Elmer Collins resigned himself to watching plenty of television and not getting out much when his wife, Erma, passed away two years ago. They had been married 63 years, and she not only was the Lima man’s wife, but his best friend.
“I’m 86, and I simply didn’t have anything to do,” Elmer said.
Seeing his father that way bothered Gary Collins, 64, of Marion. He felt something needed to be done. But what, he wasn’t sure.
The answer came when Gary was attending a car show. Gary owns a 1965 Ford F150 and had been taking it to shows for about eight years.
Elmer recalled, “My son called me and said, ‘Why don’t you buy an old car and we will go to car shows together’.”
It was the perfect gift from a son to his father.
Elmer heard about the atmosphere at local car shows and the friendships often made, so he decided to look for a car. He knew exactly what he wanted.
“I retired from Ford,” he said, “so I am a Ford man.”
And the Ford of his dreams has always been a 1963 Thunderbird. The car came out the same year that Elmer began working at the Lima Ford Engine plant. He figured that was the closest he would ever get owning one.
Now, over 50 years later, his son’s idea changed that.
Elmer began his search for the car 14 months ago. He was only four hours into his hunt when he hit the jackpot. He spotted a 1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau near Columbus on Craig’s List. He sent his son to take a look at it. Gary called and Elmer and told him it needed some mechanic work, but otherwise the body was in great shape.
Elmer told his son to buy the car.
“There was a 62 cam in a 63 engine, so it had chewed it up a bit,” Elmer said, “It needed some other work, and I am particular about the mechanics of a car. I want to be able to get in it and drive with it running like it is supposed to.”
With the exception of the air-conditioner, the vehicle has now been completely restored. Collins was now ready for his first car show. That early Father’s Day gift happened a week ago in Kenton. There will be plenty more shows after that.
“I have won a few awards at shows, but it isn’t about the awards to me,” Gary said. “It is fun to sit and watch people and get together with buddies. This will give us something to do together.”
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