Steve Roberts inherited the car from his dad as "a bucket of bolts."
The dilapidated Jensen Healey convertible sports car — a rare British import — had been in the family for years before the Coquitlam resident hauled it up from California to give it a second life.
He had hoped to spend only $2,500 on the rebuild but, after he started tinkering around, Roberts' budget was soon out the window.
The bodywork by the Ritchie Bros. in Port Coquitlam revealed the collector vehicle had been in three accidents.
Roberts also had a Lotus 2L twin overhead cam motor, built by B & J Parts in PoCo, installed while Mark Erickson painted it a bright, shiny yellow — much sunnier than its original mustard-yellow colour. "I really wanted it to stand out," Roberts said.
After seven years of sweat and tears, Roberts tallied the cost of the restoration: $35,000. "It was much more than me or the wife wanted to spend but it was worth it. We love it."
Now, Roberts enjoys showing off his 1974 prize, displaying it at car events around Metro Vancouver and Whistler. Last month, he exhibited it at the second annual Ultimate Car Show at the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam.
On Sunday, Roberts will bring the beauty back to Port Coquitlam for the Business Improvement Association's 11th annual car show, of which he is the car placement director.
His Jensen — one of only six left in B.C. — has garnered trophies from past PoCo BIA shows and his engine is one of the most photographed at the event, he said.
But his is only one rebuild story out of hundreds that can be heard at the city's biggest attraction of the year.
Up to 60,000 people are expected to attend this year's car show to view the 400-plus vintage, collector, muscle and other unique vehicles parked on the downtown streets.
Car show emcee Bruce Richardson said organizers strive for a "bigger and better" fete every year that's fun for the family. "It's not just for big boys and their toys," said Richardson, who will have two classics at the show: a 1950 Chevy and a 1939 Chevy, the latter of which took him a dozen years to refurbish with a nice satin black finish.
Fifty kids who pre-registered online will get a chance to take part in the inaugural Model-T plastic toy build at Leigh Square Community Arts Village and there will be plenty of other all-ages' activities happening all day.
Also different about this year's event will be a cruise for participants the night before. At 5 p.m. on Saturday, drivers will parade their vehicles from the PoCo recreation complex to Kingsway Avenue, cross the Coast Meridian Overpass to Apel and Victoria drives in Coquitlam before circling back via Cedar Drive and Prairie Avenue. From there, the cars will head up Oxford Street to David Avenue and head west to the end before looping in front of Heritage Woods secondary and returning to PoCo via Shaughnessy Street and driving up Citadel Drive.
The PoCo firefighters will have a burger barbecue at Leigh Square on their return, about an hour later. Richardson said he doesn't know how many vehicles will be in the parade; however, they expect the same number as last year: about 50.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Richardson is asking for the public's patience with the street closures. All the roads between Elgin and Wilson avenues will be blocked off, between Shaughnessy Street and Mary Hill Road (Mary Hill Road will remain open to traffic).
As for the area where the fire happened last month — a blaze that destroyed four Shaughnessy Street businesses — car show chairperson Coun. Dean Washington said organizers and city staff plan to keep that portion of the road open for the car show as they want to make sure the nearby retailers can operate.
• The 11th annual Port Coquitlam BIA car show is on Sunday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Public parking is at the PoCo recreation complex and on surrounding downtown streets.
