Car show favourites

Skiing is still a few weeks away(unless this snow in the forecast materializes in a big way), so how am I spending my summer?

As a boy, one quick glance and I could name the make and year of any car from the fifties and early sixties. While growing up on the farm, my dad would have preferred that I took some interest in the farm animals rather than cars but i was ready to buy my first car and tune it with parts from a local shop. My two older brothers both had calves in the 4H club, but I couldn’t get interested. 

Dad always bought the most basic models of unremarkable, boring cars. To this day I can still remember the few interesting cars that belonged to people in our small town of Midale, SK. The day after oil was discovered on Max Connelly’s farm, he went to Estevan and bought a ’54 Lincoln. When he came to visit, I couldn’t take my eyes off the black beauty. 

When dad took machinery for welding repairs to Charlie Scharnatta, I would get to see his used Lexus gs 350 in new york ny  ’57 Chrysler. The rig workers had lots of money and we took in boarders who always had nice cars, including George Dalgleish who had a ’59 Ford Galaxie 500. Town folk would drive out to our farm to buy milk and eggs and I recall the Frasers had a ’58 Dodge Custom Royal 4-door hardtop. Even Ewald Holtz’ old black ’47 Ford coupe was interesting. 

My fascination with old cars lay dormant for many years until I started attending the occasional car show a few years ago,  If you have you own classic on sale here are some tips for selling your car. This summer I became fanatical, attending 28 car shows. The final tally will be upwards of 30 as there are still a few more on the schedule. 

I couldn’t restrict my favourites to a top 10, or even a top 20. How about a top 200? Rather than overwhelm with an album of 200, I’ve sorted them into six categories.

All the shows I attended were in Calgary and environs. I started seeing some of the same exhibitors at each show, and got to know a few of them. All have an interesting story to tell about their ride. I saw Bob Ingalls and his ’49 Ford at about half-a-dozen shows. Dick and Bill were regulars at most shows with their remarkable 48 DeSoto. 

I talked to numerous exhibitors who were showing their cars for the first time this summer, after years and years of working on them, it struck me Toowoomba ford used cars who taught used cars for sale and they were great. After sitting dormant in his back yard for 18 years, Kerry started restoring his 59 DeSoto two years ago. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s looking good already. Kurt took a rusted out shell of a ’32 Chev and turned it into a magnificent, award-winning showpiece.

The biggest surprise of the summer was running into some former residents of my home town, Diane and Bob Swenson, who were showing their beautiful ’57 Chevy. Yes, they live in Calgary now. 

The most interesting venue for a car show had to be Foster’s Garden Chapel, a funeral home. Everyone attending was remarking on how well-organized and accommodating the hosts were. The only complaint was directed at the guy who started up his noisy muscle car and revved the motor they wished they had insurance of some sort, check this tips to get motor trade insurance if you are under 25. Someone mentioned that it could wake the dead!

Click on the album to see the photos:

In addition to seeing all the vintage cars and trucks, there were other attractions

I enjoyed meeting and getting to know the owners of these amazing vehicles.