Running On The Memories

OctogenarianOctogenarian’s Ford Model A — And His First Love — Are A Hit At Car Shows

(CBS)  At the 56th Annual fall meet of the Horseless Carriage Club, an antique car show in western Connecticut, most of the cars were meticulously restored - real stand-outs.

Which is why one special car really stood out.

"The paints all worn out, the cotton is coming out of the seats, there's a hole in the running board,” Cleve Curtis says. “It's the worst looking car at every car show."

A boy paused to check out the car. “Yuck,” he says.

And yet the judges are always impressed with Curtis’ old Ford Model A, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports.

“I won 15 trophies so far with it,” Curtis says.

How come he wins?

“Because of the story,” he says.

The story is about why Cleve Curtis held onto the same car - his first car - for more than 70 years now.

“Which is, every word of it’s true,” he says.

He bought it in 1937, used, paid all of $10 - it was a lot for a 15-year-old kid in the depression. Curtis says he got the money selling junk he found in trash piles. And for fuel, he stole his dad’s moonshine.

"I put that booze in the gas tank and son of a gun it run good!” Curtis says.

It's a shame you don't still have the still.

“I still got it!” he says. “It smelled nice when it was burning. The exhaust - you’d like to stand there and keep whiffing it.”

And that’s not the best part of his story.

His wife, he talks about her very nicely.

“Oh she was an absolute jewel,” Curtis says.

What was it about her that made her so special?

“She didn't drink, smoke or swear," he deadpans.

A true angel. Curtis shows Hartman a picture of his wife.

"Well worn out. I've been carrying that since ’39," he says.

Her name was Dorothy.

"There she is, the day we got married," with the car right behind her, Curtis says. And "there she is with my two daughters."

They were married 55 years, and Curtis says they went to a lot of places in that car. Most notably - first base.

"She was sitting right here and I was parked across the street from her house," he says.

It was his first kiss.

"What a feeling that was, I tell ya.” he says. “Jesus - all the bells rang."

Curtis says he knew right then he’d marry that girl and offered up a symbol of his commitment.

"I had a little jack knife and I carved my initials and I said, ‘You carve your initials,’” he said. “And I'm glad them initials are still in the steering wheel. Even though she's gone - there's that memory."

She died in 1998 after 56 years of wedded bliss.

"A lot of good memories - very good memories," as Curtis puts it.

And that’s the story Curtis has been telling at antique car shows across Connecticut. Now he’s up to 16 trophies.

Of course the hardware isn’t why he comes to the car shows. For Curtis, it’s just another chance to go for a weekend drive with his loved one - and his car.

[jacozz]

A wonderful story. I was at that show and talked to Mr. Curtis. He is a remarkable man.It was also nice to see my car,the red 1931 Dodge Brothers coupe,in the beginning of the segment on national TV.

[ssm9451]

What a feel good story!!!

As for DWFinkler~get a life.

[mendrinski]

Great story. We should all be less worried about the faults of others and learn from their strenghts. How touching to hear Cleve talk so tenderly about his wife. I think Jesus likes Cleve!

[dreamingirl]

How sad, that all DWFinkler came away with was a swaer word. I came away with a love story about a man who loved and rspected his wife for all their married years and who is still telling that story. As for me, it is why I am and why I will continue to watch the CBS Evening News. Keep these stories coming; this is what America needs.

[aeasus]

Really great story!
And it runs on BOOZE!!

[rdinwiddie1]

I was touched by Cleve Curtis''s story on the CBS Evening News broadcast tonight. I noticed the worn, faded and tattered photos of his wife and his old car. I am a professional photo restoration artist and would be happy to rejuvenate them (those displayed on tonight''s show) for him at no charge. If an interested friend can scan his photos at 1 to 5 megabytes each and send them as e-mail attachments (1 at a time), I will fix them and e-mail them back. They can be sent to [e-mail]. I want nothing in return. Best wishes Cleve!

Rhonda

[dwfinkler]

Dear Sir or Madam:

In this piece the elderly man used Jesus Christ''s name as a swear word. Your rules of registration forbid this for e-mailers but it wasn''t bleeped out. It was offensive to me and probably to many other viewers. The increasing sleaze and declining civility in television is a maatter of public discourse and dismay. It''s sad that it''s also found in news programs. I won''t be watching CBS Evening News in the future. Thank you for your attention.