Tim has a hobby (well tolerated by Guadalupe) of keeping old machines in operation. In addition to a 4-foot high 1940's vintage Zenith radio, some antique tube-type amplifiers, and an 8-track tape player/recorder, he also has three vehicles, two from the 1950's and one from the model year 1960.

Nellybelle has been Tim's reliable companion for over 20 years now. It's a 1956 Ford Mainline that he purchased in Georgia. Tim's very first automobile as a teenager was a 1956 Ford, and those feelings of nostalgia are largely responsible for his selection of this vehicle.

Of course, all machines need attention once in a while. Here Tim and Oscar are replacing a leaking gas tank.

The youngest of Tim's old vehicles is this 1960 Studebaker Champ pickup truck. Tim trailered this one home to Georgia from Amarillo, Texas in March of 2004. The price was right, and Tim just couldn't resist.

This truck has a Studebaker 259-cubic-inch V8 engine and overdrive that makes it scamper effortlessly down the interstate highways. It has just over 40,000 original miles.

View more images of this vehicle.

Tim's biggest project is this 1955 DeSoto, which is the most powerful and luxurious of the three old cars but also the one in need of the most work. It sports a 291 Hemi engine with a super-smooth automatic transmission and power steering.

This car was acquired almost by accident. Tim placed a bid on it to help raise money for a non-profit medical facility that serves people in need. As luck would have it, Tim's was the highest bid, and the rest is history. And speaking of luck, the car starts, stops, and drives well. Not bad for a blind purchase.