20 - Southpoint Sun Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Triple black 1969 Pontiac GTO THE OLD CAR DETECTIVE Bill Sherk David Mastronardi of Ruthven, Ontario, was born in 1971 and spent his early years in the middle of the muscle car era. He got his driver’s license behind the wheel of a Chevy Cavalier but dreamed of someday having a car with more get-up-and-go. The car he wanted from age 15 was a Pontiac GTO. That dream became reality in 2013 when he contacted a retired gentleman in Georgetown, Ontario, who had three Pontiac GTOs. He was willing to sell one because of health issues. It had come from South Carolina and needed work. He had sandblasted the frame and body panels but much more was needed. David bought it and trailered it home, then took a close look at it and said: “What have I done?” The car was in a thousand pieces and had no engine or transmission. Rather than tackle a project that could take forever to finish, David very wisely took the car and all its pieces to Mark DiMilo at Dimilo Auto Body on Oak Street West in Leamington. Mark had already rebuilt several classic cars of high quality and David knew his GTO was in good hands. By June 2015, Mark had finished the car to perfection and David began to enjoy his dream car. When new, the car had a Liberty Blue body, white convertible top, and parchment interior. When it rolled out of DiMilo’s shop, it was gleaming black on the body with a black convertible top and black interior. Cool! Under the hood when the car was new was a 350 cubic inch V8. Now it has a new LS3 crate motor with 376 cubic inches (6.2 litres) and 4-speed automatic transmission. David has driven it to many local shows until this year, when the pandemic cancelled them all. I asked him if he still drives the car and he said: “Every chance I get!” It’s the perfect solution to cabin fever and doesn’t pose any danger to anyone because David stays in the car till he gets back home. To David, we say: “Happy motoring for years to come!” I’m always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@sympatico.ca.
WHEATLEY LEGION NEWS BRANCH 324
Jan Watson Legion Will Open Soon Wheatley Legion Br. 324 will re-open on September 17 for 3 days a week at this time — Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Including staff and volunteers, only 50 people will be allowed inside at a time. If we are at capacity when you arrive you will be turned away. Upon entry, you must be wearing a mask, use hand sanitizer provided at the door and record your name and phone number on a list also pro-
vided at the door. You must remain at the table you choose – absolutely no table hopping! When you leave your table for whatever reason you must wear your mask. These measures are for the protection of everyone and, if anyone does not follow them, they will be removed from the Branch. We are doing our part to keep our staff, members and friends safe and we expect you to do so also.
David Mastronardi’s 1969 GTO convertible.
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