Chasing Unicorns
I remember a time when vintage steel could be seen everywhere. Back in the 1970’s they were just old cars gathering rust in back yards. Parked for one reason or another and left to the elements. As the years passed by these cars met with different fates. Some were sold as derelicts to some young car enthusiast while others wasted away. Eventually there came a time when seeing a 1957 Chevy in a yard was like encountering a unicorn. Of course these days there are still plenty of old cars sitting in fields across the United States, however, a Toyota Camry doesn’t really grab my attention like an old Tri-Five Chevrolet.
Last week my friend Rock, from Shelby County, Alabama, heard about a 1956 Ford Victoria that was “supposedly” sitting in a yard near Schultz, Alabama. You won’t find Schultz on a map. Not unless the map you are looking at is at least 50 years old. Rock was born and raised in Schultz and hadn’t been there in over two decades. At 87 years old, Rock is getting up there in his years so I wasn’t really surprise to hear him say that. He rarely goes far from home these days. However, Rock was up for an adventure and when Sunday came around we headed out, looking for a unicorn.
We had very little information on the car or it’s actual location. This was a real Easter egg hunt. Being optimistic for Rock’s sake I put on a smile, but deep down inside I knew we would never find the car. We had no address, just a general location. We had no name, so there was no one to ask for, and we had no phone number, so calling ahead was out of the question. Just FYI, there is no cell service in Schultz, Alabama.
Road trip
The trip south from Birmingham was nice. Rock knew the area well. As we drove Rock would point things out along the way.“There was a filling station over there”, however it was long gone by now.
“I worked back down that road over yonder”, pointing to a road that lead to a coal mine that has long been closed.
“There’s a small town up here called Six Mile,” followed up with, “I never understood why they called it Six Mile?”
FYI, there is nothing in Six Mile but a country store with a few tow trucks parked out front.
As we crossed a bridge nearing our destination Rock pointed out where he and his friends used to swim as boys so many decades ago.
No signs
There are no road signs for Schultz and Mapquest was of no use, so I relied on Rock to remember the way. One has to realize that so many things have changed over the decades. Prominent buildings used as reference are long gone with new ones in their place. Dirt roads have been either widened or they have been paved over. However, Rock didn’t miss a turn. It was like riding a horse back to the stable, you don’t have to lead a horse home, the horse knows the way. And Rock knew the way back to the town of his birth, even if the town is no longer there.
A spring feeds Schultz Creek, which in turn feeds into the Cahaba River. Finding a road by the same name we drove back down a one lane road passing the creek itself and later a small church and cemetery. However, we didn’t pass that 1956 Ford we were so desperately looking for. After driving another mile we turned around and started making our way back. Getting back to the main road we could see it. Sitting up and to the left, just behind an old farm house, there it was. A 1956 Ford Victoria. I was amazed. I couldn’t believe that we had actually found it.
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| Hunting for a 1956 Ford Victoria in rural Alabama in an area without cell service is not impossible. We located the car. |
Anybody home?
With the first task completed, locating the car, we now had to check and see if anyone was home. The house looked abandoned. Of course, being the optimist, I knew no one would be around, thus making it a wasted trip. However, I was still really happy to have actually found the car. Unicorns do exist. Pulling in the drive I honked on the horn alerting anyone in the house or on the property that we were there. We both got out of the truck and as Rock was reaching into the bed of the truck for his walking cane, I walked up onto a wooden porch and knocked on the door. It was eerily quiet. “Oh well. I hope we brought something to write on.” I thought to myself as I walked back to the truck. I felt bad for Rock, to get so close and not be able to actually venture out onto private property to see it. It’s right there. Maybe 75 yards away. This moment was so bitter sweet. We found it but we couldn’t touch it.
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| Looking through broken passenger side window of a 1956 Ford Victoria. |
Bygone Era
I was searching the cab of the truck for a pen and paper when an older gentleman appeared. He was younger then Rock, but not by much, and he too had a cane he used to lean on when walking. Rock introduced himself and asked if he knew a fellow by the name…well, you know where this is going. These two older men from a bygone era seemed to have so many friends and acquaintances in common you’d thought they grew up together. Now the car wasn’t for sale, which really didn’t make a difference, because Rock didn’t want another 1956 Ford. He already had one. Rock just wanted to see this old car in person and his new friend was more than willing to show him the car. As the two men made their way, both using their canes, they started talking about the people they knew and then about the car that was sitting before us. However as time progressed, things got real interesting. The two started talking about the cars they had as teenagers and the mischief they got into while driving those cars. Over the next two hours I heard stories of drag racing and running from the law. Then came the stories about moonshiners and the revenue men. We sometimes forget about the history these old backwoods communities have with alcohol and the law.
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| Rock, 87, stands beside his black 1956 Ford Victoria in Alabama. |
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| For as long as I have known Rock, he has always had an old car in his garage. His latest gem is this 1956 Ford Crown Victoria with the much coveted 312 Y-block motor usually found in the Thunderbirds of the era. Being a Crown Victoria, it came from the factory with all the bells and whistles.
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It was a Good Day
After some time and so many awesome stories we made our way back to the driveway where we exchanged numbers and bided our new friend farewell. As we were pulling out of the drive to head home I looked over at Rock, he was grinning ear to ear.I was so happy he got to see that unicorn. I was so blessed to have been able to see it with him.
Scott Johnson, contributor
— Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust
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| A Ford 312 Y-block engine hides under Rock’s ’56 hood. Along with all the factory options, this Ford has a modern sound system that will blow you out of the car and if it doesn't, there is always the ice-cold Vintage Air that will freeze you out. |
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