Seven years ago, Port Coquitlam resident Jim Pennington saw a 1957 Chevrolet 3100 pickup for sale in a magazine.
The lipstick red-painted truck was in mint condition, up for purchase from a dealer in Alberta. Pennington bought it sight unseen and had it transported out to the west coast.
He proudly displayed his treasure in the annual Downtown Port Coquitlam Car Show, where his son-in-law and Mayor Greg Moore eyeballed it.
After last year's show, Pennington sold the collector vehicle to Moore — at an undisclosed price — and, a month later, used the proceeds to buy a 1956 Ford Thunderbird in nearly the same hue.
Pennington scooped up the convertible from a Coquitlam resident. Previously, it had been updated by a gearhead working for former Vancouver Canuck winger Todd Bertuzzi, he said.
On Sunday, both Pennington and Moore will exhibit their prize possessions at the 12th annual PoCo car exhibit, a Tri-City News-sponsored event that organizers expect to draw up to 60,000 people — making it one of the biggest show 'n shines in western Canada.
Like in the past eight years or so, Pennington and his wife — along with Dominion Lending Centres, a PoCo business — will host a public breakfast before the gathering starts at 10 a.m. Moore will be flipping pancakes with the rest of city council, in the Leigh Square Community Arts Village.
Asked why he and Grace put on the meal, Pennington offered an upbeat response. "It's the greatest thing to ever happen to Port Coquitlam," the retired linesman said. "It's the best car show around. And we've known Dean for many, many years."
"Dean" is PoCo Coun. Dean Washington, who this year chairs the Downtown Port Coquitlam Car Show with his wife, Brenda, and a team of volunteers: Bruce Richardson, Wayne Dudgeon, Mike Roberts, Brian Wormald, Steve Roberts, Kayla Steele, Bruce Kowallison and Coun. Glenn Pollock.
To date, they've registered a record 400-plus vintage, classic, muscle and other unique vehicles for the Aug. 21 event, with drivers coming in from Whistler to Washington State, and Gibsons to Kelowna. Not to be missed this year will be a 1923 Model T, a "Herbie the Love Bug" and a Starsky and Hutch-style Gran Torino.
"This year, we have two cool feature areas," Washington said. "Hot Rod Row on Shaughnessy Street at Whyte Avenue will feature 20 high-end custom cars, collectively worth over $2 million. We also have over two dozen beautiful classics from the Canadian Falcon Fairlane Comet Club that will be displayed on the lawns in Veteran’s Park at the corner of Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue."
And all entrants will be competing for the grand prize, which last year was clinched by Shane and Randy MacDonald of Maple Ridge for their 1957 Chevy Bel Air.
Meanwhile, about 100 drivers are also signed up for the third annual classic car ride that parades throughout the north and south sides of PoCo the night before (see below for route).
Still, for visitors not interested in the weekend car displays, they'll be plenty of other activities going on Sunday.
Fifty kids who pre-registered online will build Model-T plastic toy vehicles in The Outlet while live music will be supplied by the Giggle Dam Band, Centrefield (a tribute to CCR) and Night Moves with Dan Hare, "The Essential Bob Seger." As well, a beer garden will be set up in Leigh Square.
• Sponsored in part by Metro Ford Motors and the PoCo Business Improvement Association, the 12th annual Downtown Port Coquitlam Car Show is on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m (with music until 7 p.m.). Admission is free. Public parking is at the PoCo recreation complex and on surrounding downtown streets. Visit portcoquitlamcarshow.com.
CAR CRUISE
Watch the parade of classic cars drive through Port Coquitlam's neighbourhoods the night before the 12th annual downtown car show.
The hour-long cruise starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, from Leigh Square Community Arts Village and runs along:
Wilson Avenue
Kingsway Avenue
McLean Avenue
Pitt River Road
Eastern Drive
Western Drive
Mary Hill Road
Shaughnessy Street
Lincoln Avenue
Chelsea Avenue
Toronto Street
Apel Drive
Victoria Drive
Cedar Drive
Prairie Avenue
Fremont Street
Riverside Drive
Riverside Gate
Coast Meridian Road
Kingsway Avenue
Wilson Avenue
Donald Street
