As a sometime recipient of donated vehicles, I am entirely familiar with
your scenario. In some cases there is even a certain amount of jealousy and
resentment towards the vehicle, along the lines of, "The old man loved the
car more than me." In one instance, the "old man" himself was bound and
determined to avoid his son ever owning the car, and he donated it just
weeks before his death.
It is worth while to note that indeed "my" very own Imperial is really the
property of the Texas Transpiration Museum. It was donated, along with half
a dozen cars, while the owner, failing in health, was still among the quick.
Three of these vehicles were Imperials. All were four door hardtops. The
fate of the 1957 is an absolute mystery to me. The 1962 surfaced on e-bay
last year and sold for a respectable amount. I am informed that the only
reason the 1958 stayed at the museum, which in the mid 80s had fallen on
hard times, is that no one wanted it. I can accept selling weeds and
keeping the flowers. Of course, perspective is everything.
In conclusion, I met with the family of my car's original owner. His niece
and nephew to be exact, since he and his wife had no children. At a car
show, the nephew brought along his grandchildren, three rambunctious kids
under the age of ten at the time. They had fun clambering into their
great-uncles car, although the connection was probably lost on them.
Hugh
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