Franklin Rechnitzer is no newcomer to discovering cars in his native Costa Rica. He has actually been featured in my previous book, The Hemi in the Barn, with a terrific Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 in rough condition that his uncle had stored in a garage, promising never to sell. When his uncle passed away, his wife immediately sold it to Rechnitzer.
But that’s another story. For this one, Rechnitzer had known about a certain 1963 Ford Galaxie convertible for at least 15 years, which also happened to be owned by a man who said he wouldn’t sell. Even though this Ford was stored in a garage, it was essentially an indoor playground for a couple of rambunctious boys who drew on it with markers, removed emblems and trim, and generally ruined what had been a pristine, rust-free car. “The boys even used the convertible top as a trampoline,” Rechnitzer says. “It was badly ripped.”
Eventually, knowing he collected old cars, the owner offered the car to Rechnitzer in order to get it away from the boys. “My wife didn’t want me to have any more cars, so initially I said no,” he says. “But he offered it to me for a very fair price, so I bought it.”
Living in Costa Rica means finding and buying parts for American cars is often tough and expensive. Rechnitzer was on the lookout for sideview mirrors, trim, badges, radio knobs, and more—replacing many of the parts the boys had destroyed was the first priority. But modern commerce came to the rescue. Rechnitzer was able to find everything he needed on eBay!
It may appear to be a Ford Galaxie, but neighborhood kids confused it with being a playground. When Franklin Rechnitzer decided to restore the car, he had to undo many of those past sins. FRANKLIN RECHNITZER