MN Farmer's Incredible Collection Of Classic Cars Will Make You Drool!
One of the hundreds of classic cars sitting in a Minnesota field:
Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!
This old boy knew what he was doing and he pursued his passion full tilt! A farmer in Minnesota named James Graham spent his life collecting and restoring classic vehicles...trucks, cars, tractors..it's amazing.
He never married and apparently had no heirs so his huge collection was sold at auction.
His property had sheds full of cars and then they were just parked everywhere all over the farmstead. All photos are from the auction house ads, the auction company is Van Der Brink Auctions at https://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/.
Check this out:
Mr. Graham completely restored Model A trucks:
And pickup trucks from the '50's:
Classic cars were everywhere you looked, check out this 1958 Edsel Pacer. The Edsel is known as having the world's ugliest grill. lol. It was Ford's biggest marketing disaster.
It was so ugly that sales fell like a rock and they were only produced for 2 years. But man, to have one now!
Here's a 1954 Packard 200. The body is in almost perfect condition and look at that hood ornament!
How about a 1954 Pontiac Chieftain. The body is totally restorable:
Look at this old Ford F-3. All of his vehicles were in great condition to be restored, this is a beauty, I'd love to have that. I'd put her back to work!
I'm not familiar with this rare one at all, it's a Studebaker Champion. It's gotta be worth some dough, the hood ornament looks like an airplane!
Here's an old Rambler:
A custom "Showbox" Ford from the '50's:
How about the tail fins on this Cadillac convertible from the 60's? The car looks mint!
Well, I could go on and on but you get the idea. There were an incredible 250 cars at the auction.
It's amazing that even the ones sitting in a field don't look rusted out. I think the long, cold winters of Minnesota cryogenically preserved them!
At one time he had 500 but he'd been selling them off the last few years of his life. He was 88 yrs old when he passed away and had been collecting since he was a teenager.
I'm sure his beloved collection will find their way into the hands of equally passionate collectors.
It's too bad that his life's work couldn't have been passed on to family members.
Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas
the gentleman redneck
Great post. Old cars like old people needs care and attention
Howdy there elviento! I agree, most people take better care of the old cars though! hey, what is a "life tester?"
I love classic cars aaaaand you added the rusty ones too!!!
lol! oh that's right, you love rust! lol. Yeah I agree though, the rusty ones are awesome too, you need one of those in your backyard!
WOW... this is lot of cars .... I want this what is on the first photo and on the last photo :) Very cool cars ... and I want go photography there all day :))
Howdy sir foxkoit! Oh that would be marvelous, you could create some wonderful photos with these old cars, good idea! I agree, the first and last are awesome!
Thanx 😀😊👌🌟🌟🌟
That Caddy is frign gorgeous! That F 3? You never see those.
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I'd love to have that F 3 and you'd look great in that big ol Caddy! lol. That was travelin in style.
Right? See me in a zoot suit all hat low in the red light district 😅
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lol! You're crazy sir enginewitty! But yeah I can see that!
😋🤗😯
Wow...!!!
@janton
Fantastic and most amazing collection of antique vehicles...!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the look of classic cars and trucks....!!!!
My brother attends an event every year where folks bring their old antique tractors and he has a couple of old ones he has done some restoration on..
:D
Howdy annephilbrick! Well they said that this farmer also restored old tractors but they didn't show any so I guess the cars were the big draw. Retoring antique tractors though, that would take a special skill, like where do you get the parts?
I'm so glad you like the post, there were alot more photos but I got tired of uploading them! lol.
Hey, @janton.
A farmer who never married, but collected and restored old vehicles. I wonder how often that happens.
It is sad, especially since the guy had a fleet of vehicles. He had a larger used car lot this most used car lots. With some really nice and potentially pricey cars and trucks.
Kind of makes you wonder what he was thinking all of those years. Farming, acquiring cars, restoring them. I guess he didn't have to worry about his wife telling him to stop, or wondering how he might feed and clothe the children.
lol! yes, that shows you what happens when a man doesn't have anyone to reign him in! They said he was "obssessive." I think so.
Yeah. His whole life being dismantled one vehicle at a time. No legacy left.
The more I go along, the more I'm sure that family, and posterity, is the only thing that endures. Statues, monuments, buildings, and so on, can all be torn down, but as long as the successive generation brings on the next, there will always be family lines running throughout all of time. :)
Very true and well said sir Glen!
Hi janton, did James Graham have any heirs? It would have been a good nest egg for someone. Would you be a secret car restorer yourself when you mentioned you would restore one of those beautiful old cars?
Howdy again anigemitchell! No, I don't think he had any heirs. That's my impression. If he did, they just wanted the money from all those beautiful old cars instead of keeping them as an investment. But I doubt if he did. No I have no skills in the area of restoration but I sure admire those who do it!
Lots of cars and he had no next of kin. Nobody to remember him
Howdy sir fredkese! Yes that was the only depressing part of the story. What a great legacy and inheritance he could have left for someone. Thanks so much for commenting!
Thank you for sharing
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That Minnesota field is home to many classical beauties @janton It must be Car Heaven for classic car lovers.
James Graham was one very enthusiastic collector wasn't he? Just as well that he wasn't married as his other 'girls' (on wheels) would have been very jealous. I get the impression that a wife would have cramped James's style and he knew where his heart lay.
Fabulous images of some very impressive vehicles........even the rusty ones. 😁
I love the rusty ones too and it's amazing that they all look very restorable. Yes, James had no one to reign in his buying and you can see what happens then! lol. 500 cars at one time! His fields were planted with cars instead of crops! Thanks so much for your wonderful and insightful comment.
Well, I've always liked classic cars because they remind me of my children
Howdy truelovemom! Classic cars remind you of your children because you had old cars when they were little?
They are also good times that it is always nice to remember. Regards Janton