Wow.. So today i found an 88 in the yard.. Never picked must have just got there as i didnt see it a week ago. SCORE! i thought to myself. I proceed to start stripping with my friend, took the hood ornament.. found a 2ND ornament in the back.. Found the original cargo cover WOOT !. This Jeep was a Gem, everything came off easily no struggling.. I look up and Boom a sunroof !! (if anyone needs sunroof parts let me know) As i an digging into the garbage i stop to take a few minutes to learn about the history of this Jeep.
As i read and look at pictures i beggin to understand the former owner. He was a spanish guy, worked in construction or landscaping, owned his own business. He had pictures of him and his crew posing on a new retaining wall that they were building.. They seemed happy, i would. Thats really good money i know as i do landscaping myself. I begin to find more pictures. One of his daughters, then i find THE picture ! The picture dated 1988, with this middle aged man standing in a business suit leaning one arm on the side mirror smiling next to a brand new shiny 1988 Grand Wagoneer with dealer tags still. I began to realize this guy was the original owner.. I thought to myself, why did he let it go after 30 years, I mean when picking it you see it has a brand new candy apple sparkle red paint job.. I mean brand new, the original color was black..
I look for more papers and see a yellow tag on the windshield wipers still holding it. It was VIOLATION VIOLATION VIOLATION in bold letter.. Dated 2-28-18. WOW so it was towed.. I look inside at more paperwork, the Jeep had multiple parking tickets inside and letters from the county. I then find 2 long letters written in spanish. I dont speak spanish but my friend does. She begins to read them and the story comes together. He was writing his wife in mexico telling her how stressed out he is. His mother is very ill, he has no money and is broke. He doesnt know what to do and he also complains about her requesting too much money. He sends every single dime he makes to mexico (a story we all know that immigrants do). He goes on about how he hates his life how he is drinking and cant find good work and he tells her he loves her and signs the letter.
So three things could have happened here.
1. This man died or committed suicide.
2. He got deported by ICE and that could be possible considering whats going on with immigration currently.
3. He couldnt afford anything anymore the Jeep wouldnt run and he didnt have the funds to tow it or get it moving and thus it was repo'd by the city he lived in and sold to a salvage yard due to its age. My guess is he looks in his 40's in the picture.. So 30 years later he simply might just be too old to work
Im going on 3.
But this was a very sad story, original owner you can see how good his life was back then. Standing happy next to his Brand new Grand Wagoneer. and lemme tell you this thing was a beauty new.. I took that one picture with me.
Just thought id share this story with you all.