An early morning storm cleared out Saturday and the sun gleamed off the hundreds of classic vehicles that lined Chatham’s downtown during the annual RetroFest.
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Not only were the vehicles impressive, so are the stories behind them.
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A soup-up, custom-built 1930 Ford Model ‘A’ owned by Chatham resident Gary Ellis attracted many admirers.
“I’m in the trucking industry and I’ve always wanted a hot rod so I said, ‘Go big or go home,’” said Ellis.
Ellis bought the vehicle last September and shipped it off to Ryan Fletcher, owner of Sunny Side Welding in Stony Plain, Alberta and “he made it happen.”
RetroFest was the first show Ellis entered his vehicle.
He enjoyed seeing the reaction of car fans.
When asked what it’s like to drive, Ellis said, “Exhilarating.
“The sights, the sounds, everything going on with the (vehicle), it triggers all the senses.”
Blair Harber’s 1953 pre-production Austin Healey also drew a crowd.
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He said people are impressed the vehicle is number 14 of the 19 that were handmade with an aluminum body by Donald Healey in Warwick, England.
“It’s a fun car, it really goes,” Harber said.
He noted the vehicle has one the best in show twice in North America and was featured on Dream Car Garage hosted by Peter Klutt.
Lange Chase of Prairie Siding, west of Chatham, brought his labor of love a 1938 Dodge Coupe that he has restored since buying it 18 years ago.
Noting he’s done everything to restore the vehicle, except the paint job and upholstery, Chase said it was the engine that appealed to him.
“This is has got the same engine I used to drag race with, the old Chrysler Hemi,” said the 88-year-old.
Chase said he comes to RetroFest every year.
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“It’s a good show, it’s a big show,” he said.
Geoff Clements has also been bringing his 1971 Mustang Mach 1 with a 350 engine with an M-code for higher horse power.
The Chatham resident found the vehicle online in Los Angeles 15 years ago, so he flew out the west coast for the weekend to see it.
“I bought it and shipped it home,” he said.
Noting this is the fourth Mustang he’s owned, Clement said, “This is the last really big engine for the Mustang.”
Clement enjoys RetroFest and especially enjoys people being able to see his vehicle. He strikes up a lot of conservations with former Mustang owners, he added.
A 1931 Oldsmobile pickup truck, owned by John Myers, of Belle River, is also a conversation-starter.
He said that’s because the pickup has been converted from Oldsmobile four-door coach vehicle.
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A lot of the older guys say they never made an Oldsmobile pickup, but Myers noted Oldsmobile did in 1936.
He said the conversion to a pickup was already done when he bought it from someone in Bothwell.
“It was roughed up but we got it put back together,” he said.
This has include replacing an old Studebaker V-8 engine with a 383 small-block Chevy stroker engine and hot rod front end.
Beautiful women are a natural fit with these impressive cars, which is achieved with the annual Miss RetroFest pageant.
Miss Mercury Retrograde, Nicole Coffman of Windsor, won the title for 2024 on Saturday.
Noting she has competed in Miss RetroFest for several years, she said, “I finally won it.
“It doesn’t feel real at the moment, it hasn’t sunk in.”
Miss Mercury said the competition was stiff, and well-run by organizers.
“There were some charismatic, beautiful ladies. . . I’m in great company with them,” she said.
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