Pop Fueled My Passion

My Grandfather owned an ice and coal delivery service in North Philadelphia. My Father quit school after ninth grade to help with the business, being the youngest of seven, he was the last to join the gang. Of course, they had to maintain all the vehicles, so, I guess that’s where my Pop got his start into various mechanical   things. His first car he bought for 5 bucks, it was a 1929 Nash, with  a bent axle. When he and my mother were dating, they would drive the Nash down the Blackhorse Pike to the Jersey shore, shaking all the way! They used to keep a can of tar in the back shed, to brush on the family Model A soft top when ever it started to leak.

My parents married at the young age of 17, I am the youngest of seven. My father went to work for Container Corporation of America, where he languished for 46 years. He was the man everyone went to when the machines would break down. Despite only having a 9th grade education, my father is one of the smartest people I know.

I remember the late night illegal cruises in unregistered cars. He would throw what ever plate he had laying around the garage on the  car and off we went. In particular was a 1938 Packard sedan he picked up for 50 bucks, with a seized engine. Naturally Pop had it running in no time. He also brought home a 1941 Packard sedan from the same estate, which turned into his daily driver.