Back to the morning.
Once Phil had got up, he was off to work.
We were left in Austin his sons capable hands.
Offered him the option of Martin driving our rental car for the day and him navigating, but in stead he offered his truck which was both taller and driven by him as he knows his home city so much better.
This hobby is really interesting, in that I was looking for an automatic column shift steering for my truck as I wanted to replace the one fitted, not with something modern and shiny, but rather traditional, that would go with the pin up steering wheel I had bought off mate Darren earlier this year.
While we were with Brandon and Paul the previous evening, they had given us details of a guy called Steve who was a bit of a hoarder, seller if parts and owner of much treasures.
Mentioning what I was looking to Phil and Austin, they mentioned he same guy, both Paul and Austin had previously bought parts from him.
So he was a possible on the spares hunt for the day after phone conversation later in the day.
So we set out for Oklahoma City from Norman and first stop was Classic American Spares where we gawped at all the stock and got a bit of a behind the scenes tour. This trip just kept on giving. Unfortunately, one of their massive industrial storage units had been burned out a couple of days before, damaging Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of stock, all the NOS at that. A neighbouring unit had caught fire and it had spread.
Once we went back indoors, we were quickly and efficiently helped to ligthen our wallets....... I also bought a 1956 Chevy Bel Air hood bid ornament for the truck, yes, I know, but it's my truck, my way and I always wanted one. I bought some other parts that seemed like a good idea while there.
Once we were done there we drove downtown, across town to Steve's yard.
I saw and picked up a couple of chrome dealer badges I liked a lot but no steering column, asking the owner how much, he mad a silly price I did not agree to, at which I handed him them back and politely declined. Austin did try to barter on my behalf. No luck.
This Chevy was in the yard, aged to perfection.
This panel parked outside on the pavement. The model and colour were the same as the first classic I recall falling in love with as a child. Weird that.
Steve said we could come to his other shop to look at the column he had there, so we had some time to kill.
Driving around Oklahoma City, it is obvious this is a petrol heads heaven. Remember "STREET OUTLAWS" is filmed around here too.
So we litterally stopped at random places, and at one shop where I used the restroom, I saw an auto steering column on a shelf and asked about it..... The lovely and helpful mechanic phoned his boss to enquire. A price of $250.00 was returned, we asked about accepting a better offer, and the helpful guy mentioned "Flaming River" at which point I withdrew. The steering wheel wa also slightly bent...... So we walked away.
They had some very cool cars though.
This was the mechanics car.
Some more neat stuff in the shop, unfortunately the light was not cold, with much glare, so I did not manage to get a lot of photos.
Then off to another part of town, where complete Resto, Hot Rods and race cars were built.
The sort of stuff you do see in Street Outlaws.
Loved the look of this simple Chevy truck.
Same shop, different car. I love it when a shop is this skilled and can turn their hands to anything.
The great part was that again, the guys were happy to talk to two (plus Austin) English tourists who love all things cars and bikes.
Another that caught my eye. Simple.
I managed to find is wheel with bearinged spinner...... All 22" of it, destined for a customer car.
When we stopped, this little guy caught my eye as well, but being power, car, junk drunk, it took a while to get back to it.
And finally.... Some art in the making for the owners "Man Cave"
The sort of stuff I love to make as well from scrap bits.
From there we went for another drive to Steves downtown hoard, and were kept waiting, after a while, his son who had been following us incredibly closely at the previous yard (and that scratched my butt big time and made me want to leave anyway) came out to say they were closing and not interested in us or our business, when Austin enquires about why.....?
He came back with the answer from his father (I did not realise till that point that he was)
" THIS IS NOT AMERICAN PICKERS, YOU CAN GO AWAY" so basically telling us to efffofff as I was not prepared to pay the $30.00 he wanted for two dealer badges. In my view they were worth no more than $5.00 each on a very good day.
I had previously paid $1.00 for a Cougar badge, and a small dealer badge reading "BY VAN" had cost me $2.00 on one of the secondary roads we had driven on.
I was happy to walk away at that point, but Austin was soooooo fired up about the blatant rudeness, but as I said to him, we were the foreigners, and I was not prepared to pay his silly inflated prices.
I had previously bought some of these badges, and been given some of them
The set of C10 badges on the right need restoring but will be going onto my truck.
So we drove off, maybe a bit enthusiastically.
And went to put gas in the truck, at which point I saw another of my favourite American landmarks. A Water Tower.
Some are beautifully decorated by local towns, this one reminded me of Tintin going to the moon.
After this it was time to drive by and take a look at where some of the guys from STREET OUTLAWS made their homes or had their shops.
Firstly, one of my favourite characters..... Farmtruck.
He and AZN's one place is an old Fire Station he boug and gave the treatment.
Martin took many more photos, so hopefully he will be along to post up a load more.
I loved this rocket, and behind it was a post with the Stars and Stripes flying high.
Dragon lights were real neat and caught my eye, along with all the other stuff. I felt quite guilty invading their privacy, even from the pavement side.
After stopping by there, we drove over to Murder Nova's shop but missed his closing time by minutes, too bad as he has another kick ass ride.
You know the rest of the day's story and dinner and after dinner goofing around.
We eventually got to bed late that night as well, and in the morning Phil cooked us breakfast before heading out to work.
It was left to Austin to see us off, and close the gate behind us as we headed for Route 66 and the back roads of America. Headed for Tulsa where we were staying with Kieth who drives a GMC as a daily.
Weird to see him without his cap and ever present cowboy boots under jeans. Guess a guy needs to relax sometimes.
I have said thank you for the experience a few times,but can only repeat that the hospitality and especially the long conversations about all things of man and beast were incredibly rewarding, and these guys continued to exceed my expectations of the U.S. By 100%
This was truely the trip of a lifetime, the more I think about it.
One more thing...... A video posted up by "Retrolegends" that I liked a whole load.
Hope you enjoy.
Buy a truck.