I may have found the Original Owner of my Honcho

[Phaydon]

I have the original Warranty and stuff for my 76 Honcho, and I noticed the original owners name on it. I hopped on White pages online and looked him up. I believe I found him. I hope it is him, but the address and everything syncs up. He lives in Orrville OH and the truck was bought in a near town to there... I just wouldnt mind getting in contact with him because I thought it would be pretty cool to talk to the fella that enjoyed my Honcho when it was prime. I only imagine it had to be more than prime ordering it brand new from AMC. So I thought it might be pretty interesting to talk to him, and see if he has any old pics of it, and let him know I am fixin her up.

[Tigger4X]

This sounds like it would be an interesting ride to go on. Keep us posted

[Brizio]

Nice! So he can give you some infos, and maybe some old pics...

[Headhoncho]

The po of my truck would probably kill me if he saw what I did to mine.



JR

[Jeep'rs Creep'rs]

hmm, might be a little creepy to some folks. personally, i think it would be cool if someone contacted me about a vehicle i once owned, someone who had the same enthusiasm about it as i do, but i could see some people being a little weird about it...

[Phaydon]

I got a hold of him, and he lived the same place as when he bought the truck in 76. He seemed maybe a little weirded out, but I dont think it was weirded out so much as just suprised that some kid called about his Honcho he owned for 15 years. especially from a different state. He told me more info about it, and he told me how he just loved the way it looked so he bought it from the dealer floor. He is sending me pictures in the mail and was happy to hear I am putting it back together the way it was back then. I will use the pictures as a guide to make the build as accurate as I can. I told him about the people that owned it last screwing about everything mechanical up. He was suprised how much time and money I have tied up in it. I told him it was worth every minute/Penny. I thanked him for getting the rediculous rust proofing on it when he bought it because with out it, it would be swiss cheese. He liked the truck alot and that was good to hear and I am going to send him a picture once I get the paint and decals on it. I guess some people are different but I dont think he minded that I contacted him. He figured it was in a salvage yard or crushed and made into a Toyota or something. He had no idea that I was up here bringing her back to her original state.

[joe]

Phaydon, that's very cool. Keep him in the loop with lotsa pics of your progress. While you're telling us I'll bet he's telling his grandkids. Back 82? when I was the 3rd owner of a 42 ft wood commercial fishing boat in AK I hunted down the guy that built it in 63. Guy was 93 and near blind when I met him but we became great friends with a common bond till he passed on at age 98. I'd even met one of his grandkids that looked me up to tell me what joy I brought to his grandpa by taking good care of "his" boat.
Good on you Phaydon hope you made a friend.

[WHSII]

I will lay money down that you made his day, and he is still talking about you and the Jeep.

Keep him informed, see if he has internet, or if one of his family does, it will be easier for you to keep him informed.

I bet he will become part of the truck again.

I would love to have someone contact me about one of my old rides, but alas, when I was done with them, they were ready for the crusher. LOL

WH

[Pman]

Phaydon, that is a great story (and a great idea to look him up).

HeadHoncho, I about spit my beer on my computer screen when I read your response. Hysterical!!!

[Jeep'rs Creep'rs]

that's awesome, i'm glad it worked out!

[tkiller13]

I did the same thing to the owner of my maxiwagon. He was shocked on the condition. Very cool

[Mars]

That's awesome! I've always wondered about doing that.

[Chuck Brown]

Originally Posted by joe

Phaydon, that's very cool. Keep him in the loop with lotsa pics of your progress. While you're telling us I'll bet he's telling his grandkids. Back 82? when I was the 3rd owner of a 42 ft wood commercial fishing boat in AK I hunted down the guy that built it in 63. Guy was 93 and near blind when I met him but we became great friends with a common bond till he passed on at age 98. I'd even met one of his grandkids that looked me up to tell me what joy I brought to his grandpa by taking good care of "his" boat.
Good on you Phaydon hope you made a friend.

Joe, I know exactly, and I mean EXACTLY what you mean! For 10 years, I worked on a wooden 36' commercial fishing boat (Lobster Boat, actually) designed and built by brothers that would come to be the modern day Grandfathers of Down East lobsterboat design. As a teen and young man, I dreamed of maybe someday buying that boat and over the next 25 years, and despite having moved away I would still think back to that boat. Lo' and behold, not 24 hours ago, I find out through FB that the sons of those old fellas (now passed on) found that 40 year old boat sitting in sorry shape and purchased it back 8 months ago and are now rebuilding her (deck, a few ribs, house). Its funny how these things sort of take hold of ya, eh?

Thanks for sharing.

Chuck Brown

[XeroSolution]

Bought mine from the original (dead) owner's son in law who inherited it and took it 700 miles away only to come back within 15 miles of where the guy worked which is across the street from my office and same field of business.
Makes you wonder sometimes..

[jeeper54]

I had an XJ that I found a repair receipt with the owners name & number on it wedged under the seat. I was curious about the history since it was 13 years old but like brand new. She was kinda weird at first being a senior citizen and then told me about buying it new and I was the second owner since they had just traded it in. They ordered the off road package which I really liked and she became very happy that it was in good hands. We talked for about 15 min. and I had to promise to take care of it. I also promised to destroy the receipt!

[Phaydon]

Maybe when I am done with the truck I will drive it down there and get a picture with him and the truck and let him take it for a spin if he is still around by the time its finished... But I have made tremendous progress since buying it. I just wish someone would call here for my dad asking about his 78 Honcho that was copper color with a 3 speed. Unfortunately even in the mid 80's it was pretty well cooked up here and sold it to his friends dad as a plow rig, so the odds are slim... My dad actually used the trucks hard, but from what the original owner of my Honcho told me he used it alot too, but it doesnt show much. I guess a big burst of motivation just hit me. Now its not only for my personal enjoyment it would light him up too.

[Thomas792]

At first I wasn't going to look at this post. I really don't like thinking about "original owner" and Jeep in the same sentence. My CJ7 was in my family since new. 17 years later with only the paint job left to do (I had EVERYTHING in the Jeep to make it very capable offroad), it was stolen never to be recovered. To make matters worse it was the day after my wedding day. I always get a little sad when I think about it.

Anyway, back to your thread. I was reading through and I saw Orrville, OH. I know a couple people at my work were born and grew up in Ohio (I'm from Michigan so there is always some good natured comments flying back and forth.) I googled to see where Orrville was and see if it was nearby any of the towns the people lived in as they may actually know the guy. When I zoomed out I saw something that made my hair stand on end, maybe no connection but it is a possibility. About 12 miles away there is a town called Wooster.

Now we get to the exciting part. My boss's boss's father was a ... Jeep dealer in Wooster, OH in the '60s and '70s. 517 East Liberty Street to be exact. I think this goes along with another thread from before that somehow all Jeeps are linked (the thread was that when the owner of a Jeep read a thread about something happening to someone else's Jeep, his Jeep would experience a similar situation.) Same thing happens in the Marine Corps where you know someone who knows someone and 20 years ago you were on a deployment together. It's a small world after all.

[Phaydon]

The guy Lived in Wooster I believe at one point. The truck is from Farina Motors in Massillon OH. I dont know in relavence to Orville it is but that is what my receipt says when it was bought new.

[Thomas792]

I'll pass that to my boss. His father and one of the other local dealers were good friend.

[Phaydon]

That would be cool . It is very helpful atleast having the paper work for the truck. I wish you could get a brand new Honcho for 6500. Thats how much mine was new, and I almost have that into it and its not even close to being new...