1933 Helms Coach - First Drive under it's own power in 45 ish years ! by R Cane

Update - September 2021 

This is my 1933 Divco 'Twin Coach' - used by Helms Bakery in LA from 1931 to 1969 when the fleet of 200 was sold off .. most went to scrap .. this is a real survivor - owned by one family for 55 ish years .. I found it in the high California desert last year - goal is to restore to original - including the incredible original wooden drawers for baked goods .. stay tuned .. 

"... on the road again !..." 

Keep On Truckin' !

Chapter 6 -Conclusion - NEVER sell to family ..!!!! by Anno Nymus 6 of 6

 

Chapter 6 - Conclusion

It should be noted ... Pat had a firm rule .. NEVER sell to family ..!!!!

Alas – he was a softy, and he broke it often for mum. Curiously, he never let me make any payments no matter what fancy car I wanted to buy! It was always a gift, or loaner ONLY, but no payments - period!

The 1961 Corvair 'Greenbriar' Van Episode

1961 Corvair Greenbriar Van.

Mum and sis drove it till it wouldn't play anymore and they had to send it back - thru some sleight of hand and hard core horse swapping - mom's brother, uncle Jerry ended up with it.  All this happened .. whilst I was away on my Federal World Tour and Get Away in Vietnam .. what a story goes along with that old Corvair … if the wheels could talk?

The Corvair was another stalwart car that made many long treks, and was a great camping van. It traveled many trips to Mexico, and even to Vancouver, and BC ! Alas, it always leaked a lot of oil .. and we finally had to give it back .. when it was finally in the shop more than on the road ! Pat gripe'd, but made good on his 'warranty'.

Rear mount,  air cooled engine 

A flexible cabin – Easily converted from seating to cargo. 

OK engine, but endless oil leak !

A real " Soldier "

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He always groused in a friendly way, and said he should never have sold us any cars !! … saying it always cost him tons of money out of pocket to fix our situations. He knew we couldn’t pay on our own with our ultra tight budget .. so he covered it all .. groused a bit along the way of course in his kidding way, but he always made sure we were covered and well taken care of .. and secretly we were all very proud that he did – including him !!!

I think we got a Ford LTD Crown Victoria next – from Uncle Pat of course.

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When I was 9 he gave me a ukulele for Christmas .. and whilst learning to play it for the next months, I dragged and carried it everywhere I went – in the car, to the park, inside outside .. anyplace but school, shower or the pool.

I plunked on it constantly .. learned and sang all sorts of union organizing, Pete Seeger, and Woodie Guthrie, and general fun campfire songs, like “ the Crawdad Song” .. “Froggie went a Courting” and such like – I mastered basic chords, and chord changes – I was on my way at 9!

Pat was a great uncle ! He always fixed me and the family as best he could. He really got me my start in music .. and kept us in cars … Music was Rockin'!! … Cars was Rollin' !!

Pat made me a genuine ... “Rock-er, 'n … Roll-er” ! ... 

... Bless Uncle Pat Forever - Scoundrel-ism Lives On   !!!

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

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Chapter 5 - Cars ! Cars ! Cars ! - My Glorious old Caddy ! by Anno Nymus 5 of 6

 

Chapter 5

Cars ! Cars ! Cars ! - My Glorious old Caddy !

1959 Caddy - mint green and white ...

... all the bells n whistles and then some!

"The Crew Canoe"

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Back in 1965 this was a real 'Land Yacht' cum 'Boat' – I drove it only on weekends for about a year!

My music pal Jim and I would 'camp' in it whilst visiting musician pals in SoCal over the weekends .. 

I would get the car on Friday night around 6 at Pat's car lot - on my weekend "Liberty" from Camp Pendleton .. then drive to Riverside, about an hour, pick Jim H up at March Air Force Base, then head to one of our musician friends to jam music - all over the Inland Empire  & Berdoo!

If we arrived too late to go inside and play music - which would happen from time to time - we would park in front of their house and crash in the Caddy! 

When everyone was up and stirring in the morning, we'd go inside for coffee and breakfast - then virtually play music all day, night, or weekend until someone would edge us toward the door, or just toss us out ! It seems that not everyone can appreciate the subtleties and nuances of a loud Bluegrass Banjo for hours on end ... but I digress !?

Worn out or down, we would crash in the now infamous “Crew Canoe” – as it was playfully called – when we were out of musicians to jam with .. usually from total exhaustion. Instruments safely stashed in huge trunk, we would make pallets for sleeping on the seats. It was like home - with an ice chest for drinks and snacks. Folks suggested a mailbox on the fender ! 

Jim had the back seat .. and I took the front .. it sure wasn’t that comfortable for sleeping .. not nearly long enough for us to stretch out. By pretzel-ing and sleeping at kittywhumpus angles, we could eke out enuff rest .. but we would wake next morning .. cramped and stove up .. but still rearin' to pick and jam ... with any souls around!  After a few cups of stout java … we were back into it .. music til we dropped. Sunday nights - it all went in reverse - Jim back to March Field, Me back to Pendleton.

Me jamming in a laundromat - 1965

Whenever we got tossed from someones house – when  mom had visitors, or dinner, or such – we would decamp to the ever popular nearest local 24 hour 'Washateria' or laundromat - great places for acoustic band practice! We could jam and play our acoustic stuff there - Banjo and Guitar - .. nobody around to bother - sound insulated .. warm .. and secure .. we would play till the wee hours ! 

The "Caddy " would be parked in front of the laundromat - the huge trunk held all the instruments and cases ! The ol' canoe was always beckoning to be used as a bunk house - whenever we dropped from exhaustion!

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission