After 50 years... one onalaska man is having to part ways with his prized possession, and piece of american history.

News 8's alec giannakopoulos had a look this morning at a car that has been with this man all of his life.

It was love at first sight when david beckman first saw the ford model a when he was a boy.

After winning it in an auction, beckman finds himself putting the car up for auction, after five decades of enjoying it.

"when david beckman drives his 1931 model a, it makes him feel like a kid again.

I'm gonna let this start without the starter motor... whoops after all, he was a kid when he first laid eyes on his car.

Since i was a young boy, i fell in love with this car.

I was probably 7, or 8 years old.

My dad called and said joe is selling his car, i know you always wanted that car, why don't you come up and buy it, so i did.

It's amazing, because you know you're driving something.

We'll let them enjoy the car.

Car horn nats and in his time, he's made sure he could take care of his car.

Wax it once a year, never put water on it, never wash it.... so we had to take the whole fender off had to remove this entire fender, and repaint the whole thing.

Well that kind of maintenance is expenseive.

While mr. beckman's wallet was able to keep up with the demands of the coupe, he had learned that his body could not.

I found out i had puliminary fibrosis and feeling okay, i decided i would downsize while i can, i can do that.

I would't want to burden our four children with that.

Plus, they probably wouldn't do it right anyway laughs " and what will beckman miss the most?

"giving people rides, it's just so much fun seeing how they react."

More than anything, beckman's happy for the times he had with his car, and his family.

"there've been two special things in my life.

Number one my wife, and number two my model a.

It's been very special."

And while beckman is sad to see the car go, he told me that the process had gone well, and he is happy to put it up for auction, where he knows his car will still be taken out for a spin.

And if you are interested in owning the model a, it will be on auction may 3-rd in spring grove minnesota.

And more important than the price, beckman wants to make sure it'll be in the hands of an owner who will take care of