Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Southpoint Sun - 23
Awesome 1947 Studebaker pickup On a recent visit to DiMilo Auto Body Inc. and Classic Car Restorations on Oak Street West, Mark DiMilo showed me a 1947 Studebaker pickup truck in the final stages of being transformed into an awesome street machine. The truck came from South Carolina many years ago and became part of Earl Bernstein’s Studebaker collection in the town of Essex. Harry
Roettelle bought the truck in 1990 from Morton Burstyn in Essex because it reminded him of Bill Sherk a ’47 Studebakuntil it went into storer flatbed truck owned in the mid-‘60s age around 1995 and reby his family business, mained there until 2016, Kingsville Roofing. Mor- when Harry’s business ton may have needed a partner John Spevak roof and Harry got the mentioned to Harry that he might like to buy the truck. It was in parades with truck. The very next day, the original flathead six Harry gave John the keys
THE OLD CAR DETECTIVE
Finished and ready to go at Mark DiMilo’s Auto Body Inc. and Classic Car Restorations in Leamington.
and the ownership paper on condition that John would never sell it. John contacted Mark DiMilo, who began turning the worn-out truck into a dream machine. Mark arranged with Brad Gibbs at Gibbs Fabrication Service in Amherstburg to build a brand new frame. All body work was performed in
Mark’s shop, including a custom pickup box, dropped floor, custom digital gauges on a modified original dash, custom wheels, and all new glass. Other goodies included 4-wheel disc brakes, stainless exhaust, modern coilover suspension, LS3 GM crate engine with 376 cubic inches and 495 horsepower, 5-speed gearbox,
custom drive shaft, 9-inch Ford rear end, and leather interior by Dean Cicacelli. The finish is Viper Red and identical to John’s red Porsche. If you see John driving around in his Studebaker, be sure to wave and toot your horn! I’m always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@ sympatico.ca.
What was happening in 1970?
By C. Scott Holland More than 100 people attended the annual Leamington District Memorial Hospital annual meeting. Guest speaker was Dr. H. T. Ewart, president of the Ontario Hospital Association. The focus of the meeting was on the hospital’s existing facilities and the need for expansion of the emergency room and ICU unit. ——— The Hospital Board was also re-elected for another term. Members were president Peter W. Anthony, VP Gil Morris, plus directors John Atkin, Doug Claxton, Don Emerson, George Gallagher, Bob Jackson, Roy Kipping, Joe Lightfoot, Jack Parsons, Lou Stocks and George Whaley. ——— After a winter of abundant snow and ice, Great Lakes water levels were running well above normal. Lake Erie was estimated to be about 8 inches above and Lake St. Clair about 6 inches.
Leamington Public Utilities Commission presented certificates to journeyman power linemen. Chairperson Les Pridding gave the certificates to Dave Pilmer, Bus Harris, Bill Galloway, Tony Critchlow and Harvey Wallace. ——— Player rosters were published for Leamington Minor Baseball teams and for the first time, the Atom division was split into two separate groups - A and B, with each having four teams. It’s estimated that 400 boys signed up and coaches needed for some of the teams. ——— Leamington’s original Drive-In Theatre — now called the Mustang DriveIn — was showing some of the year’s top films, including Paint Your Wagon, The Out-Of Towners and Catch-22 The drive-in will show M*A*S*H* the following week.
