Sunday, Jun. 14, 2009

Tri-Citians remain enamored with classic cars heavy in power, curves

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

General Motors, Chrysler and a few other big names in today's motoring world may feel like the last days of the automobile age are at hand.

But ask anyone who attended last month's Classy Chassy car show in downtown Kennewick, and you'll unleash a torrent of talk about bright chrome, rumbling motors and eye-popping paint jobs.

From Model T Fords of the early 1900s to the muscle cars of the 1970s and two generations of Mini Coopers, aficionados of autos in the Tri-Cities remain enamored with their cars.

There's something sensuous about a paint job with color so deep it is has no bottom, clinging to shapely fenders, hoods and body panels. Silvery chrome and luxuriant upholstery adorn the exquisite chariots, and monster motors repose inside, awaiting a gout of gas to unleash unspeakable gobs of power.

It's enough to make men feel like boys.

Paul Julson's highly modified but street legal 1929 Ford coupe is a throwback to the 1960s when explosive power and oversized header pipes dominated the covers of Hot Rod magazine.

The six-cylinder 292-cubic-inch GMC truck engine stuffed into the Ford frame tucks the last two pistons and the third in its trio of carburetors into a cubbyhole under the dash. Custom header pipes the size of a python snake rearward.

Flat rust-red paint covers the body, which is decorated with wrecking yard logos circa 1960.

"I've tried to keep it to early 1960s street-rod style," he said.

That means pop rivets and welding give the coupe body a pimply look, and old license plates fit perfectly as makeshift upholstery panels.

The total package speaks raw power, and it sounds both throaty and eager when Julson ignites the beast within.

A hand-painted message on the rear deck lid says the street rod was "built from offerings to the god of speed."

Julson says he bought the coupe in 2006 as a driver, but in pretty rough shape. Since then, he's added some features, tightened up the body and purchased a personalized license plate for the rear: OLD JUNK.

Car clubs abound in the Mid-Columbia. The Herald found 20 represented at the car show, but there undoubtedly are more.

"It's a good place, because there are lots of old cars in the Tri-Cities," said Phil Prather of Kennewick, who owns two beautifully restored Fords, a 1929 Model A sport coupe and a 1926 Model T two-door sedan. Eastern Washington weather is mostly dry and friendly to rust-prone old cars, which helps provide stock for car collectors.

The region also offers a good mix for Sunday drives, from an afternoon run to Yakima or Spokane to a day trip along the Columbia River toward Vancouver, down into Oregon's John Day River country or north toward Omak.

Prather belongs to the Columbia Basin Model A Ford Club and Ye Olde Car Club, one of the oldest in the Tri-Cities, dating back to the 1960s. In those early years, club members drove Packards, Hupmobiles, Cadillacs, Chryslers, Stars, a Jewett, Auburns, an Overland, Cords, LaSalles, Buicks, Oldsmobiles and other long-extinct marques.

But as younger generations get behind the steering wheel, newer makes and models have become collectible -- Corvettes and Camaros, Pontiac GTOs, T-birds, Mustangs, Porsches and Triumphs, Volkswagens and Ford F-100 pickups.

Nothing with wheels, it seems, has escaped the creative energy of hot-rodders.

The Columbia Classics car club has about 80 members whose customized vehicles represent everything from the 1960s Ford Falcon and 1950s Chevrolet Bel Air to stylized, chopped and channeled Oldsmobiles and Mercury two-doors.

Dean Dennis, vice president of the Columbia Classics, is forever grateful to fellow club members for completing his modified 1951 Ford pickup when he became disabled by cancer.

"They took on my truck as a project. They are more than family to me," he said.

The truck has a 350-cubic-inch Chevrolet engine, Chrysler front end and Chevy Nova rear. Custom bucket seats and a Chevy white exterior loaded with purple pearl to make the paint job sparkle complete the hot-rod makeover.

"It's a very tight, wonderful organization," said Dennis, who also belongs to a group of hot-rodders called Retreads.

Special-interest car clubs offer camaraderie and support.

Ron Hinz of West Richland said the Columbia Basin Corvair Club has 28 members who meet monthly to plan outings, discuss car issues and help one another.

Hinz has two relatively rare restored Corvairs, a 1962 Rampside pickup, and a Monza station wagon. Corvairs were unusual -- air-cooled, rear-engined and U.S.-built. "They were uniquely engineered and had better handling and ride, which appealed to people," Hinz said.

But while the Corvair didn't last, another air-cooled, rear-engine car became an icon.

Herman Jackson of Richland has been driving his silver 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera since 1993. He is one of 285 members of the Inland Northwest Region chapter of the Porsche Club of America, which reaches from east of the Cascade mountains to the Idaho panhandle.

"It's the thrill of driving it," said Jackson in explaining why Porsche owners love their cars. "It handles like no other car," he said.

The same speech comes from Reed Figley of Richland whose immaculate 1988 Lotus Esprit effortlessly laps up the open road. Sporting a British racing green cloak and distinctive gold wheels, the turbocharged four-cylinder Lotus is a magnet for the eyes of motorists it passes, Figley said.

Figley's car is his ticket to membership in the Strictly British Motoring Club, based in the Tri-Cities. Several members own MGBs, but there are other lesser-known marques made in the queen's realm.

One is a near-perfect 1962 Sunbeam Alpine that William Clemans of Kennewick brings to the British club affairs. The beautifully painted Wedgewood blue sports car has two seats, four cylinders, a removable hardtop and a convertible top.

Clemans said it was love at first sight when he saw his first Sunbeam on the big screen in the 1960s with Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield Eight.

"Liz Taylor drove the Alpine and I fell in love ... with the car," he said with a sigh.

Some cars are collectible not only because of their curb appeal, but also their pedigree. Race car legend Andy Granatelli was the first owner of the 390-cubic-inch V-8 powered fastback 42 years ago. Except for some bucket seat wear, the first edition fastback is original and pristine inside and out, including its Wimbledon white factory paint.

Cheryl Ziemer, president of the Pacific Northwest Mustang Club, said it is one of the larger special interest clubs, with 85 members.

Some cars, such as the 1955 Chevy Bel Air, the Mustang, Corvettes and Porsches, are legends, and their owners can't be convinced otherwise.

"Porsche made cars after the 356, but who cares?" said Henry Kayser of Richland, who delights in driving his 1959 model 356a Porsche cabriolet. Purchased used in 1981, the Porsche has become his favorite after owning several others over the decades.

"It doesn't go that fast, but you get a lot of looks, especially from the younger people. It has to be the old car, not the old guy driving it," Kayser said.

Mid-Columbia car clubs

Columbia Basin Model A Ford Club. President Sharon Hauck, Kennewick, 783-1444. Meets 7:30 p.m. 2nd Thursday at Reata Spring Baptist Church, 2830 Leopold Lane, Richland.

Columbia Classics. Presdient Bruce Raymond at email bkaymond@clearwire.net. Meets at 7 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at Tony Roma’s, 8551 W. Gage Blvd., in Kennewick. Website is www. columbiaclassicscarclub.com

Corvair Club. President R. B. Dorran, Hermiston. Meets 7:30 p.m. third Monday at Key Bank, 23 W Kennewick Ave., Kennewick.

Mid-Columbia Volkswagen Club. President Glenn Whitcomb, 545-9995. Website is mcvw.org.

Mini Coopers. Contact Jack Strait, Kennewick 366-2582 Meets at 6 p.m. first Thursday every month at Sportspage, 6 S. Cascade Ave., Kennewick.

Pacific Northwest Mustang Club. President Cheryl Ziemer, Richland, 627-4570. Meets 7 p.m. every third Tuesday at Roundtable Pizza, 1769 Leslie Road, Richland.

Porche Club of America, Inland Northwest Region, at-large board member Herman Jackson, Richland, 627-6105.Website is http://inwrpca.org.

Tri-Cities group meets 9 a.m. second Saturday at Columbia Valley Luxury Cars, Richland Airport.

Three Rivers Model T Club. President Wanda Stokes, Sunnyside, 837-7443. Meets at 7 p.m.third Thursday at Reata Spring Baptist Church, 2830 Leopold Lane, Richland.

Ye Olde Car Club. President Martha Shreve, Finley, 582-7530. Meets at 7 a.m. every Wednesday at the Hut restaurant 605 N. 27th Ave., Pasco.

Other car clubs, for which we have no additional information

Aces & 8’s

Car Guys Forever

Dodge Bros. Club

Inland Northwest Camaro Club, John Schneider of Benton City.

Mid-Columbia MoPar Club

Olympia Beatniks

Prelude Power, Website is www.preludepower.com

Rad Rods, President Don L. Sorenson, Kennewick, 586-4109

Retreads, Dean Dennis in Kennewick

Strictly British Motoring Club.

Three Rivers Corvette Club, Bob Russell of Othello.