Crown Victoria Association -

Joe and Marcy Sandella - 50 Years of Marriage and Fords

On August 2, 2019, Marcy and I celebrate 50 years of marriage. During that entire time, Marcy (really Marceline) gets credit for her patience while I chase parts, spend money, and get greasy in the garage. Here is the latest adventure which she supported. In February 2016, I bought our 1956 Victoria from an Arkansas seller on eBay for $28,000. Friend Butch Forte and I drove a trailer down to Gravette, Arkansas to get it, and drive straight back to North Haven, Connecticut, non-stop, to bring it home. It was done to a good standard, but I wanted better. So, a repaint, new interior, new rubber, new brakes, rebuilt motor and transmission were done, to the tune of $18,000. I also installed a new windshield, replated bumpers, Diamondback radials, and glass packs. CVA member Hal Bailey of Savona, NY sold me the missing bumper jack. I lowered the car two inches and added Dodge Lancer wheel covers. I kept one of the 10 Commandments for Car Collectors: “Thee shall not tell thy wife the cost of the latest restoration; at least, not all at one time.” I am 76 and Marcie is 72…but she looks younger than her years. Look at how neatly she fits in the trunk of our Victoria!

Much credit belongs to my expert friend, Jim Donroe, who was meticulous in doing upgrades on mechanical restorations. All was done in a little over a year. Then in 2018, I took the car to the Adirondacks Nationals with 6,000 cars competing. Our car was voted “One of the Top 50”, and it will be in the Winners Circle this year. It is always driven, never trailered. Our ’56 also took 1st Place at the Booth Memorial Show, Time Machine Car Show, and the Quinnipiac Auto Show.

Marcy also has culinary skills. She makes wonderful jams and jellies—more than we can eat. So, we sometimes sell them at car shows. And that’s how we got to meet Jim Rock and Jay Baptista last year at a Dedham, Massachusetts car show. In the trunk of our Victoria we had Marcy’s jams and jellies for sale. Jim and Jay came along and drooled on my rear fender. I thought they just liked the car. No! It was the jams and jellies. They asked how much for one, and I told them. Then they asked how much for all the jams and jellies in the trunk! A deal was struck, and all of Jim’s and Jay’s friends got Marcy’s jellies for Christmas last year.