It's not very often that you have the opportunity to
view and chance to potentially own a gem with charming
history such as this (see 1975 Newspaper article about
Miss Webb below).
Purchased brand spanking new by Miss Jessie Taylor Webb
on 10/21/1939 at Hull-Dobbs-Kensinger Co. in Memphis
Tennessee for the tidy sum of $741.16 (see original bill
of sale below). She faithfully, protected, maintained
and drove to work for 36 years. She parked it on
Claybrook just south of Poplar, the Tennessee Department
of Employment Security were she had worked at for over
37 years...
The 2nd owner Mr Rex Gray saw the car one day and
followed Miss Webb to her place of employment, he told
her how much he liked her car and mentioned that if she
needed any help with parts or maintenance, he would be
glad to assist... For 15 years,
she would call and Rex would always rush over to take
care of the problem. In 1986 when she decided she could no
longer drive "Old Faithful", Rex was 1st in line. Rex
brought it home and disassembled this rock solid specimen for
restoration/modernization where it sat unfinished for
many years while he continued to stack up parts. His
wife Joyce had given up on Rex ever finishing it, when
all of a sudden he got inspired and finished it sometime
in 2002 (see resto photo's below).
The current 3rd owner purchased her in 2007 and it
remains much as he acquired it with only a few minor
changes. Noting that the seams, spot welds, floor pans,
door bottoms, trunk tool-well and body are the
best originals he has ever seen and that includes me. A
great Street Rod that you can drive with a wonderful
story to tell. The rest is history... will you be the
next? If you have been looking for a good solid 40', Get
away from your desk and Don't Miss This one!
Warming Note: When Miss Webb passed away at 85 she left
a gift from heaven of $500,000 to Rhodes College. |
