WWII Vet Selling Off His Rare Ford Collection

“When you get older, you get more money, you can do things. One thing led to another,” noted John Van Buiten, a World War II veteran with an affection for classic Fords.

The 93-year old has spent decades amassing a collection of early Fords, thousands of miniature toy cars, vintage license plates, gas pumps, and oil cans; having transformed his garage in Wyckoff, New Jersey, into a bona fide automotive museum. But according to Fox News, sadly most of his collection has got to go.

Earlier this year, Van Buiten’s wife, Hester, passed away after 65 years of marriage, prompting John to decide to sell his home and his automotive treasure trove. He has since moved into an assisted living community and though he and his family have parted with some items, he affirms that not all of his valuables will go.

One such collectible is a toy truck that he gave to his son for Christmas in 1954, which at the time cost $18.75 – quite the pretty penny.

At one point, John owned 15 classic Fords – many from the ‘30's – though now his collection spans just six models. It includes a 1938 Ford V8 Deluxe Roadster, a 1911 Ford Model T, a 1931 Model A, a 1936 Ford sedan, a 1929 Ford mail truck (one of only 400), and a 1936 Ford Phaeton (the exact color and model as one given to President Roosevelt).

All of them still run and many of them have been driven in local parades and rented out for weddings. Just don’t turn up to John’s place in a Chevy. “If you had a Chevy you didn’t come in my driveway. You park out on the road,” he remarked in a Fox News interview.

Source:  thevintagenews.com