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What would you do?

caspian65

Member
A friend of mine recently passed away. He was an older gentleman in his 70's. He was kind of like a Dad to me when I was in college. He owned an auto repair shop in Raleigh, NC and helped me keep my '78 MGB running back then. We ended up restoring a '67 MGB roadster together around 1992-1993, which we both drove and had some fun with.

Around the late 90's, he closed his shop and took the car out to his farm, which is about 100 miles away from Raleigh. We very rarely talked or saw each other after that. Since he has now passed, I feel a lot of sentimental value tied to the '67 MGB, which he still had. I never really knew his wife or other family very well, so I'm not sure how to go about asking what their plans are with the car. I did go to his visitation at the funeral home this past Sunday to pay my respect. His wife did remember me and said that my friend Don always looked forward to my Christmas cards every year.

I would appreciate any advice on how to proceed. Obviously, I would pay a fair value for the car, I wouldn't expect to get it for free. Unfortunately, when I saw it this past weekend, it appeared as if it had not been driven in more than 5 years. At least it was stored under a shelter, but it has deteriorated somewhat.

I did find a pic of the car, taken in 1993... boy was I a young'in back then!
http://www.early-mustang.com/charles/67_mgb.jpg

Thanks for any help!
 
Since you do have her snail mail address maybe a letter is what you need to do. Maybe a sympathy card with a little note as to how you felt about your friend and regrets not keeping in closer contact. Maybe even send the very pic that you posted here and what fond memories you have of that time. How much you really loved that car and if you do decide that you want to sell it and it had not been promised to someone else that you would be interested in buying it. That you want it to keep and not to sell to someone else and saying it in a very tactful way. fd
 
You should send her a letter stating your condolences. Maybe a couple of sentences about your friendship and what the car means to you and that you would be willing to pay fair value for the car in the event she would lie to sell it.
 
I agree with FordDude and Sluggo. Put together a nice letter written along with a print of that picture and put it in the mail ASAP.

She may prefer to sell it to someone who really cares about her husband and the car for sentimental reasons.

Cool story. Let us know what happens.

Whatever you do, don't delay.
 
Charles:

I suggest a slightly different approach, when writing to the widow to express your condolences, rather than focus on what the car means to you, express how much working with her late husband on the car meant to you and how much you value the friendship that grew from that common endeavor. Then close by offering to help with finding the car a good home if she later decides to sell it.

Regards, Jeff
 
Thanks fellas. I typed up a nice letter to send. I basically explained how much Don meant to me over the years and how special restoring the car was with him. I closed by saying I would like to get the first opportunity to buy the car if they decide to dispose of it.

Thanks again, it helped a lot!
 
Good luck Charles. That is a great Brit sports car. It does belong with someone who has history with it.
 
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