Wow!
WOW!
Bill, this car looks a LOT different than the last time I saw her! And MUCH better! You forget what a good cleaning will do, as well as some hubcaps, red lights etc.
I guess it's sort of like a human finally taking a shower, shaving, combing their hair, and then putting on some clothes. If you have not done any of those things for - what about 25 years? - you'd look a little different after you did too! This car looks a lot better that the first time I saw it in November, and even better than the 2nd time I saw it, which was the last time it was in Idaho in late January.
Iknow, I have been away from the website for a many months. But as you may have read, Bill Leverett contacted me in November to go look at the 73 Lifeliner he recently bought.
Ironically, in addition to my full time job as a Marketing/Advertising Director for chain of lawn, garden, and pet stores in the Boise market, I also teach college 2-3 nights per week for Boise State University (yes the school with the football team that BEAT TCU in the Fiesta Bowl this year, and then beat Oklahoma and shut down Avery Peterson several years earlier in the same bowl game).
One of the places I teach at is Mountain Home (about 45 minutes from Boise). There is an Air Force Base there with F-15 Fighter jets, and I teach a required Speech/Communication Course that most of the the Airmen dread. I work well with them, and help get them through the class,tI have made friends with a LOT of people in Mountain Home.
In November when Bill called, my 12-week Mountain Home class had just ended earlier that month, but I made a special trip over to Mountain Home for Bill and shot 80+ pictures of the rig...inside and out. I then put him in touch with my mechanic (a former Cadillac dealer service tech/mechanic for 20+ years). I don't think he ever could get them to let him look at the car. They were cooperative with me and tried to start it but it wouldn't turn over. It looked pretty rough, but was certainly worth saving.
My latest Mountain Home class then started up January 19th, and in the class is a guy named Mark Allen who owns a 1969 M-M ambulance (painted black right now). Mark says it came from the Seattle area. Mark and I became fast friends and exchanged Pro-Car books, and Mark has brought his rig to class twice now.
Near the end of January at our 2nd or 3rd class, Mark told me the 73 was parked in a residential neighborhood visible from the Freeway. Of course, I drove right to it on my way home from class and looked at it. It was dark, but I could tell the rig had been cleaned up a LOT. It looked like it was awaiting transport to Bill.
Sure enough, the very next week it was GONE (I drove to Mountain Home early check it out BEFORE class), so I knew it was on its way to Bill, who had told me he needed to take possession of it before Feb 1 as recall due to some import issues.
Also in my class is the daughter of the Founder of the Elmore County Historical Society, and I have told her I know the guy who bought the rig. Pehaps we can get Bill some more information on it, and they can write a story on Bill's new rig "then" and "now."
It is AMAZING how many ambulances and hearses have come from IDAHO (and Eastern Oregon). I probably need to write to all of the counties and funeral homes in the state and ask if they know of any that are for sale, or have one they want to sell. I have read over and over about the many beautiful pro cars that came from Idaho. I LIVE in Idaho and have bought 3 or them so far!
So if you know of any you want me to check out, I'd be happy to do so. I have urged Mark to become a PCS member, and will work on him before class ends. After all, I decide what grade he gets!
Regarding Bill: I was delighted to help him and to be able to return the MANY favors he has done for me. When I bought the 1970 Pontiac hightop that Matt Taylor now owns, it was Bill that supplied me with many of the parts to get it back in to shape. He also sent me a cot bar for my 66, and has just been very encouraging. He is right...belonging to this club has many benefits, and biggest of which, are the friendships I and my family have made over the last 11 years, and the help and free parts, brochures, and manurals etc., I have received from fellow PCS members.
I wish I had more time to devote to the hobby, and in fact I tell my boss at Boise State I have to keep teaching, to "support my ambulance habit."
So far, I am in hock up to my $#@!
Art in Boise
(45 minutes from Elmore County...I'll be there Tuesday night)!
