By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Deb Beek’s interest in painting cars started because “I was told I couldn’t.”
So when her husband, Al (who was not the person who told her no), was getting ready to paint his 1964 Dodge Polara, she told him she wanted to paint it.
“I was like sure,” Al said. “We decided to do a red and I went with a DuPont paint which is an easy paint to use.
“When she was done, the paint job was just beautiful. It was as good as what the big body shops do.”
It was so good, that the car even won a few awards, but after a few years of owning the Polara, Al decided he wanted a new project. So he sold it and picked up a 1955 Ford Panel Truck for himself and a 1966 Chevy Stepside Pickup c10 for Deb. This time he asked Deb to paint the cars with the couple working as team, he did the body work, she did the painting.
Collectors love their cars but they love sharing their stories even more and it’s the story like the Beeks that bring them together and before, during, and after Metro Cruise. One such group of ten that the Beeks are part of meet every Wednesday night at Frankie V’s, sharing stories about cars, cruises and life.
“It is a unique group of individuals,” said Alan Wright, the owner of a 1958 Thunderbird. Unique in that most of the people in this group have been attending the Metro Cruise since is started in 2005. That distinction earned the group a special honor, they are the cars and drivers who bring the Miss Metro Cruise contestants to the stage.
“I had one who came up and she was tall with high heels and she folded herself right into my car,” laughed Jeff Lombard, who owns a 1973 AMC Gremlin.
“It is kind of interesting to have people come check it out,” Lombard said of his car. “They always say something like ‘I use to have one of those’ or ‘I can’t believe you still have one.’”
Actually Lombard purchased his Gremlin brand new off the lot in 1973. Soon after he got married and acquired a company car, he put the Gremlin in storage.
“I never thought much about the car until we were moving to another house,” Lombard said. “I went into the storage shed, put a battery in and gas and the car started right up.”
Usually at Metro Cruise, Lombard parks his car next to his brother’s 1970 AMC Javelin that he too bought brand new off the lot.
“I think I paid about $2,500 out the door for it,” Tim Lombard said. “I actually wanted a Barracuda but I couldn’t find one. This was a great deal, so I decided to take it.”
It is not hard to find the group at Metro Cruise, they take up the first 21 spots at the Rogers Plaza, something Wright said the group was able to secure because of their long participation. Wander through and you’ll discover an amazing sampling of classics from Lombards’ AMCs to Joe Birgles 1967 Olds 442, Ray Doornbos 1960s Chevy Pickup, and Bill Dewing’s 1957 Chevy.
Nestled among those cars is Wayne Kester’s 1957 Chevy Belair. The Belair design is often consider an auto icon having been used in toys and other merchandise. A closer look at Kester’s and you are quick to discover that this is a two-door post car that does not have a hard-top. A rare find indeed.
“It was actually a barn find in Sparta,” Kester said. “The uniqueness is that it is an in-line straight 6, original motor with 250 horsepower.”
It is the original motor, original color, original transmission and original rear-end with no Bondo or rust. In fact, due to its outstanding safety rating — Kester said he maintains the car to be road safe — it was invited to represent Michigan in a National Street Rod Association event in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I was looking for a convertible and I couldn’t find one,” Kester said. “I came across this car by accident. It is something that nobody else has.”
Of course, in every group there is that one car that that has the story you have to hear. That would be Terry Bush’s 1971 Chevy Nova.
“My brother-in-law gave it to me as no one else wanted it,” Bush said. “I don’t know if it was a deal, as I had to rebuild it.”
Bush’s work on the car was recognized as he earned a first place award. Unfortunately, on the way home, the car was in an accident. So Bush had the car redone and again went to a car show, receiving an award, only to have the car catch on fire on the way home. He again had the car repaired and again took it to a show, won an award only to have a friend back into it at the show.
“It is has had four complete paint jobs,” Bush said with the group laughing. “At this point, I tend to avoid getting any trophies at the shows.”
So if you are wandering through Metro Cruise this Saturday, make sure to visit spots one through 21. Check out the cars, listen to the stories, and feel free to share a few of your own.
