Have you ever heard the story about a car that was only driven back and forth to church on a Sunday morning by a little old lady? I think David Edge owns that car. It’s just one of 10 classic cars in Edge’s unique collection.

David Edge, president of Image Supply of Lumberton, N.C., used to be a workaholic until he discovered classic cars. An employee with a 1937 Ford that had been “street rodded,” or modernized to make it street worthy, turned him on to it. Nothing on a street rod is original, except for the exterior. Everything else, including the motor, transmission and axles, is all modern equipment.

Currently, David is in the process of street-rodding a 1939 Ford convertible. This is David’s most expensive car project to date. When he bought the ’39 for $1,500 he considered it a “steal.” But, like buying and fixing up an old house, the purchase price of a classic car is just the beginning. David thinks that by the time he’s done he’ll have put around $150,000 into the car. “If you had told me seven or eight years ago that I would spend this much re-doing a car, I’d have thought you were crazy. At first I thought I could have a nice car for about $20,000, but it’s like redoing a house — you keep adding a bit here and a bit there,” he says.

How do you spend $150,000 on a car? Well, the chassis was $10,000; the car has a new Corvette motor in it; and the rumble seat, hood, doors and the windows all open automatically via a remote control. However, David says the sound system is “conservative” — it only has a 10-disk changer.

All of David’s cars are street worthy — that is, they can be licensed and driven. The 1939 is his only street rod — all the others have the original drive train.

What defines a “classic car”? Generally, a limited-production automobile built between 1925 and 1942 (and some through 1948). David’s first classic car was a 1926 Model T Ford.

In his collection, David now has six Fords, including a 1926 T-model Roadster, 1927 T-model, 1929 A-model, a 1939, a 1938, and a 1955 two-door Crown Victoria. (T models, by the way, were made until 1927, at which point the A models were manufactured.) He also has two Chevrolets: a 1935 with “suicide doors” (the ones that open from the front — the only year they were made) and a 1982 Corvette collectors’ edition T-top with just 6,000 original miles on it. Rounding out the collection are a 1960 two-door DeSoto and an elegant 1938 Packard five-passenger two-door coupe (only four of these exist today). Five of the cars are convertibles, which are prized by collectors.

David isn’t the only one who enjoys these cars. Not long ago he treated a group of nursing home residents to a grand adventure. The gentlemen go out to breakfast once a month, and the nursing home director asked David if the men could stop by after breakfast one day to look at the cars and reminisce. David did more than give them a look at the cars; he picked up the men in some of the cars and drove them to the restaurant in nostalgic style. The “chauffeurs” included David, the Image Supply salesman who works with the nursing home, and the nursing home director. It was quite the breakfast experience and it attracted a lot of local attention.

David gets attached to his cars and hates to sell them. One of his favorites is the 1935 Chevrolet. “It’s unique. I have more history on this car than with all the others combined.” The “history” includes the original bill of sale and a gas-rationing coupon from 1942 made out to the original owner, who was a woman.

“If there is such a thing as a car that was only driven to church on Sunday by a little old lady, this is it. It is in fabulous original condition and is just a stunning car.”

Gretchen Roufs, a 15-year janitorial supply industry veteran, owns Auxiliary Marketing Services of San Antonio. To suggest someone you think should be featured in “freetime,” contact her at (210) 601-4572 or via e-mail.




POSTED ON: 7/1/2002