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Times-Advocate, 1979-06-27, Page 14Times-Advocate, June 27, 1979Page 14 Irish chassis with American Remember when Lester Pearson was the foremost peacemaker in the world, when Montreal fans went wild at Maurice “The Rocket” Richard’s suspension and when the emphasis in automotive styling circles was on the use of chrome. Person’s collecting automobiles are nothing new; as soon as we the car purchaser buy a car we are in essence a car collector. Over the year’s man’s appreciation for the automobile as a styling and mechanical highlight has increased at a rate equal to, if not surpassing sales of automobiles. In this area there are several individuals who have grown fond of autos that are definitely not antiques but could best be described as special interest autos. Over the years the name Studebaker has been associated with leading the way for technological change among North J _______ Princess has Rolls body Collectors relive past era with autos of different sorts American manufacturers. Mention the names “Hawk" and “Avant 1 to knowledgeable auto people and one is bound to receive some positive automotive feedback. Unfortunately Studebaker was unable to compete with automotive giants such as General Motors, Ford. Chrysler or AMC and as such, went out of business in 1966. Tom Arthur of Exeter is well acquainted with this make, one of the few makes in recent years that was assembled only in Canada since his father Graham sold Studebakers fiom his Main street garage for 20 years. Arthur found his 1955 Studebaker Speedster back in 1972 in a Stratford wrecking yard Arthur termed shape." The car which 60,000 miles on its was in good mechanical shape with the only new parts being a new exhaust in what “rough now has odometer and break lines. The body required extensive work over its year and a half restoration period including a new floor and new fenders. Arthur said his father, Larry Brintnell and the other staff at the garage all chipped in to help get the car road­ worthy. Arthur said the Speedster was one of the most ad­ vanced cars of its day with a four barrel carb, V-8, automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes. Back in 1955 the car sold $5,000. Today, the auto which Arthur paid $500 for is worth in the $4,000 range he said. The restoration of the car has been a labour of love with Arthur saying he derived a greater sense of satisfaction out of working on the classic than actually driving it. Sometime later this year he said he plans to have a completed body job done on Arthur said for around COME RIDE WITH ME — This 1962 Austin Princess Vanden Plas is the pride and joy of Brian Stevens of st. Joseph. Stevens who will start a limousine service from the Bayfield marina soon, found the car on the front la vn of an English rock musician’s home. T-A photo A CAR WITH A SOUTHERN DRAWL — John Wurm's 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Club Victoria spent most of its life in North Carolina. The car is almost all original with John and his father T-A photo Ito both of Exeter replacing only headliner, carpet and the parcel shelf. the car. There’s been no problem in obtaining parts with Arthur’s membership in the Studebaker Owners Club of America proving helpful for those hard to find items. A car which is only a few years younger than the Arthur machine is the 1957 Ford Fairlance “500” Club Victoria owned by John Wurm of Exeter. Wurm acquired the car which live most of its life in North Carolina from Hensall Motor Sales. The student at Fanshawe College in London said he wanted a car which was made in the year in which he was born and the Ford fit the bill. Wurm owns a Ford Model A from the 1930’s but that he originally wanted a Chevrolet product from the 50’s The Victoria which he bought in 1977 is in what could best be described as immaculate condition with . John and his father having only the parcel shelf, headliner and carpet. The Ford looks majestic in its cream and yellow colour scheme combined with rear fender skirts and wide whitewall tires. The car which has been driven just slightly more than 58,000 miles is in ex­ cellent mechanical shape with the Wurms looking after all the routine maintenance tasks. The Victoria is driven only during pleasant weather with Wurm saying the car is kept “high and dry” during the winter in one of the Wurm’s sheds. An indication of the meticulous care which is lavished upon the car is that it has never been washed by its present owner. When dirty, the car is wiped down with a damp chamois. Undercoating the car with their own oil mixture will help the car last longer Wurm said, adding he’s had many an offer to sell. With a wink of his eye Wurm said the car is not quite authentic. If you know where I can pick up some foam dice to hang from the rear-view mirror let me know.” There was some problem initially getting the auto properly insured since 1957 Fords are valued at $50 by insurance companies. Wurm saidthe auto had to be ap­ praised by the insurance company. Collecting cars become a part of Wurm’s makeup with the fiddle player for Roger Quick’s country and western bank saying he would like to acquire a 1955 to 57 Ford Thunderbird or a convertible from that decade. The trip from the Wurm household to the Randy Gilfillan residence may be only a few blocks but when it. comes to their cars, they’re worlds apart. Sitting on the grass is a very low, very wide, very red two seater which resembles a cross between an Austin-Healey and Jaguar XKE. In reality the car is 1957 Devin, one of the first Anglo- American hybrids. The car’s body was designed and built by a Californian boat builder and mounted on a chassis manufactured in Ireland. The auto is powered by a Chevrolet V-8. He found the Devin by accident in 1975 while looking for Chevrolet Cor­ vettes to sell. Gilfillan said he took a look at the car in its London garage and “drove it home the next day.” The employee of Tuckey beverages says there is very little information available on. the Devin but he’s determined that only a “handfull" were made one of which is owned by a Niagara Falls automobile museum. Gilfillan said one of the most outstanding features of the car is its fiberglass body which according to its owner is in excellent condition. The Devin is what one could call your bare-bone sports car; tiny doors with no windows, seats that are only inches above the floor and a throaty exhaust system. Compared to the Corvette the car is very light and accelerates at more than an adequate pace. Since it’s been Gilfillan's possession, the Devin has seen the Canadian winter on only two occasions. “I drive it in about the same weather as motorcyclists ride,” he said. It’s been difficult to place a value on the car which is original right down to its tires but Gilfillan believes the auto should be sold for around $5,000. Oh yes, to those energy concious people in the crowd, on a recent trip to Oshawa Gilfillan said he averaged 26 miles to the gallon. Brian Stevens of St. Joseph’s also owns a car that is a head turner but for a different reason. Stevens owns a 1962 Austin Princess Vanden Plas which personifies the English auto industry as it once was, distinctive and refined. This car has character, eighteen feet long as a tall as a truck and with as much interior room as a North American sized van. Stevens who operates Cantin House which is an antique and speciality shop, had the car shipped over from England last October with the intent of running a in limousine service from the Bayfield marina to the village and surrounding municipalities, The Princess was found on the front lawn of a rock musician in London, England when he and his wife were on a buying trip. The car had its first outing when it was used at a wed­ ding in Zurich a few weeks ago. Stevens said the cars were used by English funeral parlours for funerals and weddings during the 15 years in which they were manufactured. The car is powered by an inline six cylinder engine coupled to four speed transmission. The car’s body which was made by the same company which manufac­ tures bodies for Rolls Royce is in excellent condition. The car has all leather upholstery and a solid oak dashboard and trim. The car of which there were few than 1,200. made, was also used by the diplomatic core and as such, has a glass divider separating the driver from his passengers. In the back there is a regular back seat plus a seat which can be folded. Stevens said he’s had quite a few interesting looks while driving the car which retains its right hand driving position. The owner said he is considering the car’s colour from its present black to a cream colour. 663 VMA which is its original English registration is a car that can’t be missed. has IWImW Iy .......—■....... I, 'I" *.‘i.* >: Auction Sale EH^mpi A MAKE THAT IS NO MORE The auto which Tom Arthur of Exeter decided to restore was a simple choice since his father Graham sold Studebakers for 20 years. Arthur said his 1955 Studebaker Speedsxer was in excellent mechanical shape when found in a Stratford wrecking 7 • T-A photo & 1 ■ ■ of Household furnishings, Antiques, Tractors, Tools and Wood. On Wed. July 4 6:30 p.m. sharp For Mr. Leonard Desjardine, 38 Gill Road, Grand Bend HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS — Chesterfield bed, chesterfield chair, odd chairs, double wooden bed, plywood desk, wooden dinette table, Coronado refrigerator, Dominion four-burner electric stove, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, RCA radio, wicker clothes basket, small amount of cooking uten­ sils and dishes, a few other items. ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES — Collingwood wopd and coal cook stove, oak buffet, washstand, 3 wooden rockers, parlor table, floor and table lamps. TRACTORS & TOOLS — Case tractor (over 30 years old), Davis garden tractor with rotary mower, (aprox. 5 years old), Craftsman gasoline lawn mower, 2 Remington chain saws, National bench saw, with ’/2 HP. motor, Craftsman skil saw, aluminium and wooden extension ladders, aluminium and wood step ladders, wheelbarrow, several hand tools, 20' section of galvanized eavesdropping, large quantity of scrap lumber and fire wood, homemade trailer, rims and tires, many other items. TERMS CASH Norm Whiting Auctioneer Phone Exeter 235-1964 yard in 1972. TWO SEATS AND EIGHT CYLINDERS — This 1957 Devin of Randy Gilfillan's of Exeter is one of the rarest of North American sports cars. Gilfillan discovered the car in 1975 while looking for some older Corvettes. T-A photo Readers write Tells of bomber exploits ***** *** **** * ** * * * * * on Saturday, June 30,1979 1 P.M. for the Estate of the late Mr. Chester Morris on )£■ Middlesex County Rd. 17 (Nairn Road) 3 miles west of Hyde Park. FURNITURE ETC. — Arborite kitchen table and 2 suite, not too large, lovely shape, over 60 years old ^4. consisting of buffet, china cabinet, extension table. ; ** * * **♦ *** ** * 664-1967 X- Estate Furniture Auction Misc. & Some Antiques ******* ruKmiuKE civ. — Arborite kitchen table and 2 chairs, mantle radio, 9 piece black oak dining room suite, not too large, lovely ‘ consisting of buffet, china _ _______ ____ ^4, and 6 chairs, Zenith black and white TV, upholstered arm chair, Provincial chesterfield and chair, 2 end tables, coffee table, lamps, pictures, 2 occasional chairs, library table, platform rocker, chesterfield & chair, mirrors, bedding, bed with head board, dressers and chest of drawers, pressure system and tank, kettle barbeque, numerous tools, mantle clock, old pine cupboard, coal oil lamp, old wooden in- cubator, metal bed, 3 wash stands, wooden rocker, >sed back chairs, large number of National aphics, Hoover vacuum cleaner, old harvest , step ladders, silver ware, old wooden churn, large iron kettle, 10 gauge double barrel shot gun, single ski, 22 Cooey rifle, above ground pool filter like new, 5 speed Dicycle, numerous miscellaneous articles. All articles are in lovely shape. Plan To Attend.4 * Hugh Fllson *666-0633 *************** For Information Phone 471-5817 TERMS Cash Sale Day AUCTIONEERS llderton TomRobton PARADISE AT THE PLAYHOUSE — The Huron Country Playhouse at Grand Bend will begin its eighth season tonight with the rollicking English farce "Pools Paradise” a successor to 1977's production of "See How They Run”. Going through final preparations Monday were Stanley Coles as Reverend Lionel Toup, Jay MacDonald as the Bishop of Lay and Trudy Cameron as Penelope Toup. The show runs from tonight through to July 7. T-A photo Now Appearing AFGHANISTAN BANANA STAND NEXT WEEK NOVA Delicious Luncheon Specials Daily APPEARING DAILY NOON - 7:30 P.M. 227-4411 Pea pack soon starts Processing of the 1979 pea crop at the Exeter plant of Canadian Canners is ex­ pected to begin early next week. Plant manager Jack Urquhart said Tuesday morning, “If this dry weather continues the first peas could be ready by as early as the week end.” Urquhart continued “On paper the harvest shouldn’t start until next Wednesday, but the lack of rain has sped things up. The yield of the early peas will be decreased for every day that it doesn’t rain.” The manager pointed out that the situation was most serious in the immediate Exeter area. He added, “Prospects look good for the later peas and corn.” Urquhart said rainfall in June was less than half an inch and in May and June only half of what it was during 1978. Despite the apparent recent cool weather, Urquhart said he was sur­ prised to learn that the number of heat units up to June 20 were exactly the same as a year ago. The number of acres of peas under contract is about the same as last year but corn acreage is up. Sir: With considerable interest I read of the attempt to airlift Lancaster bomber 213 from Goderich to Hamilton airport using a Canadian Forces Chinook helicopter (Free Press, June 16). Having flown as a crew member in Lane 213 for 250 hours while a member of 107 Rescue Unit, Torbay, Newfoundland in the late 1950’s I thought that your readers might be interested in a few events in which 213 took part. Lane 213 provided escort duties for members of the royal family, in royal flights in October 1957, January 1958 and May 1958. The aircraft was involved in searches for a B-47 and a KLM aircraft with 99 per­ sons on board. It also provided intercept for both military and civilian aircraft which were having dif­ ficulty, usually due to engine malfunction. Not only did Lane 213 and its crews search for lost fishing boats such as “Juli”, it even searched for a lost taxi, snowbound on a road on the Burin Penninsula. It also provided escort duties (duck-butt) for Jump ________ Moat IV, which was an airlift within 10 minutes after a call of Canadian NATO fighter aircraft from Canada to Europe via Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. While on search and rescue flights, Lane 213 refuelled at various bases in Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and the Azores. Many men piloted Lane 213. One of them was Paul Aubin of the Windsor area, who was recently in the news when he brought the first Canadian Forces Hercules into Iran to fly Canadians out after the shah left and there were fears for their safety. Lane 213 was one of three Lancasters that provided valuable service on search and rescue duties from Torbay. Aircrew, ground­ crew and aircraft were on duty 24 hours a day with the responsibility of taking off for help was received in the Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax. I’m not surprised that the helicopter could not lift the old Lancaster. She has a proud, history, and would want to fly under her own power, or not at all. Don Reynolds Kippen A STAR IS BORN — Exeter played host to a film crew from CFPL TV in London recently when Ross Daley and his cameraman Bill Mendham of "This Business of Farming” paid a visit to the A and H Food Market fo take a first hand look at different and amusing ways of retailing meat. As part of the feature which was aired this past Sunday, Daley (left) interviewed Irving Steinman, the originator of the meat side show. fjhotoI . to .V :.X* Auction Sale of Household Furnishings, Antiques and Misc. Items on Wed., June 27th 6:30 P.M. Sharp Victoria St., Centralia Village for the Estate of the late Mr. Murray Abbott. HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS: Nine pc. dining room suite, chesterfield and chair, rocker recliner, 2 hostess chairs, foot stools, coffee and end tables, B&W TV, G.E. refrigerator, Kenmore Electric Range, floor and table lamps, 4 dressers, 3 beds and mat­ tresses, odd chairs, 5 pc. chrome set, vacuum cleaner, electric heater, floor polisher, frypan, ket­ tle, toaster, iron, kitchen dishes, pots & pans, carpets, crokinole board, etc. ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES: 4 pc. silver tea ser­ vice, Bavarian gravy boat, several pieces of Royal Nippon, Noritake, Carnival glass, depression glass, pressed glass fruit bowl and water pitcher, 6 tumblers, glass candle holders, several goblets, 1 bullseye, salt dips, plates, pedestal cake plate, souvenier of Lucan and Exeter, china shoe, 2 large platters, brass tea pot. Walnut tea wagon, fern stand, parlor tables, captains chair, wooden table, fire screen & accessories, harvest type table, several other items. FORD TRACTOR: with 3 point hitch, garden tools, wooden step ladder, hand tools, lawn chairs, power lawn mower, and other items. Terms Cash NORM WHITING AUCTIONEER For further information phone Exeter 235-1964 1 ~7