Doing the right thing, giving back my truck after 15 years

In about 2008, as the economy ground to a crawl, I was trying to keep my recently purchased practice going. 
 

I needed to eliminate as many personal expenses as possible, and a friend offered to give me an old truck that his son had inherited from his grandfather. 
 

It helped us eliminate a car payment, and has been one of the most reliable vehicles I've ever owned. I had to drive it about 250 miles to get home, and they told me it might make it, or I might not get out of the county. It was 20 years old, and had an estimated 350,000 miles (odometer had quit working at 243k in about 2000). 
 

I've probably driven it another 50,000 miles, and road tripped to NC, GA, and the FL panhandle. It's brought home both Miatas and the Morris Minor, and been crashed and repaired (T boned and totaled an F150 that failed to yield with minor damage to my truck). 
 

Some of venues I'm competing at are 4-5 hours away, so I finally needed something newer to replace it so I could start towing my cars to events. We bought a newer Expedition, and I've been working on the old truck to get it ready to sell. 
 

I finally crossed the last step off the list, and my neighbor expressed interest in buying it for $3000, but I couldn't do it. The truck is the only thing my friend's son inherited from his grandfather, and he had ridden cross country in it multiple times as a kid. 
 

I offered it back for free, same price that I paid. It's going home soon. I could use the money, I still need a trailer, but feel good. 
 

Picture from earlier today. I have spent about 20 hours sanding the hood to bare metal three times before I was satisfied. 
 

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

That's a good truck and you did the right thing.

You did the right thing. 

That's an upstanding move right there. 

You are a good man.

It will come back around.  Kindness finds kindness.

Karma is a real thing.  You have done a good thing!!!!!  I wish I had my dad's last car back. . . .   Ya just a 2015 Rav 4 but it was my dads last car.  

Perfect addition to this. His grandmother is living with him now, it was her husband that bought it new.

Pity I can only like it once. Especially seeing it came back to his grandmother too, and in better shape than she remembered it.

Great story! I salute you, and I wish all the best to you and your truck's family!

Outstanding thing to do.

High bar move, sir.

Well done!

when it comes to old cars we are not owners merely custodians.  Think of what you did as not just being given a truck but merely borrowing it for an extended period of time.  We tend to respect our friends when they respect our tools and return them in the same/better condition than we lent them out...  This is exactly what you did; a friend saw you had a need for a tool, he let you borrow it, you preserved/improved it, and now that you're finished with it you're returning it to its rightful owner.  

Now if only my neighbor would have done the same with my weed whip.  

Classy move. If only the rest of the world was so right.

Thanks everyone, I never expected such wonderful support. 
I found a picture of the hood from one of my attempts at prepping for paint. It got pretty good by the third try (this wasn't it). 

You , sir, are a class act.  Well done.

Development.

It turns out, its not going to happen.

I got a text this evening. Changed his mind, doesn't have a place to keep it or work on it, etc. I tried to convince him that I really wanted him to get it back. No go.

His dad and I haven't talked yet, but I doubt he wants it back at his place either. They live about six hours apart, and dad's got a 70 nova project that may take another year to complete. Also, one of the reasons I was offered the truck originally was to get it out of dad's place.

I'll check with my neighbor, I don't know if he's serious about buying it. Anyone want an 88 c20? California purchased, then west Texas, and Florida. Never seen salt, 100% rust free.

Damn. I wanted him to have it. Sorry everyone, I really didn't mean to string you all along. I should have waited until he picked it up before posting.

That is sad. Guess no one asked the grandma...

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

Well, you did the right thing and made the offer. An old truck just doesn't fit into everyone's life. Sometimes practical considerations win out over sentimental ones.  

Can only give 1 thumbs up but I want to give 100 for you trying to do the right thing

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

Development.

It turns out, its not going to happen.

I got a text this evening. Changed his mind, doesn't have a place to keep it or work on it, etc. I tried to convince him that I really wanted him to get it back. No go.

His dad and I haven't talked yet, but I doubt he wants it back at his place either. They live about six hours apart, and dad's got a 70 nova project that may take another year to complete. Also, one of the reasons I was offered the truck originally was to get it out of dad's place.

I'll check with my neighbor, I don't know if he's serious about buying it. Anyone want an 88 c20? California purchased, then west Texas, and Florida. Never seen salt, 100% rust free.

Damn. I wanted him to have it. Sorry everyone, I really didn't mean to string you all along. I should have waited until he picked it up before posting.

 

could you sell it and send him the money or perhaps donate it to his favorite charity?  i.e. did he have any wishes for what to do with the vehicle or just that he doesn't want it.  

It's sold. My neighbor owns it now. 
He has been having a string of bad luck, his pick up truck got totaled sitting in front of his house, and then the beautiful 90s Integra that he had restored from a bare shell got totaled a few days ago. He got a helicopter ride out of that one.
 

Uninsured drivers, both times. 
 

I had floated a suggestion that I would ask for $3000, but when I learned the circumstances, I told him I wasn't messing around, and he could have it for $2000. I feel like his recent run of bad luck fits the situation I was in when I got it, so I was good with making the deal that I offered.  I don't have to mess around with selling it and it's going to someone who really needs it.