When Ken Dosen came into possession of a 1938 two-door Chevy Coupe, the car was basically a shell and a frame.
"It was a complete, ground-up restoration," he said. "It went right down to the drive train."
After all the work he put in to get it running, Dosen can be forgiven for wanting to show off the vehicle.
"Part of the fun... is keeping it looking good," he said. "When you spend that many years building it, there is a certain amount of pride."
This weekend, he will join 550 other car enthusiasts when he displays his orange hot rod at the Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association Car Show, the Tri-Cities' biggest one-day event and expected to draw tens of thousands of people to PoCo.
This year's car show will have several new features, especially for kids, including a rock climbing wall, a mini golf course and a face painting station.
There will also be performances from a Blues Brothers tribute band and an Elvis impersonator is also expected to make an appearance.
Dean Washington, one of the organizers of the show, said there is more to the car show than just hot rods and vintage vehicles.
"The cars are what got it started but now it has expanded," said the city councillor. "More people stay here longer. There is a lot more to do. There is something for everybody."
There will also be the usual compliment of vintage vehicles.
More than 500 classic cars are expected to be part of the show, including about 100 Mustangs, which will be set up along Donald Street.
This year's event takes place Sunday, Aug. 19, and starts with a pancake breakfast at the Elks Hall at Leigh Square at 7:30 a.m.
Elvis will hit the stage at 10:30 a.m. to get the car show underway and band Night Shift will close out the event with a concert between 4:45 and 6 p.m.
Part of the proceeds from the event will go to the Children's Wish Foundation.
For more information, go to the PoCo Business Improvement Association website at www.pocobia.com or check out the event's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PoCoCarShow.
PLATES THROUGH B.C. HISTORY
Classic cars will not be the only thing on display this weekend.
The Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society will host a display of vintage licence plates at the site its future museum in the former Ten Thousand Villages building (2253 Leigh Sq.).
The collection (see photo above) belongs to Jonathan McKillop and features hundreds of plates from throughout B.C.'s history.
Steve Smith, a director with the heritage society, said the display will give car show enthusiasts a chance to learn more about automobile history while cooling off in the air conditioned building.
The plates will be on display for the duration of the car show.
