Friday, May 22, 2015

Help this man find his old car.

This week has been a pretty heavy one for JJ as far as the news and local scene goes.  Consider this post to be a break.  A former Jackson resident has been searching for this car he once owned for the last two years on the hope that he can buy it back.



Zack Methvin posted this message on Craig's List.


To all of you who have taken an interest in helping locate this car, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, your efforts are extremely appreciated! I'm still on the hunt for this car. I've had a handful of really good leads but unfortunately they have not been "this car". Please contact me anytime day or night (even @ 3am, LOL) if you happen to stumble across this car. Also, for those of you who may wonder, I currently live in Denver, CO so it would be very difficult for me to do this search on my own. I am from Jackson and sure wish i could look for it but life has other plans for me right now. Also, to those who may wonder, i have contacted all the Mississippi classic car clubs and the Mississippi Street Rod Association.


My dad built this 1923 T-bucket roadster from scratch in the mid to late 70's. In 1979 he sold the car to Joe Speed who owned North Jackson Honda-Yamaha where it remained until the late 80's. Joe then sold the car to a man who lived/lives on or around the Ross Barnett Reservoir (possibly Ridgeland area) and that's where my info stops. No one seems to know this man's name or info who bought it from Joe. I have been looking for this car for several years now in hopes I can locate it possibly buy it back. This car is a priceless part of my childhood and I would love to find it again.



I've tried researching the last known license plate number (MS Antique #1196) and have had no luck. I do not have the VIN number or any other official documentation. I have spoken to Tommy Muha, the man who painted the car many years ago. Tommy said he did in fact see the car near the Ross Barnett Reservoir in Jackson some years back but is was in passing on highway 25 and he is 100% positive that is was this car. It is my belief that based on a handful of sightings the car is still located somewhere in the Jackson, MS area. I would be extremely grateful to anyone who might know anything about this vehicle or offer advice as to how i can track this car without a VIN number. I can't afford to hire a private investigator so my options are pretty much going to be someone seeing the car and getting the owners info for me. I have attached the only pics I have of the car, PLEASE NOTE, these photos are from 1978/79. With the exception of the body, this car was built 100% from scratch by dad and was show quality. There is nothing on the car that could be considered a "kit" part.

For those of you who may remember dad (Lonnie Methvin), He originally owned Northside Texaco next to John Bennett's Union 76. Somewhere around 74/75, dad bought Briarwood Gulf (corner of Canton Mart Rd. & I-55 Frontage Rd.). The T-bucket was built during this time period. On rare occasions it could be seen parked out front of the Gulf station. For additional reference, on occasion dad would also have his 65 Blue Corvette Roadster and/or his 67 Gold Corvette Coupe out front. After he sold Briarwood Gulf somewhere around 1979, he moved to Briarwood Texaco for the next several years.

 Since the 70's, more than likely this car has been thru a lot of changes. However, the interior, paint, brass radiator and steering setup i suspect would more than likely still be as original today. Last time I saw the car was in 1986, at that time, it had 70 series tires w/ Cragar Tru-Spoke wheels and a blower intake setup that Joe Speed installed.

The following are some distinguishing characteristics that will identify that this is the car i'm looking for:

1. Hand cut walnut dash with centered gauge cluster (Stewart Warner Gauges)
2. Steering column came from a VW bus, it was shortened and comes up thru the floor straight up n down.
3. The steering wheel was a custom made 6" dropped "T" style with brass spokes and wood ring that was originally purchased from the Florida Rod Shop around 1976/77.
4. The interior was a medium tan color diamond style tufted and pleated.
5. Brass Radiator.
6. Paint color was a 1976 Cadillac "fire-thorn" red.
7. Brass carriage lights on the cowling.
8. 70's style Mustang/Pinto automatic floor shifter
9. It did have some pin striping on the body sides in the door corner area and on the tailgate. Also had a big letter "T" on the cowling at the base of windshield.
10. Originally had a Chevy LT1 350 with an Offenhauser cross-ram intake.
11. TH400 Transmission.
12. Had side "wind wings" that attached to the sides of the windshield frame.
13. Headlights are from a 1931 Chevy.

These pictures will help show some of the car's unique characteristics i spoke about above.

If you have knowledge of where this car is or might be, PLEASE drop me an email at gzmethvin@outlook.com. 

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's in California registered to a Herman Munster at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Hollywood.

Anonymous said...

I have spoken with Zack in the past week about this car. Tommy Muha claims to remember seeing a BIG guy driving it around the reservoir area and I remember it (or a car very similar to it) usually parked on Old Canton Rd. near Polks Decorative Center at the corner of Lincolnshire Blvd.---I seem to remember at that time back in the late 80's-early 90's Jimmy Sexton was driving that car. Maybe somebody knows Jimmys' whereabouts and can confirm/rule out that lead.

Anonymous said...

Couldn't be Jimmy Sexton, the sports agent from Memphis who has tons of clients, including Hugh Freeze and Dan Mullen, could it?

Cruisin' 2 said...

Excellent thread. I can only imagine how much this means to the man whose dad built the car and hope he has luck locating it. I can't help at all but am in hopes that someone out there can.

Anonymous said...

Nice car hope it is found looking something like the pictures.

Could be currently disguised as a rat rod with a turbo LS swap and a 250 shot of spray. Aka a hard to hook Darwin ride. Hope it isn't but kids these days...

Anonymous said...

"It's in California registered to a Herman Munster at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Hollywood."

Now that is funny, well played. I truly hope you find the car and are able to purchase it.

Anonymous said...

Understand the sentiment of wanting to find the car. Had two pumped Chevelles, a '67 and a '69, and so regret ever selling those cars.

Anonymous said...

"...driven by a big guy in the Reservoir area"? I think it's Optimus Tater.

Anonymous said...

Hope you find the car.

As a last resort you could post this on Yellow Bullet.
Warning. That place wrote the book jackassery but lots of people have found cars by posting on Yellow Bullet.

Anonymous said...

Make sure you post this on the H.A.M.B. You will get quite a bit of exposure in the hot rod world.

Kingfish said...

Jimmy Sexton used to cut hair across from Briarwood Package store. Then went into truck driving.

Anonymous said...

Hello everyone. This is Zack Methvin, I am the one looking for this car. To date, I have had no luck. I am still searching but I have a new email address. It is: gz0308@outlook.com. i have heard rumors the car might be in Lafayette, LA belonging to Rena & Ron Mcphee but i cannot find info on how to contact them. I appreciate everyone who is interested in this car. It was truly a labor of love by my dad. For those of you who may or may not remember dad. His name is Lonnie Methvin. He owned Briarwood Gulf and Briarwood Texaco in the 1970's & 1980's.

Thanks
Zack

Anonymous said...

Hey all. This is Zack Methvin again. I am still hunting for this car. I do have a new email in case someone has some info on the car. It is not Jimmy Sexton. I spoke to him and he clarified that he is not a previous owner.

My new email is lonnieray1943@gmail.com

Thanks
Zack

Anonymous said...

Did you find this car yet?



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