When a Car’s Story Finds You

Today I had one of those conversations that reminded me exactly why Autolor was born.

Earlier today, someone reached out to me on Facebook Marketplace about the Edsel—but not to buy it. Instead, they wanted to share its story. That alone caught me off guard. What made it even more surreal is that this was everything I had hoped might happen… and it arrived completely out of the blue while the car was listed for sale.

Several months ago, I had tried to track down Ernie, a former owner of the car. When I learned he was around 95 years old, I hesitated. I found a phone number online but ultimately decided not to call. Something didn’t feel quite right at the time. Looking back now, I’m genuinely glad I waited—because it feels like something was quietly set in motion that day.

About six months later, it all came together.

This afternoon, I had the privilege of speaking with Zach, a close friend of Ernie’s. Zach reached out simply because he recognized the car—and because he cared about its story. He shared that Ernie had owned the Edsel from sometime in the 1970s until about a year ago. Now 96 years old, Ernie is living in a nursing home and dealing with dementia, which made it unlikely he’d be able to talk about the car himself.

Still, the story lived on through the people who knew him.

According to Zach, Ernie always owned the Edsel since some time in the 70's. While Ernie’s son drove it during high school, the car was eventually garaged and intentionally preserved once another vehicle was purchased. Despite spending nearly its entire life in Illinois, the Edsel remained surprisingly solid—a reflection of decades of quiet care.

What struck me most wasn’t just the history—it was the hope behind it. Zach expressed that he’d love to see the car stay in the general area and end up in the right hands. Not because it’s rare. Not because it’s valuable. But because it’s unique, and because its story matters.

Ernie is the older gentleman seated in the photo, with his son standing beside him. This is a reminder that cars like this don’t just pass through owners, they pass through people.

This is why Autolor exists. Not just to catalog vehicles, but to preserve the human stories attached to them. Sometimes you go looking for those stories. And sometimes—when the timing is right—they find you.