Thread: The last hot rod..........

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.........he'll ever build.

Twenty plus years ago I got the itch to build a ’32 3 window coupe. I looked for a good steel body for some time without success and decided to go glass. At that time there weren’t very many folks building that style body, and even fewer that had a reputation for quality. I narrowed my list down to Downs and Gibbon. One day I called Jim Downs, we talked for awhile, and then I asked if there was anyone in the Seattle area who had one of his bodies in the raw that I could look at to see the quality for myself. He said he had a customer who had recently bought a ’33 3 window body and gave me the guy’s name and number. Coincidentally his name was Bob also, and surprise, surprise, he only lived about a mile from me. We agreed on a time to meet at his garage and life went on from there.

Turned out we had some very similar views on things in general, hot rods in particular, were about the same age, and well, just hit it off pretty well. Over time we’d end up helping each other with car and house projects. He encouraged me to do the “long” haul to Pleasanton……..even convinced me to sell my car while we were there even though I hadn’t planned on it, didn’t even have the title. His line when I said I wasn’t sure I wanted to sell at that time was, “well……then ask too much!” Not sure I’ve done as well percentage wise on any car before or since.. .

His skills were much greater than mine, though on some things my eye was better than his. Actually ended up as a pretty good “team”. He was a wizard with unique dash designs, and could make an updated engine look period perfect in a car. One of the biggest laughs we had was with a ’40 Ford sedan he put together with a small block chev engine. He put Oldsmobile valve covers on it, with an Olds aircleaner. It looked great, but the real payoff was when one guy looking at it said “Geez it’s nice to see an Olds engine in one of these for a change”. He was wearing an “Oldsmobile Club” jacket…………….you’d have thought he’d known better!!

Somewhere along the way our both being named Bob made for some confusing moments, so I came to calling him Bubba. As you might expect, he started calling me Bubba as well…………….so much for ending confusion! Even better, we nicknamed the wives “Bubbaette”……………..somehow they didn’t see the humor in that.

When we met he was working as a field rep for PPG. During one of our conversations he was lamenting how tough the body shop business had become, and how tough it was for the shop owners to make a living. The conditions he described didn’t sound so much as awful to me, but rather that most of the operators weren’t very good businessmen. My thought was……………….”sounds like an opportunity to me!” and what do you know. About a year later I was in the business!

Shortly after that he decided to move on in life and relocated about 150 miles away. He even conned me into driving the big moving truck since he’d learned I’d done some of that in my youth. Even though we were many miles apart we still stayed in close contact via phone, then email, and occasional trips back and forth to do car events.

A few years ago he developed a tumor on the bottom of his stomach/top of the intestine. Because of the high number of blood vessels involved it was inoperable. The doctors wouldn’t give him a prognosis for life expectancy, but it didn’t sound good. They tried a number of treatments, some worked for awhile, others didn’t. As the tumor grew and became more intrusive in is physiology he worked up his “Bucket List”. We spent the last couple years working off the events and locations he’d enumerated (not sure I’d ever have made the time to get to Bonneville if it weren’t for him). Fortunately he maintained a good attitude through it all and we had great times along the way.

Just over a month ago it all finally caught up. The treatments, the loss of white blood cells, the pain, it all took its toll and he spent the last 4 weeks of his life in hospice care. He didn’t go down without a fight.

Well meaning folks will often kindly say something like “I’m sorry for your loss”. Well, I prefer to see it in a different way. I’m glad to have had the chance to earn his friendship, share the good and the bad, learn from him, and grow because of it all. I feel no loss, only gain.

In his final couple of years he needed a distraction and something to help give him purpose each day. He chose to build a ’32 Roadster. Sometimes it was hard to get the work done, but other friends near him pitched in whenever necessary. He almost got it done in time. The last of the work to make it drivable was done a week before he passed. Sadly, by then he was too weak to take a last ride as I wish he could have. But the car will remain a tribute to his skill and passion for hot rods. For now his wife plans to keep the car as one of her mementos.

I’ll miss you Bubba, but you’re in a better place……no more pain, no more worry……..and just maybe endless fields of vintage tin. Wouldn’t that be great!!

Some more of the process:

Thanks for sharing a wonderful part of your life and Bob's life with us. Really good friends come along so very infrequently and it sounds like you two shared a lot of great times and memories together. I know you will miss him tremendously, but as you said, you have been enriched beyond compare by your close friendship. My condolences to his Wife and loved ones.

Don

Went through that and had many of the same thoughts when my old pal Don died last winter, Bob... Sure do miss him, but I gotta believe that my life was better for having known him. Quite sure you feel the same way towards your pal!

Bunch of us got together last Saturday night before the circle burner races started and Don was the main item of conversation but strangely there was little sadness but instead a lot of laughter about what all we'd done with Don involved over the years.

Good friends always leave us with good memories!


RIP Bob--The world is a better place just because you were here!

Duplicate post deleted

If we're lucky, we have a friend like that. I have two, and they're both still around (knock wood). Unfortunately now, both are almost 6,000 miles away.

That, Bob, is a very thought-provoking tribute to what must have been not only a cherished friend, but also one of those guys Webster defines as a "soul mate". People who have (or have had) such relationships are fortunate. I had one. Incidentally, his name was "Bob".

My sympathies to you and to others who were close to the man.

I met Bob Taylor when he and I were assigned as roommates for our freshman year of college. That was 59 years ago and we remained close buddies until his death. That was five weeks ago.

He was cranky, belligerent, opinionated, and frequently a real horse's rear. He was also the most generous and kindhearted guy I ever knew. He was godfather to my kids and we stood up for each other at our weddings.

We also had two dandy fist fights.

Your reflections on your friendship with your man Bob have stirred up a lot of old memories for me. Thanks for sharing them.


Jim

Bob,---- you are a class act sir.

Bob, Thanks for sharing that. Bobs a pair are lucky Bubbas.

Pat

Bob,

Thanks for sharing your story, I'm sure it gives you some pleasure to do so. I lost a close fishing partner some years ago to the big C and still think about him a lot and never miss an opportunity to mention name during Fish Tale telling sessions. I know I know, but still, sorry for your loss.

Jack.

On a positive note, it sounds like Bob got to do the things he loved, and spend his time in the company of caring people.

We all will meet our end at some point, but some won't have as rewarding of a life as it sounds like Bob did. I'm sure that on the last day he was thankful for the journey!

You are a good friend to speak for him now.

So sorry for your loss, Bob.
Ken

I'm glad you shared this with us Bob, and everyone else. It is rare to find friends with the same interests, let alone name. Working on a car with someone just creates a bond that lasts. My high school buddy of 25 years now, Andre, lives across the coast in Ct. Yet this year over New Years, he spent a few days here with me getting my 460 fired up for the first time. The funny part about that is he was there for my first rebuild of my 289 in a 68 Mustang. We've spent many hours getting frustrated at stuff in manuals, to laughing and hitting each other.
On my current build I have another friend who comes down during those two person moments always there to lend a hand.
I'm sad for your loss, but have to agree with you, what a great ride it must have been for the two of you!
If more people turned wrenches, it would be a better world!

I guess this is a form of wake...........internet style. Thanks for showing up guys. Ken, I enjoyed what you first put up, but if it caused you pain I can understand your edit. I would imagine there are others who might have felt a twinge and didn't post. Just about all of us on here could tell a similar story if we wished. I hope all would take from this the intent......that the lives of those we hold dear are to be celebrated. As Jay said, we're all going to have our last day on this earth, make the most of it and leave fond memories with those we leave.

Thanks again guys.......know that you're all part of the circle.

Over the years, I have had to witness the passing of, not only some of our older friends and family, but many who left us far too young. Of those youngsters deaths, some were health related... some were military... some were accidents... and some were just the "dumb things" that young men can do.

I have tried to find some knowledge gained... or the benefit to us, that they traded their life for.... or a greater understanding of life.... or the chance to celebrate their story and "the good times shared". Somehow it's easier to deal with it if the positives are there.

Growing old, and dying of natural causes, seems far less tragic for me now.