-- [ From: Bob Nogueira * EMC.Ver #3.1a ] --
On"
: Thursday, 10-Dec-98 06:20 AM
>
: Stephen F. Bauserman said in part:
> Bob has great ideas, but he has this thing about cars with tractor engines
. I
> guess if you live in Dallas you can just go north over the state line for
trac
> . . . I mean, car parts.
>
Which brought to mind a message I sent to this list a couple of years ago.
Found it taking up space on my hard drive and figured I'd re post it for
some of the new comers
Bob Nogueira
On Thursday, 16-Jan-97 06:19 PM
: Gregory Petrolati wrote:
> We take a dim view of TR baiting, Here at Standard Farms...>:-[
How
> many Pintos can plow a field, pull a stump AND turn decent times
> autocrossin'?
Which is the perfect segue to my favor Morgan story.
Several years ago I was traveling in the Morgan through rural Oklahoma
( like there's a "Urban Oklahoma" ?) when i saw J&R's Tractor Parts and
Service . Now J & R may service tractors but it basically looked like a
farm tractor wrecking yard.
Having always heard the Vanguard (TR) engine was used by Massey Ferguson
but having never actually seen one, I figured I'd stop and take a look
around to see if I could spot something familiar.
Now those tales of the friendly westerners are to some extent exaggerated
and old 'J' of J&R could shame any New Yorker worth his egg cream.
When I pulled in he came out from the tin barn which housed the "service"
end of Parts and Service. Looking at the Morgan, he walked around it
slowly, never saying a word or letting a smile come close to his lips but
studying it as if it was at the county fair freak show. Seeing the
intensity of his scrutiny, and by this point wondering if he may not be
mute, I opened the bonnet for his inspection. When his eyes hit the engine
his first words were released , "GOD DAMN that's a MF M-F engine"!!!!. (
One set stands for Massey Ferguson)
With that I asked him, in my best southwestern good old boy voice,
"Ya' got any in back? "
"Got a row of them over by the south fence", he responded trying to regain
his Clint Eastwood demeanor.
Mind if I take a look ? I asked
"Go ahead"
Seeing that old 'J ' was not going to be a great source of conversation,
I headed to the south fence. Once I was away from the building I heard old
'J ' telling someone in the building ( I assume it was 'R') ,
" that SOBs running a Massey Ferguson engine in that g** d*** little German
car."
Having viewed the tractors, yes the engine blocks look the same but the
head and bolt-ons are different, I returned to the car where J&R were
both examining the Morgans engine.
As I approached they straighten up, and re-assumed the ' Clint Eastwood'
demeanor of never show them you care .
'J' asked, " find what you need ?
"Nope ! Maybe next time ." ( hey I've seen all those Eastwood movies too).
With that they turned and walked back to the tin barn, and I latched the
bonnet and headed down the road.
I 'll bet somewhere in eastern Oklahoma whenever the topic of engine swaps
comes up at Bubbas' Beer and Bar-B-Q, ol' J & R still tell the boys about
the crazy ass guy who put a tractor engine in the German sports car.
If you're ever traveling west out of Silom Springs and see J & R Tractor
Service, stop in and tell them the SOB with the Mercedes-Ferguson say
hello!
Bob Nogueira
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