Story of old man denied a car purchase

[Jdeere562]

I grew up in Exira, IA. in the 1960's. There was an old man that lived just outside the city. He looked like a homeless bum.
But I guess he had lot's of money. People just called him Red Carl because of his hair.

Actually his name was Red Carl (Hansen). Stories were that Red Carl went into buy a Ford one time and they wouldn’t sell it to him so he left and came back and announced he had bought the building. I have seen pics in the paper back then, but can't locate the old article. Showed him standing in the show floor of that Ford car dealership that he just bought.

Bank owned the building and he bought it from them. Fond memories from my childhood.

 

[walterjay]

I think I have heard that story once before.

 

[daves87rs]

That’s one way tot do it……

 

[Propflux01]

?? Maybe ??
https://www.hansenford.ca/

 

[Lubener]

That's why it's best not to judge a book by its cover.

 

[ecotourist]

Also best to look before you dismiss a potential customer.

In my last year of engineering college my roommate's sister was dating an orthopedic surgery resident whose father was also a doctor. He went in to a Buick dealership and wanted to buy a Riviera. He asked how much difference they would give him. They laughed and wouldn't even look at his car. So he drove away in his Lamborghini Countach. I don't suppose they're very good in the winter.

 

[svtrit]

I think I have heard that story once before.

Usually it’s a musician that is scruffy looking and the dealer won’t give him the time of day. So, he buys a Barracuda instead of a Camaro.

 

[Rand]

Pretty sure its been posted here before but search failed me.

 

[KrisZ]

Did he fire the salespeople and the GM? I certainly would.

 

[Kira]

Did he fire the salespeople and the GM?

Was the dealership part of the sale? (I didn't read the link).

 

[KrisZ]

He bought a building, not a dealership.

So he evicted them?

 

[Greenbeforeblue]

He shoulda raised the rent.

 

[Kruse]

My wife grew up in rural Texas and she always tells the story of a homeless lady who walked a section of highway every day. There was a bus line that ran this route every day and the seasoned drivers always knew that if they saw this female bum walking the highway, that they would stop and give her a ride to her next destination. One day a new bus driver was on his route and he didn't stop to give her a ride. As soon as he was done with his shift, he was called into the office where he saw his boss and the homeless lady. It turns out that the homeless lady owned the bus line and nobody had informed this new driver that he had to pick her up and give her a ride. He was fired on the spot.
True? Dunno. My wife's family says it's true, but it would have happened 50+ years ago. But it's always been the local legend.

 

[Jdeere562]

Was the dealership part of the sale? (I didn't read the link).

He did not buy the dealership. Just the building, so they had no place to conduct business.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Thats funny, because I worked in a GM dealership in the 90's as a kid and if you saw the owner and didn't know him, you would think he was there to sweep the floor. Was worth millions.

And trust me, if some old scruffy guy came in, he would sell him a new truck, because we did it all the time. Probably the most well to do guy in town owned a trucking company, and still drove the trucks occasionally - mostly road building. No AC back in those days, at least not for local trucking.

 

[spackard]

I think I downloaded this newspaper clip from here the last time it came up.

 

[Jdeere562]

I think I downloaded this newspaper clip from here the last time it came up.

View attachment 264859

That's one of the pics I remember. Thanks spackard!

 

[ATex7239]

That's why it's best not to judge a book by its cover.

Well except the fact most crazy homeless bums covers read exactly like the book.