Labour of love

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This article was published 26/07/2024 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The restoration and maintenance of vintage vehicles come with diverse challenges, according to their owners.

Calling all Cars owner Lothar Weber, who owns a 1957 Ford Skyline, said the journey of maintaining and restoring classic automobiles is filled with obstacles. The business buys, sells, and trades restored or unrestored cars and parts from vehicles made between the 1930s and 1970s.

“I handle most restoration work, which is no easy feat,” Weber told the Sun in an interview. “For new parts, I buy reproductions from companies in the United States. The companies make parts for popular cars, but it can be expensive.”

He explained the quality of parts varies significantly.

“Many parts are now made in China, and the quality can be poor. American-made parts are better, but more expensive. It’s always a balance between cost and quality,” he said.

Painting vintage vehicles, Weber said, also poses unique challenges.

“Painting vintage vehicles requires skill, experience, the right conditions, and equipment. It’s a craft you learn over time,” he added. “Nowadays, the equipment is better, and the process is simpler, but it still requires expertise.”

Weber said he started collecting cars around 1988, adding he brought cars home whenever he found them: “one by one, two by two, and sometimes more. I accumulated over 900 vintage vehicles by 2015.”

Despite achieving his dream of finding his 1957 Ford retractable in 2015, he noted the difficulties that come with such an extensive collection.

“It turned into a hobby that got out of control,” he said. “I started a business selling parts and cars to others who wanted to restore them.”

Charlie Baldock, a member of the Sunshine Highway Relic Run organizing committee, agreed with Weber regarding the challenges of sourcing parts.

“When it comes to Model Ts and Model A cars, there are so many reproduction places in the United States that make just about everything for those cars,” he said. “We help out each other through a network where we share parts and resources.”

Grant Gillis, owner of a 1976 Dodge Dart, also spoke about the difficulties of maintaining vintage vehicles.

While he hasn’t faced major issues with his car, which he bought in Portage la Prairie and maintains in good condition, he acknowledges that sourcing parts can be a challenge

“My vehicle is not particularly old and there are places in Winnipeg and Alberta that can get most parts for the vehicle,” he said.

Weber added the vintage car restoration business is not immune to economic fluctuations.

“It varies with the economy,” he said. “When people have money, they buy cars and parts. During economic downturns, business slows. Surprisingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, business was booming. It was the best period I’ve had in the last 20 years.”

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