Next to Athens Dodge Chrysler on the Atlanta Highway is Southern Surplus, a building materials supply center. Within the walls of their giant building sits a whole bunch of new and used construction items - windows, doors, screens, trim, etc. However, in the parking lot, completely hidden from the road sits this 1965 Cadillac Deville Convertible.

The 1965 Cadillac Deville convertible will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first car. I purchased mine off the side of Reservoir Road in Hollidaysburg Pennsylvania in July 1984. The term "first car" is somewhat misleading because it wouldn't pass Pennsylvania State Inspection, meaning I couldn't drive it. Truth be told, it was more project than actual transportation. But it ran well and the convertible top worked. Once I was able to get the coveted PA Inspection Sticker affixed to the windshield, I spent many miles exploring with the roof down.

I owned that car for 14 years before life intervened and I had to sell it. During that time, it never evolved far beyond the "project" stage. Even so, I still miss it tremendously and would own another one in a heartbeat ! But I don't have the skills or facilities to take on a project like this.

There isn't much left of it. The floor is gone too. I didn't see the seats anywhere in the area. Even so, there's nothing to attach them to. But other than that, the car does seem pretty complete.

This car has air conditioning, but not cruise control or power vent windows. It also has a relatively rare AM/FM "Wonderbar" radio.

It looks like its been here for a long time, as evidenced by the 1988 registration sticker on the license plate.

Yet, after all this time, some of the tires still held air.

This car seemed to be walking that fine line between "intense project" and "great parts car." But someone with the right skills and facilities could do something with it, especially since most of the hard-to-find exterior trim is still in place.