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The Citizen, 1991-01-16, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1991. Where is the Wingham Car? Information sought to help restore historic car Before... A classic when it was built in 1911 for Richard Clegg, there wasn’t a hint of the Wingham Car’s former charm when it arrived at McNeil’s Auto Body for the first step in its restoration. Many pieces are still missing and many will need to be rebuilt, but it is hoped that sometime in the future, the car will eventually be reborn. BY BONNIE GROPP Don McNeil, owner of McNeil’s Auto Body in Brussels is an avid antique car collector, restorer and appraiser and over the last few months he and his employees have undertaken an interesting project. In 1911 the one and only Wing­ ham Car was built by Bill Lepard for Richard Clegg of the Walker and Clegg Furniture Company. It had been hoped that the car would come into production at the factory. This however, did not happen and the original was driven by Mr. Clegg until his death in 1917 and was then put into storage by his widow. When she died in 1944 the car was auctioned, selling for® a pit­ tance. The body was removed, and it was hot-rodded about the area without tires until it was virtually wrecked. The front axle was re­ moved from the chassis which was then written off. The Wingham and District Mu­ seum Board has initiated a move to have the old car reconstructed, restored or replicated and after hearing the story, Mr. McNeil, who was President of the Maitland Valley Region of Historical Auto­ mobile Society of Canada, became interested. Don said he felt the project was a worthwhile one to donate time to so after 22 hours his part was com­ pleted. The front and rear axles were removed from the frame and all the moving parts that were seized were heated, then freed. The frame was then completely sandblasted, primed and painted before being reassembled into a rolling chassis. The wheels were removed and sent away to get rewooded. The steering wheel and column were clear-coated to stop any further deterioration. The body of the Wingham Car, the whereabouts of which is un­ known, was made completely of wood. According to Mr. McNeil it will have to be remanufacturered from pictures. The engine and transmission are also missing. The engine was a four cylinder Patter­ son, commonly used in vehicles of that vintage. The rims, (there are only two accounted for) were 26” in size and were called Stonewall. They had three locking rings. The headlamps of the original were made by Gray and Davis. The Wingham Car, Mr. McNeil explains was built with right hand drive because in those days they felt it was more important to watch the ditch when driving. With his part of the project completed, the Wingham Car, or what 1's left of it. rested at McNeils waiting for the next step in its Putting it together Don McNeil, owner of McNeil’s Auto Body in Brussels, pieces together parts of an original wheel from the Wingham Car, which was built in 1911 by Bill Lepard. The wheels have been sent away to get rewooded. HEALTH ON THE HILL A Review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ...After What is left of the Wingham Car isn’t much, but what there is, thanks to the effort of McNeil’s Auto Body is getting back into shape. Work was donated to try and restore this piece of history. From left are: Alvin McLellan, Paul Willie, and David Hastings, all employees of McNeil’s. rebirth. Mr. McNeil asks that if anyone has any information or leads on the Wingham Car that could restore this bit of history, contact him or get in touch with Murray Hall or Doug Conley of Wingham or the Wingham Muse­ um. NOBODY COMPETES LIKE YOUR JEEP­ EAGLE DEALER © | Eagle IN LISTOWEL OPEN WEEKDAYS OQI .A <^111 TIL 9 P.M.; SAT. ’TIL 5 P.M, I ■ VWV Nursing News: Shirley Staffen, R.N. has retired after 28 years of service. Eva Gilson is a new part-time R.N. A two day assessment course was held for nursing staff. Pat Elliott-Miller, a Clinical Co-ordinator at Freeport Hospital, Kitchener directed the program to help staff with the development of a data base for new admissions. Welcome to Adult Co-operative Business students from Seaforth District High School - Laura Crawford and Jennifer Penner. Activation Group: During the month of December the Activation Group was favoured with special musical presentations by several local groups. These included Elgin Nott and Gladys Van Egmond as well as Lloyd and Helen Otterbein and Rev. A. Horst. The group members certainly appreciate the efforts of these volunteers. Every Christmas, Seaforth Community Hospital staff members along with other members of the community, purchase a gift to donate to the Activation Group. This allows Santa to come to each of the hospital patients. Needless to say, it is a pleasant surprise for the patients, young and old, to awaken Christmas morning and find Santa has .called on them. The patients do appreciate this generous gesture. Laboratory Staff: Once again the Laboratory Staff of the Seaforth Community Hospital are presenting WINTER INTERLUDE III, a Hospital Building Fund Benefit Dinner and Dance. The event will be held on Saturday, February 2, 1991 at the Seaforth and District Community Centres beginning at 7:30 p.m. Music this year will be provided by ‘‘EDDIE and the EDSELS”, a live band from Kitchener renowned for their ‘‘50’s, 60’s and 70’s” theme. In keeping with ‘‘ROCK ’N ROLL” theme, dress this year will be optional. The meal will be created by Jerry Rader of Zurich and it promises to be an unusual affair. Those attending WINTER INTERLUDE III could well feel like they ‘‘Danced and Dined ALL NIGHT”. There will be the usual array of door prizes with a ‘‘Grand Prize” consisting of a Trip for 2 to the ‘‘DOMINICAN REPUBLIC”. Tickets are available from the Laboratory or Switchboard at the Seaforth Hospital for $50.00 PER PERSON with a portion being tax deductible and NO GST. So dust off your Prom Dress or Poodle Skirt, your White Sports Coat and Blue Suede Shoes and plan to attend the final WINTER INTERLUDE to benefit the Seaforth Hospital Building Fund. \