[Bill Murray]

Nigel:
I would like to add my condolences to those of the others.
However, I will tell you a true story that may give you at least some heart.
When I moved from the state of Connecticut to the State of Georgia, my employer at the time, SAAB, allowed me to store my vehicle collectio of the time in an unused sheet metal barn similar to your hanger, with two roll to the side doors. They had built a huge warehouse, which was part of my responsibility, on a former farm and the barn for some reason was left standing.

In that barn were two 1974 American Motors Matador coupes, a 1974 Chrysler ex police car, two 1956 Ford trucks, a pickup and a panel truck, a 1938 short wheelbase International schoolbus, a 1958 Mercedes 220Se coupe. I was told some months after I moved that they had decided to raze the barn and I had to arrange for the removal of the vehicles. I had a friend/co-worker get the keys to the doors and hire a tow truck.

When they arrived at the barn, all the locks had been broken, the doors were still shut and what they found inside made them sick as well I was a bit later when they called. Every vehicle had been vandalized to the extent that they were hardly recognizable and not that restorable as they were "collectable" vehicles, not "collectors" vehicles. Every panel on every vehicle had been smashed by sledge hammers, every piece of glazing was totally smashed, all interiors were destroyed, tyres slashed etc. All that was easily removable from the motors had been removed and smashed. They were essentially junk. My friend salvaged what he could and had it sent here.

Now, some years later, I have four "collectible" cars in my own yard under my own watch that I will some day finish restoring including two 1956 Ford pickups which will inherit some of the bits from the earlier ones, and two 1969 Chevrolets. One is a former police car and one is a panel truck that was a Fire Department rescue vehicle.

I realize that my vehicles were not something that I made my living off of but I hope you get my message that it is not necessarily all over and one can start again. Knowing your reputation for faithful and careful restoration I certainly hope that you do get right back to it.

Regards,
Bill