Austin ModHouse

Have you ever had had an automobile that had a hex on it? I did, it was a love/hate relationship.

The Ford Falcon DCW is one of the rarest of the vintage Econoline van series. When I found one for sale in San Antonio at a fair price, we rushed to buy it. The seller spoke no English, he had a friend that I would speak through. We had to arrange all three of our schedules for phone calls or time to see the vehicle. We eventually worked out the details, I was assured the van was a driver.

I arrived to check out the van, and the dudes were not there. An older woman who spoke no English did her best to let me know I should wait. So I waited in the front yard for about five or ten minutes. Then I saw it round the corner, driving down the street. He slowed down, signaled and pulled into the driveway. The English speaker from the seller side explained they'd just gone to the gas station. The older guy who owned it kept pulling his shirt up to show me a massive scar where he'd had a recent surgery, apparently this was the reason he was selling his van he'd owned for many years. Everything I had been told about it appeared to be true, it was a driver, that dude had a nasty scar. I knew I didn't want him pulling his shirt up any more.

We did some haggling, I got a little off the asking price, and offered to buy it if they can get it up on to the car hauler when I returned. I rented the trailer, and dude with scar turned white as a ghost as he climbed in, or lighter than he was, probably not ghost whiteness. The van started easily and he revved the engine as he faced the ramp up the trailer. His eyes were as large as saucers. His English speaking friend urged him on and relayed to me that the old man was scared. It took him a couple attempts, but he got it up, on, and stopped. I gave the cash and was on my way.

Hours later, I found it was not easy to replicate the old guys success when moving the van. I could get it started, but getting it to move required high revs, popping clutches and much patience. So, the project dragged on. We eventually sent it to one mechanic who promptly ran up a high bill without clearing the amount with us. When I picked it up from that shop, the owner said "You're driving it home? It's gonna be interesting!" and he laughed... I was lucky to make it home alive. I didn't return to that shop.

Mostly the van sat in the driveway. Eventually I sent it to a different mechanic, twice. We finally had the van in driving condition, and stopping too (new clutch and complete new brake system). But the van still just sat there till the point we decided to let it go. We had figured the van would make a profit if we spent another year and an additional few thousand dollars. We'd already lost interest in the project. We agreed to let it go at a loss if necessary (something I usually don't do).

As I set out to take new pics and video to list it for sale, the keys were nowhere to be found. I spent a whole day searching for the keys. I'd moved it recently, along with four other vehicles that day. All the keys were accounted for, except the Falcon DCW keys...  I searched in the van, around the van, and while doing so, I rammed me knee into the bumper. I writhed and twisted around on the ground in pain and realized I was the victim of a San Antonio Hex. The van was obviously cursed and the old man with the scar across his chest had used some bit of magic to make it appear to be in good working order. In a fit of anger and frustration, I listed it on Craigslist anyhow. Two days later, I had a buyer.

(BIG) 

Jay, I hope it causes you less pain and suffering than it did me. It's an awesome vehicle, but it fought me and I gave up.

Van anecdote #2: Years ago when we lived in California... I found a 1961 Econoline. A recent widow just wanted it removed from the property, I paid $1 for it. I abused my AAA free hundred mile tow plan to get it moved from Sunnyvale to Santa Cruz. It was filled with stuff, mostly junk. I sold what I could from the inside. One item was a REALLY old tube radio broadcast unit. I found a buyer for it in Spain! He explained he was curating a radio museum and I had helped source the first item.

I later sold that van before I got it running. The new owner had a record store in Marin County. He gave me cash and let me pick out CDs from his store. I'd stop in when I was in the area and he was always glad to see me. He would pull up a pile of CDs he'd set aside for me that he thought I might like. I still play the Ladybug Transistor CD he gave me. Dreamland Records has gone the way of most CD and Record stores... it's gone.

Last night I watched Star Wars Episode Six A New Hope with my family. I recalled that the record store owning, old Econoline buying friend had told me he worked as an Ewok in the movie as a child. How cool is that? One of those little Ewoks was my van friend. So I have that a good Econoline story to counter the Falcon that nearly broke me. I contacted Jay to make sure he made it home after he bought the Falcon DCW. He was still alive, a new hope.

I'll close with a picture of this flower that bloomed from a cactus on my bathroom balcony. Kat boiled it with a few oyster mushrooms. The flower let out some starch and it made a nice soup... I had no idea.