That is crazy nice!!!

So friggin true!!!!!!!!

Another non-metallic 'star' car...maybe G-Dub is on to sumthin-;)
 

The late Bruce Leven's 1951 Ford...

https://s20.postimg.org/xfkhb2gwt/IMG_0706.jpg

https://s20.postimg.org/mu0lz2al9/IMG_0700.jpg

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Best part for me was how Leno repeatedly said how much fun it was to drive.

That Lincoln motor... :cool:

Bruce Leven was a personal friend of mine for about 20 years.... he was an amazing man and lived one hell of a life.

Sadly -- we shared a couple things the last couple years. He was the one that talked me into having the truck built at Pinkee's..... and about a year or so ago was diagnosed with lung cancer. Yep -- he smoked about 3 packs a day....

For the last 6 months - we talked every other day or so.... sometimes late into the night... and given our death sentences - had much to discuss. Sadly -- only near the end (the last month) was he giving my method a try. But by this time - he was sick from the Chemo and the cancer was roaring.

I will miss him dearly. And think about him daily. I had thought about doing the same exact grey as a tribute to him.... but it's too dark for the lines of the '40. So my gray is modified a bit.

Greg,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us about your friend Bruce...

Just watched this great tribute to Bruce Leven.

Greg,

How close is this to your color?

https://s20.postimg.org/kmfdeaql9/IMG_0764.jpg

(Just your everyday day garden variety 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta)

Just a few hours before reading this comment I watched the Jay Leno's Garage segment on Bruce's car, and remembered him saying he wished Bruce well and that he could come back again soon to take Jay for a ride (or something to that effect). Very sorry to hear of his passing. Those were some very kind words you wrote.

I'll bet your truck's paint will look great!

It's VERY CLOSE !

Thank you!!


A further little "story" on my friend Bruce.

It was "tradition" in the summer months - on Saturday afternoons - to head to Issaquah (iss sa kwa) to my buddies Triple X Root beer burger joint.... we could park in the lot next door because the business was closed on the weekends. There might be 6 cars - or 60.... and they came and went - but generally there was some friends there. We'd pull out our folding chairs and sit in the grass berms under the trees and BS for a bit.

One day (as usual) Bruce rolls in... and comes over to join us. He ALWAYS drove something cool - and always drove something different... he had quite a few cars to choose from. It might be his killer Porsche - or an early suburban (converted to late model diesel of course!).... But this particular Saturday he didn't bring a chair. Marv and I offered up our chairs - but he wouldn't have it. He'd just sit in the grass. I reminded him that his ass would be wet when he got up, because it is - after all - the pacific northwest.... and the ground is usually moist. He didn't care - he lit up, and plopped down.

Well -- 3 minutes into it - he jumps up and starts cursing (he cursed - A LOT) - why? Yeah.... because of course now he's soaked thru.

And in his usual way ---- it was my fault.... Oh god we all got a good laugh. And then the stories flowed. He had lots of 'em.

Here's the deal you guys will never understand. This is a man that raced at the highest levels - with the world's finest drivers.... he owned jets.... he owned LARGE yachts.... but... he was one of us. He cursed like a garbage man... his fingers were yellow from smoking.... He was just a hot rodder/car guy... and he LOVED it (coming out to the triple X) because he could be himself. We gave him no mercy - and he gave us none right back. I loved seeing him pull in, because it automatically meant we were going to have some good times.

I've always thought that your "soul" is what you leave behind.... it's the memories that others have of you. That's what lives on. I will never forget the day he sat in the grass... and his reaction. That is a good memory of howling hysterically. The sad ones are of the last few conversations we had about life.... but the good ones prevail. They bring that melancholy smile to me even as my heart sags. It's my loss. He's gone, but it is those of us that are left behind that "feel" for him.

In the end - we discussed our lives. How - in the end - it didn't matter one damn bit what you had.... you'd trade it all for more time. He lived well - he lived large... he did what he wanted and when he wanted... "It" was always going to happen to the other guy. It's very hard to explain unless you've lived it.