Rides — Custom-built hot rod stands out

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This article was published 10/11/2017 (3071 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Frankenstein’s monster of a vehicle, the bulk of Ron Baryluk’s custom-built hot rod is a combination 1932 and 1934 Ford Roadster, with various other custom-built components sprinkled throughout.

A 427 Chevrolet big block truck engine elicits a rumble through its frame, and its jet black paint job adds a menacing touch to its raw and exposed appearance.

At least, it would be menacing if not for little Lucy, his six-year-old Yorkshire terrier, that happily greets onlookers from within the roofless vehicle at local automobile shows, begging for cuddles and generous with doggy kisses.

On Thursday, Lucy trailed Baryluk to his garage where he shared insights regarding his most prized vehicle — the one he has spent the most time on, having built it from the frame up.

He assembled and built the vehicle from 2012 to 2014, but late this summer he learned that it was still an ongoing project, with its insurance called to question as a result of what he considers a few technicalities.

A few more alterations and he’s confident it’ll be ready to hit up Brandon auto show circuit again by next summer.

Just Brandon, Baryluk said, clarifying that its 2.5-gallon, custom-built aluminum gas tank doesn’t allow him to take it out too far.

Which is fine, he said, adding that looking at the vehicle is almost as fun as driving it around.

The gas tank is situated in the vehicle’s trunk, where it’s front and centre on display in all its shiny glory. Baryluk built the tank and its accompanying trunk out of scrap yard aluminum.

After Baryluk and Lucy made their rounds at various car shows in Brandon this past summer, the hot rod has been put back into storage for the winter, in his heated garage where he’ll tinker with it prior to next summer’s car show season.

“I’m not a trained mechanic. I’m just self-taught,” Baryluk said. “I picked it up through books and reading and asking people a lot of questions.”

Anyone can do it if they have enough and a great enough interest in learning from others, he said, adding that it might take the untrained “a little longer, but you can still do it in time.”

Baryluk has been a car fanatic since the early 1950s, when he got his first vehicle — a 1949 Mercury, which he ended up “customizing, inside and out.”

Over the years, he has worked on a countless number of vehicles, flipping them as he went.

On retiring from CP Rail in 1993, for which he performed bridge repairs and inspections, Baryluk bought the Hillcrest Motel and Domo gas station.

During his time running the motel, Baryluk ramped up his vehicle-flipping efforts, which further affirmed his love of anything automotive.

This love continued, with the senior able to tinker away on vehicles at his Brandon property to his heart’s content, working on both a combination of both cars and bikes.

The finished products are a source of pride, which he brings out to as many local car shows throughout the summer as he’s able so that others can see what he’s been able to accomplish.

His early-’30s hot rod is of particular interest to passersby, he said. “You don’t see that many fully-done Roadsters.”

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB