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Starting Lines
Dodge has announced the newest update to what it’s calling the brand’s first three-row muscle car with the introduction of the 2022 Durango R/T HEMI Orange edition. “HEMI Orange is a hot option for the Dodge Challenger and Charger, and now we’re expanding its reach by offering the Dodge Durango R/T HEMI Orange,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer - Stellantis. “The Durango has a muscle-car attitude, and the eye-catching HEMI Orange appearance embraces the Dodge performance DNA that is our foundation.” The HEMI Orange appearance is inspired by the original orange colour of the iconic HEMI engine that powered Dodge’s muscle cars for many decades. The Durango R/T HEMI Orange is powered by a 5.7L HEMI V8 engine and stands out thanks to unique orange and Gunmetal hood stripes which complement the new-look Midnight Grey and orange exterior badging. The rear of the SUV features Satin Black taillamps with 20-in. black noise wheels featured. All three rows of seats are trimmed in orange stitching with a monochromatic Dodge Rhombi setback logo, with orange stitching further running throughout the interior, accenting the instrument panels, door uppers and armrest, console lid, shifter boot and flat-bottom steering wheel. The HEMI Orange package is available on all Durango R/T exterior colours.
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Volume 20, Issue No. 4 August / September 2022
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Publisher: Dean Washington dean@rpmcanada.ca
Associate Publisher: David Symons david@rpmcanada.ca
Managing Editor Jordan Allan jordan@rpmcanada.ca
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Copy Editor: Gerry Frechette gerryf@rpmcanada.ca
Advertising Sales: Elaine Fontaine elaine@rpmcanada.ca
Contributing Writers / Photographers: Jordan Allan John Gunnell Cam Hutchins Paul Kennedy
Muscle Car Plus Magazine is published six times per year by RPM Media Inc.
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After a two year hiatus, the Port Coquitlam Event Society is happy to bring the iconic Downtown PoCo Car Show back for 2022, on the August 20-21 weekend. This event has grown into one of B.C.’s most anticipated, and largest, specialty car events, with hundreds of vehicles and 70,000 spectators taking over the main downtown streets of PoCo. As well as the fabulous array of cars, we’ll have the usual entertainment and activities for the whole family. There will also be vendor displays, children’s activities, live entertainment, beer gardens, great food, workshops, and more. For more info, go to pococarshow.ca.
Electric Garage Auctions
The Electric Garage holds LIVE collector vehicle auctions in Alberta each year, and the big one this year is the 15th Annual Fall Collector Car Auction and Speed Show, September 911 at Westerner Park in Red Deer. Over 200 Collector cars and 100 pieces of no reserve automobilia. EG Auctions offers both reserve and noreserve consignment options. This show always sells out so consign early! Bidding can be done in-person or online. For all the details, go to www.egauctions. com and to consign, consign@egauctions. com or toll-free at 888-296-0528.
Langley Good Times Cruise-In
One of the must-see events of the B.C. cruising season is the Annual Langley Good Times Cruise-In on Saturday September 10, with thousands of specialty vehicles lining Fraser Hwy from 264 to 272 Streets in the Aldergrove district of Langley. It is one of the largest such shows in North America, in the heart of the collector car area of B.C. A swap meet and car corral goes the next day, Sunday, Sept. 11. For pre-registration details, check the event website in the summer. As always, several charities are the recipients of the funds raised through the show, and further details can be found at www.langleycruise-in.com.
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Your antique, hot rod, customized or classic car is unique and requires unique coverage. At B&W our insurance experts understand the coverage and features you need to ensure your investment is protected. Representing all the different insurance companies that provide coverage for collector vehicles, B&W Insurance will arrange the coverage best suited to your needs. We are experts in the Nuts & Bolts of Collector Car Insurance Call Tyler Stamnes to get the best policy for absolutely the BEST PRICE 604-530-9993
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Feels Like Yesterday
Gerry and Sharon Appeldoorn’s 1965 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
Any Carnut worth their salt has heard how well the Mustang sold during its first year. Over a half a million cars were sold in an extended sales year that started in April of 1964. Not everyone cared about Mustangs, but Chrysler and General Motors sure did as they jumped on the chance to produce rivals that they could sell out of their showrooms, and all Carnuts cared about that! But maybe not as well known is how many 1965 Chevrolet Impalas were sold. Well over 1 million, “said in the best ‘Dr. Evil’ way,” were sold in mostly the U.S. and Canada. Some were built and partially taken apart, or sold as total knock-down kits to Australia and New Zealand.
A million cars! In one year, recently, for the model year 2018, Ford sold just over a million F-150 trucks, and Toyota sold its Corolla around the world close to the Ford F-150’s numbers. Sales of 1,046,500 Impalas was a little more than 11 percent of the almost 9 million total production for U.S. automakers in 1965. It was a little less than half the sales of Chevrolet’s total 1965 sales of 2.38 million, but when you add the sales of Impala-based Belairs (124,000) and Biscaynes (145,000) then you have half of all 1965 Chevy’s sales looking like Impalas from a distance!
So with the love of the 1965 Impala firmly established, what makes this Impala so important? It is the passion and love that Gerry Appeldoorn, his wife Sharon and their kids have for this car. It was part of Gerry’s life for over half a century and Sharon’s almost as long. Gerry bought it off his brother Bill in 1971. Pretty cool for a 17 year-old kid to own a big bad V8 Impala Sport Coupe with a sleek semi-fastback roofline, and a manual transmission that helped with burnouts!
Gerry liked to drive the car fast, really fast, but drove well enough to keep the big 3,500 lb. or 1,600 kg car on the road between the ditches of his native Abbotsford. Back in the ‘70s, a ditch was never more than a couple of feet away from at least two of your wheels out in the country. But after owning it a year, without a crack up, his Dad was rototilling the garden and went to clear a bit of debris. The rototiller took off and scraped up the car’s paint. Dad pays for new paint and Gerry picks a deep Turquoise Blue.
The next year, Gerry was leaving a wedding and backed into a parked car. After dealing with the insurance details and exchanging info, Gerry realized that the cute girl with whom he had been dancing all evening was the daughter of the lady whose car he had hit. Never one to waste an opportunity, he asked Sharon out on a date! So the ‘65 started its arguably most important role as Sharon and Gerry’s “Courtin Car”!
Lots of adventures went on with this Impala, with Sharon remembering one time they were driving on the back roads of Abbotsford and some crazy nut tried to run them off the road. Not knowing what was
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Founders Roy Lord and Ed Coates, the “Lord” and “Co” in Lordco Auto Parts, opened the door to our first location in 1974, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. From our humble 900-square-foot beginning, we have grown to become Canada’s largest privately held automotive parts distributor and Western Canada’s largest distributor and retailer of aftermarket parts and accessories, with 85 stores, nine including Truck Centres, and seven centralized distribution centres, two of which are specific to Hi Performance and Truck Centre parts. Our delivery fleet of over 500 vehicles ensures that the quality products we offer are delivered to wholesale customers and retail stores quickly. Our 31,000-square-foot flagship location in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, features our new, modern retail store design concept, including a dedicated Truck Centre and power tool walls that allow our customers to handle products freely before deciding to buy. After over 45 years in business, we are growing faster than ever and have established a presence in Alberta, Canada, with even more locations in development. Lordco Auto Parts is looking forward to what the future has in store. It’s going to be a great ride!
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Lordco adopts a unique approach to business by forging meaningful relationships with customers, employees and vendors, providing an unparalleled customer experience unrivaled in the industry. Our founding values of loyalty, family and community have provided the foundation for an innovative solutions-oriented approach to customer service.
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Lordco hasn’t slowed down on any expansion plans. Along with adding stores in new and existing markets, Lordco is looking forward to completing construction on a new Head Office and Distribution Centre. Scheduled to open in early 2022, the magnificent 377,000 square foot facility is located in Port Coquitlam, BC. The purpose built space and prime location will offer strategic advantages to both Lordco and its customers.
going on, Gerry finally had enough and took off, fast. With enough space between him and the guy chasing them he was able to pull over, stop and get out of his car as the guy finally caught up to them. As soon as the guy sees Gerry standing there ready to fight, he realized he was chasing the wrong car. He mumbled apologies and said it was the same colour Impala but a ‘66!
The ‘65 liked high speeds and long drives, but with the marriage of Sharon and Gerry, by 1974, the Impala got another important role as the family car. As the kids start to come along, so did the need for the
nieces to babysit. Often times when Gerry and Sharon would arrive home, their niece would be dozing, but after a late-night high-speed run home, they would be wide awake. They all cherished their rides with Uncle Gerry as did all those who got to ride with Gerry in the Impala! tices, family reunions, weddings and family vacations. It started to get parked more and more until the ‘90s when it only got outside occasionally to blow off the dust and remember the good old days. Finally in 2020, Gerry retired and decided after owning the car for half a century, it was time to look into restoring her to her former glory!
In 2021, after a long time looking at parts and what needed to be done, he contacted Stone’s Speed Shop. The day they picked up the car was certainly an emotional one for Gerry and the family. Nervous at letting the car out of his sight, but with the excitement of finally getting to drive the car as he remembers it as a teenager. The car was to get a fresh coat of paint, the interior fixed up a bit, including new carpets, door panels, seat covers, but the headliner was fine and left alone.
The colour Tahitian Blue had been decided on, as well as disc brakes up front, rally wheels and Holley Sniper Fuel injection. Not sure of why, but before the car got left to being parked almost full time, the engine was rebuilt around 1990. The 327 cu. in. V8 had enough
power to make everyone smile, but it did get a rebuild with a number of go fast parts thrown at it, to make those smiles even wider. A hotter camshaft, flat top pistons, this all became apparent when the car was restored at Stone’s, as the engine and tranny were opened up and gone through. The engine just needed some new oil and parts lubricated to start the break-in period.
On April 30th 2021, tragedy strikes and Gerry passes away. The project is put on hold for a couple of months while the family starts the grieving process. It is decided the car would be finished, but now Stone’s takes it up a notch. Realizing just how special this car is, they go over and above to make this car as perfect as they can. To the tune of lots of comped hours.
The seats get recovered by Andrew Holem of Holem Upholstery Chilliwack, and new carpets and inner door panels are installed by Stone’s. The radio with built-in equalizer screams the late ‘70s but was installed by Gerry back in the day, so it stays, but to make sure all the family members will be able to have their music played, an under-dash Bluetooth system with hidden speakers is installed by Certified Autosound & Security in Chilliwack.
The front discs and dual master cylinder are from CPP and the big Rally wheels and 235 tires look killer. The car is basically finished in a year but the family is told it will not be finished for a while. But it was at the 2022 B.C. Custom and Classic Car Show at Tradex as an “unfinished project.” They invited the family to come see the car at the show and the family was wondering what was up when they came to the show and the Impala was not there. Soon they realized there was a car with a cover on it and were blown away when the cover was pulled off and their fully finished 1965 Impala was unveiled. To say emotions ran high is an understatement. The car looks incredible and drives even better.
The car gets regularly driven, and Sharon, who learned to drive on a stick shift, as her car for years as a teenager was a Datsun 510 4-speed, likes to go for drives in the Impala. She loves the colour Gerry picked for it, and how Stone’s Speed Shop took a factory colour, Tahitian Blue, and added some modern attitude and pizzaz! The car is just like she remembers, when she was a girl, dating the love of her life, and what feels like, just yesterday.
Nice Truck!
Bill Marsala’s 1956 Ford F 100
Story and photos by Paul Kennedy
Bill’s hot rod history starts with his yellow, ’31 Ford 5-window Model A coupe, which he owned in the early ‘90s. He later acquired and finished a red-on-black interior, 1964 Dodge Polara with a 413, which now resides happily with his former neighbour and close friend Steve D. His history continued with the acquisition of a Jaguar red 1936 Chev coupe powered by a Hemi. Finally he found a burgundy, 1940 Willys coupe, first with a crate 383 Chev stroker, now with a 1958 392 (stroked to 462). This still resides in his garage, as his daughter has first dibs on this as her first hot rod.
Around 2012, Bill began to get the itch to buy a 1956 Chev or Ford pickup. Eric H.’s 1940 Ford rat rod pickup on air bags gave Bill a big push in this direction. In 2015 Bill found a 1956 Ford F 100 pickup – a one year model - near Milton, Ontario, and trailered it home. It had a cab on an original chassis, but it included the doors, hood, bed sides and all fenders. It only lacked the running boards, tailgate, engine, and transmission. All the metal was in very good condition, so the frame and panels were all sandblasted, and the metal work began in late 2015. Bill added front and rear cab corners on both sides, then he moved to the bed, adding
front and rear rocker corners on both sides. A friend, Bill S., took on the task of resurrecting the bottoms of the doors. At this point, Bill and another friend, Eric W. began to bondo various panels and sand them all flat – repeatedly.
In the summer of 2016 Bill moved to detailing the chassis. A Mustang II front clip from JW Garage was obtained at the Syracuse Nationals in Syracuse N.Y. It was mocked up and welded in, while the rear frame rails were C-notched to allow lowering of the rear of the truck. The Mustang II clip includes disc brakes as well, always a great improvement. The rear leaf springs were disassembled, sand blasted, painted, then reassembled and attached to the rear end. The original Dana 44 rear end was replaced with a 3.25geared 9-inch Ford rear end, which was then also detailed.
Bill acquired his Y block 292 engine in Manila, Ontario towards the end of 2016. It was a non-running engine from a 1962 Ford F 100. In the fall of 2016, the 292 was rebuilt in Kingston, then installed in early 2017. In order to mate the older engine to the newer Mustang T-5,
Bill had to have two new threaded bungs added to the bell housing. He also made a new bracket to allow the Z-bar to operate the mechanical clutch.
When the bodywork was finished, Bill painted the truck in his double garage. The colour is a 1946 Ford shade called Golden Glow yellow, applied with a colour base and a matte clearcoat. It looks amazing! At about this time, the originally rebuilt 292 began to burn oil and leak coolant. Bill pulled the head and discovered a pinhole leak in the head. After much searching he found an original unmolested replacement, had it refreshed and then installed. The engine lasted until September of 2020, but it had oil leaks and an annoying vibration. Bill yanked the engine in October 2020, and took it to D and D Performance in Chesterville, Ontario.
On tearing the engine down, they unfortunately found many things out of spec. Two examples of this are, firstly, the rotating assembly of the engine had not been balanced, secondly, the ring gaps on all eight pistons were vertically aligned rather than offset. The engine deserved and received a properly done rebuild by D and D. Bill is happy to report that the engine still runs great, leaks no fluids and has no vibrations.
The dash is stock with the original recirculating heater just above the rubber floor mat. The gas tank was detailed, then returned to its position behind the seat. The inside door metal was painted, and the new headliner is black vinyl. The 1978 Chev Cheyenne bench seat was flattened with extra foam, then trimmed out in black vinyl with yellow piping by Wally S. Bill made the bed floor out of hemlock boards with a naturally aged finish. The 15-inch steel wheels were painted red, then received the centre caps and trim rings to give it a definite period vibe. The Ford is mostly finished, but don’t forget that if Bill feels like something different, the Willys is always there to get rowdy.
