12 Family Cars and Trucks Restored Decades Later, Like Grandpa’s Car Dad Bought Back After 30 Years

“This truck has been in my family for 60 years”

My grandpas and then my dad’s who intends to pass it on to my oldest son. It’s not entirely done yet but it’s been 20 years in the making. Growing up I’d call it the camouflage truck because there were so many layers of rusted primer and paint, it didn’t run for about 15 years and when it did we’d have to get out and push it just to get it to the gas station. It’s finally been restored and now he takes it out every weekend for a drive and doesn’t come home until he gets 3 thumbs up from random people.

The running joke is my dad never finished a project in a normal amount of time. We expect it’ll be complete in another 10 years 😅

“On 12/7/1963 my Grandpa drove it off the lot. Today we picked it up from the interior shop. It’s done! The car that made me fall in love with cars is finally done!”

He picked his options and placed the order in November of 63

When I first showed any interest in the truck he told me that I could just have it, but I would have felt guilty if I didn’t pay him anything for it. I asked if he’d at least let me give him $500 for it and he said, “Well Faye (my grandmother) and I are going out to dinner tonight and that’ll probably cost $32 dollars, how about you just pay me that.” I’m just glad to keep the truck in the family! I’m sure he’ll be happy to see it returned to its previous glory!

“Dad tracked it down and bought it back after 30 years”

My grandfather bought this in 1980 in Sweden and sold it around 1988.
My dad recently managed to track the car down and bought it back, and parked it in the same spot at my grandfather’s house where my dad lives now.

He managed to find a photo of the car where he could see the license plate and in Sweden the license plate goes with the car when it changes owner, so he checked the Swedish car registry and found the name and city of the current owner, luckily a quite unique name, so he could search for the phone number.

the photo is the same day he bought it, quite good condition but not mint , he plans to restore it further :)

“52 years later”

This picture always brings me joy and little bit of sadness. It was my grandpas first truck. We have been in the process of restoring it.

“My farm truck is almost to its former glory”

Grandpa bought this old 10 new and used it as a farm truck. It is still used as a farm truck but now it doesn’t creak and groan! Just gotta get the bumpers redone!

Gramps wanted it to look original so we kept it as stock as we could.

Gramps paid $2300 for this. Around $18-19k of todays money. Crazy to think about!

It is a farm truck/daily driver. It is suppose to sit high! We aren’t turning this into a show truck or running 1/4 miles. It’s mission is to haul hay for the horses, put up fences, and go get tractor parts!

“my grandpa just handed me the keys to his 33 yr old daily, and told me to have fun. It needs a grocery list of parts and tlc, but I think I can handle it.”

the water pump went out on it, and he just didn’t have time to fix it, so it has been sitting in his backyard for about 2 years

My grandpa drank coffee everyday, and that car ain’t got cupholders.

All of the dirt and coffee I pulled out of the car with a carpet cleaner.

He pilots paragliders, motorcycles and he delivered the game ball to a football game on a paraglider.

“Joining my dad’s garage soon, my grandparents’ wedding car.”

It’s unfortunately sat in a pole barn for a lot of its recent life. Needs brake work and a very through detail, but it’s overall in good shape. I’m excited for it to come back to life and be driven again and take it to shows with my father.

It was a family car for a while until they parked and protected it for probably the last 40-50 years or so

10 years ago, my wife and I drove away from our wedding. he called me and asked me to help him move some things. The only thing he wanted help moving was the title — he gave me the car and said that he and Grandma wanted me to have it. It was so special to me, a kindness I never expected. I confirmed with his son’s that it was okay as I didn’t want to step on anyones toes, and with their assurance, I went to get it.

His house and barn is about 1 hour away and it took some effort, but today, I was finally able to bring this beauty home.

Yesterday he gave me a stack of photos that he has taken of the car over the years.

I live in Tulsa, which is considered the capital of route 66 which is celebrating it’s 100 years this year. One of the things that’s happening is a car show parade. There are currently a few hundred cars registered and I’m going to register this too.

“My family heirloom.”

This car would be the last possession I’d ever sell.

I think my soul would leave my body if I ever had to get rid of it...

“Gonna be a long costly restoration but I love this car it was my grandpas daily”

I believe the original owner bought it new and my grandpa got it from a junk yard in the 70s

Ima try my absolute best I’m 28 and still have my first car I got at 18 its hard for me to sell a car once you get attached

“How it started versus how it’s going”

From Grandpa’s project to mine

Figured blue would go with the interior better