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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-08-14, Page 121 S_THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 14, 1 sill. Feature PHOTOS BY GREGOR CAMPBELL RESTORED CROWN VIC WINS TWO TOP TROPHIES AT DEARBORN - Without any experience, Walter Denys of the Kippen area in Tuckersmith Township began restoring the luxury car from the great age of auto- motive American styling in 1989. He unveiled it for the first time last month and it won the two top prizes in the big recent event in Michigan. It is a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria model restored to original specifications, "bumper to bumper." Loaded with the latest technology of the era, including, a rare Canadian option, the car is top of the line and covered in chrome, a styling extravaganza. It took 10 days to spiff up and clean, and had to be trailered down to the United States for the event. Car out -classes competition BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff A Kippen-area man unveiled his "meadow mist green" masterpiece a couple of weekends ago. It's wear. The 1956 Ford Meteor Fairlanc Crown Victoria Walter Denys restored from .scratch took two top trophies in Michigan, impressing some highly critical judges in the heart of car country. _It took first place in the Judge's Class (five teams of four experts looking at all aspects) and Was voted "People's Choice" after the week-long 40th anniversary at Dearborn of the National Convention of Crown Victoria's Associations. ations. Denys had never done this kind 'of thing hcfoic when he began the restoration in 1989. ' This month marked the first time he has shown his bumper -to -bumper work. About 1,000 people were at the recent Michigan conven- tion, a select group of enthu- siasts from all over the ,Gvorld, some, from as far away as Sweden and Australia. How many hours havc.hecn spent on this labour of love in his Tuckersmith garage? Let's put it this .way, Walter says: 11 I had hccn paid 50c an hour I'd he a millionaire." He wouldn't do it again. he adds. All Fords built in 1954. '55 and '56 were eligible. They had to he restored to original specifications as it they had just come off the production line. There were 147 cars entered. GLITZ APLENTY The Denys' luxury car is loaded with chrome and every extra option available in the top-of-the-line model, from an era particularly remembered for its glitz in American automotive design. The big restored beast, painted original "meadow mist green" (no easy task to match) kind of jumps out at your eyeballs and demands attention. It has chrome "cow catch- ers" for a front bumper and the big chrotnc wheel, called a Continental kit, mounted by the rear bumper. equally as .impressive. Among many other options arc power win- dows, scats. brakes and steer- ing, all relatively new in thc mid -50s. it also has dual spotlights and factory air conditioning. again as per data plate, and a FROM THE REAR - Walter Denys' restored Crown Victoria has decorative Continental option to the rear (above). The front of the 1956 luxury car (below) is smoth- ered with glitzy chrome bumper. restored "state of the art" 292 horsepower, four -barrel, Thunderbird V8 engine under thc hood. if the original production specs called for say a stain- less Phillips screw and you perhaps can't find one so use a comparable square -head screw somewhere unobtru- sive instead, the judges deduct points if they detect it. The experts go over these things with tine -tooth eyes. Fords and Crown Victoria's kind of run in the Denys fam- ily. Walter's cousin is head of quality control for Ford at- Talhotvillc, where Crown Victoria's are made today. And hack in 1956, when Walter's restorati(ln.projcct was originally rolling off the line in the United States. Denys' dad was driving the family around in a 1955 Fairlanc. CANADIAN OPTION The car Denys just finished restoring has a rare option, which was available in Canada but not the U.S. - chrome nail guards under- neath the door handles, designed to protect the paint underneath. Nowadays manu- facturers indent the body of the door in the same spot to achieve an identical end. The car also has a glass top, the pre -cursor of today's sun- roof, a short-lived option introduced in 1954 and dis- continued in 56. This glass root is over the entire front scat and looks neat, but buy- ers found it impractical in actual driving conditions because it led to leaks. The Crown Vic took a week -and -a half to clean and had to he trailered down to the Dearborn show. You could lick anywhere, under hood or frame, and still end up with a clean tongue. For a show car in such events, a speck of dust detected by finicky judges means marks lost. Walter 'says he doesn't know what he's going to do with his baby now that he's unveiled it - maybe sell it. He promises whatever project he decides to do next, perhaps fixing up another old car but rnorc for driving around, won't take him as long. Centenaires scoop trainer who trains the trainers is also the new chairman of thc Ontario Hockey Association's Junior "D"evelopment League, replacing Bill Billington. Lake became an OHA direc- tor last summer. The former trainer of the Irish 6, Kevin Acs of Lucan, has hccn hired. thc thc Seaforth Ccntcnaires, replac- ing Andrea Gingerich who resigned. The Ccntcnaires start their season with tryouts at the Seaforth arena next week. Acs is an expert in the field. Hc trains trainers, is head trainer of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's under - 17 program and, among other things, is an assistant co-ordi- nator in advanced trauma life support at thc London Health Science Centre. The former president of the Mitchell Hawks, Paul Lake, Devereaux out west Boyd Devereaux of Scaforth is out west these days, among other things, at 'the 1996-97 Canadian National Junior Hockey Team's evaluation camp. He is not expected to be back in town for next week's annual Summer Showcase Game at thc Seaforth arena. FIRST ANNIVERSARY Dan and Mary Bachert and I)on and Betty Macfarlane would like to wish their children, Daniel Pattl and -Caroler Rose a very happy first anniversary! Dan and Carolyn were married August 19, 1995 at the Gospel Hall in Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan with Paul Kelliher officit*ing. Bridal attendants were Alison Bell, mild of honor and friend of the bride and Karen Bachert, bridesmaid and sister of the groom. Best ntan was Marvin Bachcrt, cousin of the groom and groomsman, Brian Bachcrt, brother of the groom. Ringbcarers were Derck Bachcrt, cousin of the groom, and Justin Maclarlane, nephew of the bride. I)an is employed at Victoria hospital as a Registered Nurse, and Carolyn is a medical -secretary in London. They now reside in Exeter. - Your parents wish you God's richest blessing on your lives together! BUCK & DOE for HEATHER McDONALD JACK VAN DORP Friday, August 16 9pm-lam Age of Majority Only For Information Call 523-9023 or 523-9404 BUCK & DOE Steve Stapleton Yvette Predhomme Fri., August 23/96 9:00 pm -1:00 am Music by D.J. Age of Majority For tickets call: 348-4984 or 345-2741 RECREATIONAL BOATER? OLP-HAND OR NOVICE, YOU'LL FIND OUT A LOT YOU DON'T KNOW TO MAKE BOATING MORE FUN, AND SAFE AT THE GODERICH POWER & SAIL SQUADRON Courses start on Tuesday, September 10, 1996 at Central Huron Secondary School, Clinton. For more information Call J)) 482-9664 or CPS 357-2586 FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE Hank & Yvette Binnendyk and John & Rita Furlong are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children, Lois -Anne and Dania! -Steven. The wedding to take place on Saturday, August 24/96 at Forest -Hill United Church, Kitchener NOW TAKING • PIANO STUDENTS for the Seaforth area starting in Sept. Please call Elaine Bakos at ' 284-2064 FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE FISCHER - SWART Together with their parents Tracey Lynn and Mark William wish to announce their forthcoming marriage. The wedding will take place on Saturday, August 17 at 1:00 pm at St. Columhan Catholic Church, St. Columhan, Ontario L. Forthcoming Marriage Dan and Mary Bachert of R.R.#4, Seaforth, Ont.. and David and Carol Carson of Oxbow, Sask., arc pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children Brian Allen and Heather Dawn The Wedding will take place in the will of the Lord, on Friday, August 30, 1996 in Estcvan, Saskatchewan.