Well.........................

[Ron Devies]

This is all Mike Stevens fault, it is like asking an alcoholic if he wants to go grab a beer with you. A couple days ago, my buddy Mike emailed me and asked me, "are you one of those two guys from northern Ohio going to look at that 64?" Well I wasn't but needed to know more, the proverbial curiousity and the cat analogy kind of comes into play here.
Mike told me there was a 1964 Caddy M-M combo in Galion, Ohio and from what he could see looked pretty nice. He had called the gentleman who stated he had been in the PCS years ago and has not drove the car in five years, the car has sat in his heated garage all of this time. We both lamented how we wished we had the extra cash to go look at this car. Well..............:yankchain:I called the guy yesterday and he told me a fellow had looked at it and made an offer but he had told him there were others coming to see it. Of course I went today and well..........wow! This car is in really good shape despite it's sitting there and well...............I paid the asking price and now own another car. I have asked Paul to post some pictures. As some of you know, I owned a 64 before that I bought off of Doug Kelley and I loved that car but was talked into selling it by, well I won't mention any names but they live in my house. I sold it to a guy who got bored with it and sold it for a pile of money more than what I sold to him for. The point is since that time I really missed that car and now I got another 64.:pat:And it is all Mike Stevens fault. (Mike has also placed dibs on it if I ever decide to sell it)
I almost forgot the best part! This man Jim Tighe was PCS before most of us here and brought out an album of cars I had never seen except two Dave McCamey's (Richard Vyse's) Lifeliner Dan Brittlinger's volunteer before the fancy paint job. Also there were pictures of Joe Ross who I never met and the late great Bernie DeWinter and a very young looking George Hamlin. Even more he gave me a STACK of Professional Car Magazines dating back to 1985. I will spend the weekend reading the Professional Car from long long ago.

[Josh Gentry]

Ron, Congradulations on your new coach, can't wait to see pics..:071:

Josh

[Dwayne Brooks]

Galion? :clubem:
Everyone was saying this coach was in southern Ohio... and not the NEXT town east of Bucyrus (12 minutes away)... but that's how you throw someone off the trail! Congrats Ron, I truly hope you enjoy your new find & we're all anxious to see pictures of it. Isn't it cool when the old ones surface that are long forgotten?

[Ron Devies]

Ron, Congradulations on your new coach, can't wait to see pics..:071:

Josh

I just emailed a couple to Paul. Here is a description to tie you over. Navy blue exterior in pretty good shape, can't to get my hands on it with some wax. Baby blue and white interior. Still had the original ambulance stock in the cabinets. The car was owned by the Roberts FH in Logan, Oh where it was in service till 1999.

[Ron Devies]

Galion? :clubem:
Everyone was saying this coach was in southern Ohio... and not the NEXT town east of Bucyrus (12 minutes away)... but that's how you throw someone off the trail! Congrats Ron, I truly hope you enjoy your new find & we're all anxious to see pictures of it. Isn't it cool when the old ones surface that are long forgotten?

I didn't really know for sure where in the hell Galion was until tonight. Is this close to you Dwayne?

[Dwayne Brooks]

I didn't really know for sure where in the hell Galion was until tonight. Is this close to you Dwayne?



Yeah! The next town east of me... Galion is about a 10 -12 minute drive due east. No worries man was just teasing you, i'd never buy a coach out from under a friend. That's amazing Ron & i'm really happy for you to have landed the M-M it sounds really neat & unmolested! LOL it was originally in Logan at Roberts funeral home? Alot of my family roots go back to Logan, Ohio & surrounding towns. Small world indeed...

[Ron Devies]

Yeah! The next town east of me... Galion is about a 10 -12 minute drive due east. No worries man was just teasing you, i'd never buy a coach out from under a friend. That's amazing Ron & i'm really happy for you to have landed the M-M it sounds really neat & unmolested! LOL it was originally in Logan at Roberts funeral home? Alot of my family roots go back to Logan, Ohio & surrounding towns. Small world indeed...

When I pick it up Dwayne you can come see it.............and help me push it out of that garage onto the trailer! PS Bring Chris too, it is a heavy car.

[Dwayne Brooks]

Let me know when & where... i'll be glad to come over & meet you again & help. BTW there's a wrecker service i've been using that will rollback that M-M home for you so cheap it makes it worth it NOT to arrange a trailer. they hauled Rocky's '56 Oldsmobile ambulance from Fremont to Bucyrus when i bought it for him for $200 including a generous tip.

Ronk's towing (419) 683 - 2691 tell them I sent you... and ask for a flat rate quote instead of by the mile... they're great folks Ron

[Ron Devies]

The seller is a really intersting guy, we arrived at 7:30 to look at the car and we ended up not leaving till nearly 10 as he and his wife are very nice folks. I really enjoyed hearing about the PCS from a time before I was a member and seeing his photo albums. Dwayne, you will love this car, if you thought that 67 was nice and it was/is you are really gonna be knocked out on how well this thing is preserved.

[Paul Steinberg]

Your skills at buying cars is much better than your skills emailing pictures. I am still waiting for you to put some stamps on that email so the Post Office will deliver then to my in box and I can post them... :weneedpics_smi:

[Doug Kelley]

Only you Ron would find 2 of the same cars you wanted in your lifetime !! Congrats !! So what car is for sale to make room for it ??

[Richard Vyse]

So that is how I got pinched at the post on this car. I flew up, gave it a quick look, made an offer, and never heard from the seller. Never, NEVER, trust the fuzz!!!



Ok, calm down I'm just playing with you Ron. Congratulations on yet another find for the great Ron Devies. Want to store it down here with me it is ok, I'll go get another Sam's Club tent garage!!!

[Ron Devies]

Only you Ron would find 2 of the same cars you wanted in your lifetime !! Congrats !! So what car is for sale to make room for it ??

If you recall last year thanks to the imbeciles that I worked under at the time (may they rot in exhiled hell :14_6_12:) I was forced to sell two. This is just replenishing the flock. I find though what I have remaining I would have a hard time parting with. Exception would be maybe the van however Kyle would never part with. The only sensible thing was to find bigger storage, which one of my officers just bought a warehouse near me.

Besides I have to stay ahead of a burgeoning Vyse fleet of cars:toocool:

[Ron Devies]

I just sent the pics to Paul again so hopefully.......................:wwpics:

[John Royark JR]

Nice find. And I dont see any suction cups holding the signs in!

Sorry Ron, I couldnt resist.

[Steve Lichtman]

Congratulations, Ron!

I remember Jim Tighe, it's been a long time since he participated, but I do remember him. I'm glad he's doing well.

[Sarah Snook]

I remember Jim Tighe, it's been a long time since he participated, but I do remember him. I'm glad he's doing well.
I remember Jim too from very early on in my time in the club. I'm glad he found a great home for his car. It looks super sharp. I can't wait to see it at a chapter event soon. :)

[Tony Karsnia]

Congratulations on your acquisition of yet another fine Miller-Meteor, Ron! (I don't suppose there's any chance it'll be offered to anyone in MN should you ever decide to sell...:pat:)

Anyway, I vividly remember Jim Tighe also, as well as his late wife, Tina. They were first time attendees at the first PCS Int'l I attended, which was Decatur '88. The Tighe's had a beautiful silver 1973 Superior Cadillac limousine combination that they brought to the meet, and a nice '73 C/B Olds Cotington combination at home. We hit it off real well and even exchanged some photos for awhile. For a few years, Jim and Bernie were pretty good buddies and went hearse hunting together. I don't think anybody has heard much from Jim since 1993 or thereabouts. At that time, his only professional car (that we knew about) was a bright aqua colored '64 S&S Park Row combination.

Maybe you can resurrect this '64 in style by bringing it to Miller-Meteor Reunion IV next month! :dancing:

[Ron Devies]

He met us at our car and we didn't know what to expect. We looked at the car and you could tell this was like one of his children and he wanted the very best for it. Then he took us to the stack of old The Professional Cars and I started leafing through them. I saw Bernie's name on the mast head as the archivist and mentioned Bernie. Jim said, you know Bernie DeWinter? I replied that I did and that he had passed a couple of years ago. No kidding, you would have thought I hit this guy in the face with a Louisville slugger. His eyes welled up and a tear came to his eye. He said, "Bernie's dead? How?" I told him about it and he went onto tell me all about how he and Bernie would spend Saturday mornings on hearse hunting expeditions all over lower Ohio. You could tell this guy absolutely loved Bernie like many of us did. I am trying to talk him into coming to Piqua with his wife Sharon. I really think he would enjoy himself but more imortantly we would immensely enjoy him. He has so many stories and so many photos albums.

[Brendan Martin]

Congrats Ron, a very nice find, I have a special place in my heart for 63-64 Caddys. Maybe I'm biased though.

[Doug Kelley]

A little extra favortism to that officer would go a long way !!!!

[Ron Devies]

Nice find. And I dont see any suction cups holding the signs in!

Sorry Ron, I couldnt resist.

Believe me John, one of the first things I looked at was how were the grills secured!

[Bill Marcy]

Congratulations Ron! Keep up the good work!

I remember meeting and speaking with Jim Tighe, but I don't remember which Meet. If my memory serves me correctly, he is a guy you like right away, as soon as you talk to him. Am I right?

[Ron Devies]

Congratulations Ron! Keep up the good work!

I remember meeting and speaking with Jim Tighe, but I don't remember which Meet. If my memory serves me correctly, he is a guy you like right away, as soon as you talk to him. Am I right?

Your absolutely right Bill, while he feels too old to keep up with the pro cars, you can tell from talking with him he still has the passion.

Doug, I think this officer could be up for a promotion depending on how big the building is.

[Rocky Fluegge]

Great car and awsome find, smart at just giving him his price.

[Jeremy D. Ledford]

Heard all about this coach Friday from Mike! Glad ya got it Ron and it has a good home! Hope to see it soon! Maybe in Piqua!!!

[Jim Tighe]

Hello, Folks. Hope I am doing this right, as the cyber world ain't my element. I am the person who sold Ron the '64 M-M, thereby setting in motion this thread. Many years ago I belonged to this group of - uh - interesting people. Am amazed and gratified that some of you still remember me and my late wife, Tina. Seems so loooong ago. Very saddened to learn that Bernie DeWinter and Jackie Collier are no longer with us. My wife, Sharon, and I will try to attend the gig in Piqua next month. If you knew me back then and I don't recognize you this time around, please pardon me. The ole memory ain't quite intact anymore. I hope Ron and Barb have as much fun with the '64 as Sharon and I did. Good night, now. Jim Tighe, in Galion, OH.

[Josh Horton]

Looks great. Love the interior colors. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Sarah Snook]

Hello, Folks. Hope I am doing this right, as the cyber world ain't my element. I am the person who sold Ron the '64 M-M, thereby setting in motion this thread. Many years ago I belonged to this group of - uh - interesting people. Am amazed and gratified that some of you still remember me and my late wife, Tina. Seems so loooong ago. Very saddened to learn that Bernie DeWinter and Jackie Collier are no longer with us. My wife, Sharon, and I will try to attend the gig in Piqua next month. If you knew me back then and I don't recognize you this time around, please pardon me. The ole memory ain't quite intact anymore. I hope Ron and Barb have as much fun with the '64 as Sharon and I did. Good night, now. Jim Tighe, in Galion, OH.

Jim, welcome to the message board! Ron is definitely very excited about his new car. You chose a great new home for it. I'm glad that you're thinking of going to the M-M Reunion. Perhaps you can make it to some other Ohio PCS meets this summer too. We'd love to have you back.

[Bill Marcy]

Hello, Folks. Hope I am doing this right, as the cyber world ain't my element. I am the person who sold Ron the '64 M-M, thereby setting in motion this thread. Many years ago I belonged to this group of - uh - interesting people. Am amazed and gratified that some of you still remember me and my late wife, Tina. Seems so loooong ago. Very saddened to learn that Bernie DeWinter and Jackie Collier are no longer with us. My wife, Sharon, and I will try to attend the gig in Piqua next month. If you knew me back then and I don't recognize you this time around, please pardon me. The ole memory ain't quite intact anymore. I hope Ron and Barb have as much fun with the '64 as Sharon and I did. Good night, now. Jim Tighe, in Galion, OH.

Jim, it is nice to have you with us! I am wondering where I met you. Perhaps you and I spoke on the phone about a car you had for sale? Did you have the '87 Bayliff Packard for sale about ten years ago? I have been racking my brain, ever since I read your name. Maybe I will remember? Maybe you will?

By the way, did that '64 used to belong to Joe and Kathy Getts? It looks like a coach they brought to thee Fort Wayne Meet, back in '95.

[Ron Devies]

Bill,
Jim bought the car from the Roberts Funeral Home in Logan, OH in 1999. It still has Roberts ambulance stock in the cabinets.

[LeeAnn Boston]

Everybody could use an extra procar or two or three. Love the color!! Congratulations!

[Jim Tighe]

Yes, Bill, I did have the '87 Bayliff for sale. Sold it to a f.h. in Detroit in the Spring of '01. I think there is a Bayliff site on this thing that shows it and the 2nd one together somewhere, so I assume some hobbyist bought it from the f.h. I had a chance to buy the 2nd one later in '01, but it had deteriorated and I thought the price too high. That's the one the Martin fellow bought, I believe. Those 2 are really strange cars. Long story there.

The M-M that Ron bought from me spent its entire working life in Logan, OH. I bought it there in '99, from the orig. owners, who ran it as their only car all those years. Holler if you ever wanna talk about the Bayliffs or whatever. Good hearing from you after all these years. Jim

[Russell Dalziel]

Yes, Bill, I did have the '87 Bayliff for sale. Sold it to a f.h. in Detroit in the Spring of '01. I think there is a Bayliff site on this thing that shows it and the 2nd one together somewhere, so I assume some hobbyist bought it from the f.h. I had a chance to buy the 2nd one later in '01, but it had deteriorated and I thought the price too high. That's the one the Martin fellow bought, I believe. Those 2 are really strange cars. Long story there.

The M-M that Ron bought from me spent its entire working life in Logan, OH. I bought it there in '99, from the orig. owners, who ran it as their only car all those years. Holler if you ever wanna talk about the Bayliffs or whatever. Good hearing from you after all these years. Jim

The Funeral home in Detroit is owned By Russ Brundage and I believe he is a Member

Russ

[Jim Tighe]

Russ, I don't recall the name of the f.h. or the gentleman who bought the car, but the name you mention doesn't ring a bell. I do recall that the f.h. name was not a person's name, but something like the Chapel of Whatever??? I think the name had religious origins. This was a Black gentleman, who reacted to the Bayliff the same way Ron did to the M-M. He and the fellow with him drove the car back to Detroit from Xenia at night. I lost track of the car after that. When I bought the car in '99, I stored it briefly in the Packard Museum in Dayton, where I worked at the time. The fella who owns the museum was not pleased, as the Bayliff ain't a "real" Packard. I got a big kick out of his reaction, and drove the car to work as often as possible, and parked it in front. Nothing like needling someone, is there? Great fun.

Jim

[Steve Lichtman]

Jim, it's good to hear from you again after many years. I remember you from earlier PCS meets. It's unfortunate that some folks have passed on, but that is what happens. Glad to have you back and participating here, Dad and I hope to see you at a meet soon.

[Mike Stevens]

Ron,
I am so glad you got the 64. I know it will have a good home. Little did I know when I contacted you that it would cause such a long thread here. But that is ok too. Gets us all excited about whatelse may be out there yet. I really want to see this coach soon. I too think you should bring this one to Piqua in May.
Mike

:071:

[Mike Stevens]

Jim,
I would like to say that you can rest assured your 64 M-M is getting the best of care and a good home. As others have said here you are welcome to come and join us any time. We would like to hear your stories of procars and the people that love them.
Hope to see you at a meet somewhere soon.
Mike

[Ron Devies]

Starting to formulate a plan to move the car. Dan Skivolocke has generously has offered to move the car with his trailer. I have made arrangements for the car to go directly to my mechanics where it will be gone over with a fine tooth comb. It will receive new fluids and filters and gasoline before we even start it. I have emailed the funeral home that sold Jim the car to see if they still have and would sell the original beacon ray. If not, I have a model 17 but will have to have the skirt trimmed and obtain some of the rubber molding that I believe Mr. Dorgan has readily in stock and a detachable mount. Once we have a date, Mr. Skivolocke, Mr. Jacobson, my mechanic and I will meet Dwayne Brooks and we will load and go. I really think a lot of my help can be credited to people wanting to meet Jim in person though. He is quite a fascinating guy and many of us share the same passions as his.

[Mike Stevens]

I agree with Ron. I only remember meeting Jim one time. When I got the email telling me about the coach Ron bought I recognized the name immediately. Jim is that kind of guy. Meet him once and you won't forget him.
Mike

[Jim Tighe]

"Meet him once and you won't forget him." Hmmmm...... I believe the same thing was said about Attila the Hun. Don't get yer hopes up too high, folks. Just a worn out old man here. Enjoy these cars while you can, but, as with any hobby, don't let them consume you. (Toy train folks and railfans do the same thing, btw.) Yeh, I'm preaching here, something I do at the slightest opportunity, so you have been warned. Pax Domini. Jim

[Rick Franklin]

Its too late, Jim. These guys have already been conumed by and infected with "the fever". And i believe there is no known cure!

[Ron Devies]

Well it has been two months and ten days since I first posted that I bought the 64. I did drive it once in that time. It has never been to my house (it's house) I have never gotten to wash and wax it. It is still in the hospital waiting on parts. So far, we have flushed the radiator, checked the heat riser, put in new plugs,points,distributer cap, plug wires, LOF, new brakes, and changed the tranny fluid and filter. We are waiting on a filler neck and both rear wheel bearings that seem to be coming from somewhere by way of Donkey Cart Transit Co. We still need to fix the windshield wipers and it needs to go to the muffler shop. If all goes well, then she comes home for an engine detail and some paint, interior detail, exterior detail then I start hounding, bugging and begging Ed Renstrom that let's go ahead and trade now so I can fit her for her beacon ray. THEN and only then will there be pictures a plenty of this magnificent beast as well as fleet pictures. In the mean time all I can do is just sit and type about it. I know how Dan Skivolocke feels waiting on his Victoria at Rance Bennett's, although his car has been there ten years I hope I don't have to wait that long!

[Josh Gentry]

I cant wait to see pics of this car. From what i've seen so far, shes a buty.:071:

Josh

[Ron Devies]

:weneedpics_smi:She is home, I picked her up and drove her home today. I can tell you she handled well ran well, shifted well. Tonight I will start the detailing that will begin under the hood. There will be no pictures until every little inch has been shined inside and out and she is adorned with a cherry on top. :weneedpics_smi:

[John ED Renstrom]

I'll put the light in the mail tomorrow. cause this I got to see.

[Ron Devies]

Got home from work and been tinkering around a little. Did a little cleaning under the hood and then started in the driver compartment. Cleaned the headliner dash and chrome there and upholstery. Tomorrow I will pick up there and vacume the floor and clean it them I think I will go back over some of the stuff I did today with polish. Tomorrow I might have more time I can empty out the back and get started there too. The outside is pretty dusty from being at the mechanics. I am thinking of using a clay bar on the exterior when I do get outside started.

[Josh Gentry]

I'll put the light in the mail tomorrow. cause this I got to see.Ed, hurry up and get that thing in the mail. I cant take him teezing us anymore. I got to see some good pics of this thing.:needpics::wwpics::071::071:

[Ron Devies]

Well last evening the driver compartment got scrubbed down tonight after work I will empty the patient compartment and beging the scrub down there. I purchased a clay bar today for when I start the exterior. The car is so dirty on the outside now I can barely stand it but good things come to those who wait!

[Ron Devies]

Well I have been working on this car pretty much ever since I got it back. I can say she is as clean as a baby's bottom. I had some fits with those lovely M-M curtain rods :14_6_12:. I know some judge will probably ding me, but as I did not have the dual ring holder for the O2 I adapted dual cups and put them in a different local. The car has now moved insde now after a good washing. Yesterday it got treated to a clay bar treatment. Have any of you ever performed a clay bar treatment on your coach before? Believe me when you are done, you never want to see a clay bar again! I also polished the chrome which turned out very nice and now I am working on wax. This thing is looking awesome. :thumb:

[Paul Steinberg]

clay bar........ isn't that the same as a "mud" pack that women put on their faces? :angel:

[Josh Gentry]

Hey Ron, hurry up. Work faster..:weneedpics_smi:

Josh

[Paul Steinberg]

If I stop by, will you clean my car also??