Darvill eager to share passion

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This article was published 08/03/2019 (2583 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A fan of anything with wheels that can go fast, Darren Darvill has a need for speed.

Growing up with a single mom, Darvill didn’t have a lot, and building cars proved to be a way for him to showcase what he could do with some tools, hard work and a car.

Originally a Honda man, Darvill was introduced to the car-building game as a young man by his step-father, who was a mechanic.

From there his dedication to putting the pedal to the metal took off, fuelled in part by automotive and autobody classes he took at Crocus PlainsRegionalSecondary School.

“It got to the point where I ended up meeting Keith Anderson. He’s like a big brother to me, and at the time he had a Cougar,” Darvill said. “I started kind of following him around and started liking the car world.”

He was 17 at the time.

The first car Darvill worked on was a 1997 Honda Civic, followed by a 1991 Lincoln Town Car.

Spending 11 years meticulously working on the Lincoln, Darvill transformed it into a low rider air ride on 14-inch wire wheels with a custom paint scheme that featured full in-car entertainment that included television screens and a killer stereo.

From there he ended up selling the Lincoln to get his dream car — a 2004 Cadillac CTSV in 2014.

“It was really, really cool,” Darvill sighed.

Unfortunately, that car was not long for this world.

Owning the Cadillac for about four months, in June of that year the car came to a tragic end when Darvill was cut off by another motorist. The engine was pushed right into the firewall and the transmission was stuck in second gear.

The Cadillac was a write-off after the collision, and Darvill was left with severe sciatic nerve damage down his left leg and cannot feel his right foot most of the time.

His current car, a 1997 Nissan Cima, came up for sale soon after the incident that totalled his Cadillac.

A right-hand drive imported from Japan, the Cima was released into Canada in 2011.

“I ended up falling in love with it,” Darvill said. “I ended picking it up on a whim.”

Featuring a VQ30DET engine with a single turbo, similar to what one would find in a Nissan Fairlady, the Cima has more than 300 horsepower, although it can be a little slow as it is an automatic.

At first, Darvill was not a major fan of the right-hand drive, but it proved to be the perfect car after his injury.

“Now I lean to the left so it doesn’t bother my sciatic nerve,” Darvill said.

Switching to right-hand drive proved to be an easy gear to shift into, especially given his injury. Driving on the left is now more of an inconvenience.

Boasting a big body — an attribute Darvill loves in his cars — that fits into the import class, the car is a striking black “mystique”with VIP tables on the front, big wheels slammed on the ground and lots of chrome.

The Cima is an excellent fit for Darvill.

Turning people’s heads on the street when he is out and about, many of the people Darvill speaks with assume the Cima has been imported from Europe.

“It’s a lot of education ’cause a lot of people think it’s a Mercedes or something,” Darvill chuckled. “I get lots of questions everywhere I go. It’s really fun.”

Happy to share his expertise and enthusiasm with others, Darvill is eager to meet fellow motorheads and inspire others to pick up the passion.

Darvill helped found the car club the Higher Class Society as a way to pursue that desire.

Those who join are required to follow three basic rules: cars must have three major modifications, members must have a good attitude and a car that stands out.

“We pride ourselves on being family-oriented. Most of us have kids that come to events,” Darvill said.

Darvill is a father to three kids, and they are following in his footsteps as mini-motorheads.

His 10-year old stepdaughter is huge into motorcycles, relishing sitting on Darvill’s bike and revving the engine. His three-year-old is into big trucks, and his two-year-old loves sitting in the car.

“It’s a good start,” Darvill said. “It’s passing the passion.”

Drawn to the uniqueness of cars, each one is able to tell a special story, Darvill said.

Comparing cars to tattoos, Darvill said, each automobile can show a driver’s life’s struggles and passions.

From the hot rods and classics embraced by old souls celebrating a bygone era to the imports built to slam or drift, each driver has an exceptional story to share.

“It’s kind of a way to show your personality on wheels,” Darvill said. “That’s what draws me to it.”

A man who transcends different eras, Darvill is planning on potentially starting work on a 1963 Mercury — a project that will prove daunting.

“This (car) is completely slammed on the ground right now,” Darvill said.

The car is currently owned by one of his friends, and Darvill has fostered an affection for the Mercury ever since work began on it.

The owner of Resurrection Paint Correction and Auto Detailing, Darvill is a man familiar working with everything from hot rods and classics to imports thanks to his work, and he wants to have a piece of both sides.

He’s also looking at getting another Harley Davidson bike to add to his collection.

“I want the best of both worlds,” Darvill said. “I’ve always wanted a car I could just jump in and drive and go for a Sunday cruise.”

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