( THE 53 FORD STORY ... )

A Story From The Maine Road Magazine

Story by K. Peddlar Bridges aka The Hot Rod Poet. photos by Peddlar ...

Two things Maine seems to have it's share of -- Old Cars and Back Roads. And if you head down through Waterboro, Maine and take the side road off Rt 202 that leads over to Rt 5 you'll ride right past the Getty Station and if you keep a close eye out and your luck is holding, you'll notice an Old Car or two in the Station's side yard. Hopefully you'll have your camera with you, but , if you don't, still stop and look anyways and if your anything like many of us, these cars will bring back a flood tide of memories.

Seeing these old cars parked in a side yard for sale is different from seeing them sitting in a line at a car show all spruced up. It brings them and many of us back closer to our roots. Back when these Old Ford Cars and Chevy Pick-ups and Mopar Sedans sat in Filling Station side-yards all across America.

The first time I ever drove by Jim's Getty Station in Waterboro I had taken the wrong turn heading somewhere else. As things would be, it may have been the wrong turn, but it ended up being the right road .. for me anyways, Because as I drove past Jim's Getty I spotted a Black 53 Ford parked in the side yard. I've always had a thing for 53 Fords.. When I was a teen they were the dime a dozen cars. You could buy one for next to nothing ... drive it into the ground and then buy two more cheaper than the price of last one. As they say ... "Too Soon Old ... Too Late Smart." When I was in my youth 53 Fords were the Cars to Hot Rod, Customize or Nose and Deck. The 53 parked in Jim's side yard had a six cylinder engine with a three speed standard tranny. The reason it most likely had survived the late 50s, early 60s fate of being Hot Rodded into the ground or cut-up into a Stock Car for the round and round ( they go ) track, was because it was a six cylinder. I've always found the owner of Jim's Getty and the folks that work for him friendly and polite and because of this I always keep an eye out for any interesting old cars he might have parked in his side yard. And Jim's Getty Station's owner always seems to have a few of these old cars around. In fact, I probably could stay busy just writing stories and features on the old iron that drifts through his shop.

Recently while I was taking a side trip down the side road ... I noticed a sweet little blue 53 ford sedan sitting in the Getty Station's side yard. I Stopped! Checked it out! And promissed Myself that the next time I'd bring my note-book and my camera. The next time .. I drove by ... The 53 was gone .. my heart sank. But, the good news is! .. the 53 was now parked a few hundred feet further down the side road at the owner's father's house. This time I had the camera ... the blue 53 Ford is a Two Door Sedan with a straight six cylinder engine with an automatic transmission. Again this six cylinder .. automatic tranny combo is most likely the reason it survived the 50s .. early 60s for no self-respecting Hot Rod dreaming teenager of that time would have wanted to be stuck with a straight six slush box combination .. it would be like putting a new cow-poke saddle on one of the ponies on the merry-go-round at the County Fair. And even though this 53 Ford was a six-auto checking it out .. looking at the dash and wrapping my fingers around the steering wheel was like a stroll, arm and arm, with an old sweetie down memory lane.

Well once again the 53 Ford is gone. But, we do have the story and photos to remember it by. The Getty Station always seems to have it's fair share of old iron and the owner seems rather good hearted, so we hope that there will be other stories and other cars from Jim's Getty Station in our future issues of Roadpoet eMagazine. Right now there are several Old Chevy Pic-Ups in the filling Station's side yard ... But, those are for another run ... down the Maine Road. Until then Best Miles ... Peddlar.

1953 Ford Tudur Sedan ...
Photos by Peddlar.

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