a Ford Ranger pickup. While these served their purpose,
I got tired of trucks... and ready for Classic cars again.
Barry with their Chrysler
Click Picture to Enlarge
PT Cruiser
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Recent
Enjoyment of Chrysler Products: Liz enjoyed her Chrysler Concorde so much that we replaced
it with another Chrysler, the PT Cruiser - which is very hot, will pass anything on the road, is very roomy, handles exceptionally
well with its ultra low-to-the-road profile, has a firm European 60's sportscar feel, gets 33 mhg at 75 mph, and is a
LOT of fun to drive!
Liz' PT Cruiser at our Triana Townhouse Complex
My "Odd Ball" - A 1941 Ford Ferguson Tractor: I restored my 41 Ford
tractor in 1997 and used it about 10 to 20 hours per year to scrape fire breaks around my farm and to dress up the ditches
on my driveway.
A Marriage of Two Sets of Existing Technologies: Henry Ford wanted
a tractor to complement his offerings and to meet the needs of an, at that time, expanding agricultural economy. He
teamed up with the Ferguson tractor company, using their transmission and body, and added his famous 40 hp engine. The
9N was the result of the marriage. It was succeeded several years later by the 8N.
Links
of Interest
We're Active in a British Car Club: In 2005, we joined the Reno
MG - All British Car Club and have really enjoyed it. We have monthly car meets & picnics, attend car shows, an
annual all-day Progressive Meal, a "white elephant" Christmas exchange, periodic special events and day outings, and lots
of fun. To learn more, just click the waving flag or the link below it:
An Important Realization: I restored my 1950 Ford between 1978 and
1980 - only to allow it to gradually deteriorate to a condition worse than it was before I started. I started restoring
it again in the fall of 2003.
After working on it off and on for a year, it suddenly dawned on me that, while I used to enjoy working on them, I don't
really enjoy restoring these old cars any more... I just love driving them!
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New interior from England
A Love of MGB's: I
had a 1968 MGB back in the early '70's.
That car was a great pleasure to drive on the winding, hairpin-curved mountain roads in the Sandia Mountains
(the Spanish word for "watermelon") in northcentral New Mexico near Albuquerque and the Sacramento Mountains (Spanish
for "sacrament") in southern New Mexico near Alamogordo and White Sands.
For years, I've dreamed of owning one again. They're just such FUN cars to drive.
My current 1978 MGB Tourer
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MGB's Disappeared from the US: MG's were no longer
sold in the U.S. after 1980. Every since owning mine, I've admired every one I saw... and there are still a lot of them
on the road.
In May of 2004, I was in England and discovered that they were still being made there -- I talked with
numerous owners and rekindled my love for them.
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A Like-New 1978 MGB: In July 2004, I bought this one
in Michigan from the original owners. It was in perfect condition, having been garaged by its owners as a weekend "fun"
car.
I drove this one cross-country at 70 mph. It performed great, getting between 28 and 33 mpg
and was very peppy.
The dash and ragtop were like new, but one of the seats had some damage. I painted it in
August 2004 in Spitfire Red (red with just a slightly orange cast). In July 2005, I re-upholstered and re-carpeted it.
Priceless Value: MGB's in the condition I bought this
one in go for about $6.500 to $7,800, according to the Mannheim Gold Book (which values Classic autos) - I paid a lot less
than that.
With the improvements I've made, it should be worth considerably more than its original valuation, were
I to sell it... but to me, it's priceless. When Liz and I put the top down and take it out on the road for one of our
many weekend "adventures" or for a Reno MG - All British Car Club event, nothing can compare with the fun and enjoyment of
this fine British motorcar.
Barry's customized 50 Ford
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A "New" 1950 Ford: Given
the realization that I wanted to drive them instead of restore them, I found a beautiful '50 Ford that somebody else
had already spent many thousands of dollars and years restoring and customizing.
It ran great and did NOT have an army blanket for a seat cover, no light switch,
no wood-handled wire door opener, no worn-out paint, no clicking reverse gear! In fact, in the summer of 2004, I towed
another car for 1200 miles with this workhorse.
Blind Faith: I bought this one sight-unseen in
Iowa and drove it 2,500 miles cross-country. It performed beautifully, getting an average of 22 mpg at 70 mph -- almost
unbelievable for a car built over 50 years ago.
Memories of the Past: Everytime I got into this
beauty, the look and feel and smells took me back to fond memories of 1958 through 1964 when I owned my 1949 Ford (those model
years were virtually identical), except for the fact that this was the one I dreamed of owning back then, even to
its maroon & charcoal color scheme.
I Sold My 1950
Dream Car: With its mildly customized look, great paint job, and custom interior, it's the car
I dreamed of having when I was a teenager. I drove it for two years, then sold it after we moved to Reno - where we
live in a townhouse with CC&R-mandated in-garage parking... with our eight cars, some had to
go! Although I was sad to let go of it, I thoroughly enjoyed owning and driving it AND I sold it to a guy who loved
it as much as I did.
Buying & Selling Classic Cars - Ones I Have Recently Sold:
Back to the Cars I Love:
In 2004, I started buying and selling the old beauties that I love so much. This way I get to rescue them, do a little
fixing up, drive them a while, then sell them to someone else who loves them.
The ones I have recently sold include the following:
Click to enlarge
1950 Ford Original Restoration: This car is in extremely
nice shape. Can be driven as is to shows or for ocassional use; with about $500 of work, could be driven cross-country.
It may well have sold by the time you read this, but it's an example of the kind of autos I buy and sell. It was painted
in August, 2004 in Candy Red. It has a lovely light gray velour interior and lots of extras.
The Mannheim Gold Book (which values Classic autos) rates 1950 Fords in this condition go for about
$6,800 to $8,300. I sold this one in November of 2004.
1968 Ford Mustang: This car is in extremely nice shape.
It has a beautiful new interior, brand new paint, new brakes, new 289 V-8 engine, new electronic ignition, new transmission,
and new radiator.
1968 Mustang
Click to enlarge
The Mannheim Gold Book (which values Classic autos) rates 1968 Ford Mustangs in this condition
go for about $8,000 to $12,000.
Another 1950 Ford: In
1978, I bought a '50 Ford in Abilene, Texas from the original owner. I restored it with a beautiful custom interior
and a metallic blue paint job. I drove it for several years, then parked it outside -- the worst thing you can do to
any automobile... much less a Classic Car. Water leaked into the interior and molded the expensive custom upholstery.
Leaves molded on the paint job and ruined the paint. Fortunately, I had prepped the engine and radiator prior to parking
it.
It sat for 19 years until the fall of 2003, when I started restoring it again. I hired a mechanic
to work on the engine and mechanical systems. After replacing the points, plugs, condensor,
and such, the engine started on the third try! After working on it off and on for almost a year, I decided that what
I really enjoyed was driving these old beauties... NOT working on them!
I listed it on the internet and soon a young buyer came along who had been looking for a '50 Ford to
customize. I had found the ideal buyer: One who loved the old cars and wanted it as much as I wanted it to have
a "happy home."
See a variety of Classic Car and modeling WebRings & websites at the
Entry Portal - just click on the picture or the underlined
link above.
Click to go to Website
Here are some truly
great scale models - I have almost 200 of these in my own collection (from the small 1:43 to the authentic 1:32 to the very
detailed 1:24 & the huge 1:18 size)... and now I'm offering them to others.
NOTE:
If any pictures fail to display, place your pointer over the "picture placeholder," right-click, go down
the drop-down menu to "Show Picture," then left-click that item; the picture should display. If not, click the Refresh
button on the toolbar at top.
![w-bb-cars-04jag-sdvw.jpg](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.mindspring.com/~barrybarnes/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/w-bb-cars-04jag-sdvw.jpg&target=tlx_new&title=Jaguar "S" Type)
