The T Bird Deuce

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

The T Bird Deuce

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

was he a owner prior to 1973?

RAT BOY · TORONTO, ONT

Saw it...

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Just to add a little more information in our search for the mystery owner in Wallaceburg. The person who we are looking for was employed at Hallmark Motors (Pontiac Dealer) in Wallaceburg Ontario as the Parts Manager in the late 60's. He sold the "Hot Rod" in 1968 to a fellow employee at Hallmark Motors who was a car salesman at this same dealership. The word was he was getting married and needed the money. Most of us can relate to that. This mystery owner would have purchased the "hot rod" from a fellow from London named Danny Ritchie. Danny was a cripple person and had difficulty walking, but managed well enough to own this old car. Danny has been dead for a number of years so it is impossible for us to confirm who he sold the car to back in the 60's.

As Mike has stated, this is the last (we think) missing owner from 1955 to 2012 - all 21 of us and this person does deserve to be included in the history of this old car. We need a name and some type of confirmation of ownership. The best would be to talk with this person, but if he is no longer with us, a word from a next of kin would do.

I have really drawn a blank with Wallaceburg in my search. I have emailed a couple of people on the WAMBO car show committee asking for their help as well as the editor of the Wallaceburg newspaper but I have received nothing.

We really would like to hear from ANYBODY that either was employed at Hallmark Motors or perhaps delt with them and can give us the name of the Parts Department Manager back in the late 60's.

My name is

John Willoughby

519-507-3286

will@packetworks.ca

web site - www.tbirddeuce.com

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Thank you so much for the interest. I will try to post a picture of the display I use with the car at shows.
I would suggest you also review my web site at -- http://www.tbirddeuce.com/T_Bird_Deuce/Welcome.html -- where the complete history in both pictures and words is presented. All the previous owners are listed telling where they were when they owned the car and a little bit of history about each one. of them. There is also a link to a video of the car taken by the National Film board of Canada who were doing a film for the Canadian Army called "The Career Soldier". This hot rod has about a 30 second scene in this movie which was shot in 1959.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Will, could you please post the different locations this car ended up in by different owners?
I'm sure a number here would be interested in knowing that. Thanks.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Well so much for posting the picture. Sorry - please check the web site.

poncho62 · ADMINISTRATOR

Welcome to the forum John..very interesting story and great that you are trying to fill in the blanks.......I am just on the other side of Hanover

will · WALKERTON, ONT

I was just looking at your calendar for March and I do not see the London Speed & Custom Car Show listed. It is March 23, 24 & 25. Perhaps you can addd it.

I had my roadster entered in this show back in 1964 (picture attached) and now I am returning it to this same show 48 years later.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

WOW!! Will what an amazing story and photos of this 32!!!

A very special thanks for a wonderfully documented history for everyone to see.

meoracing · SAULT STE MARIE, ONT

Dumb question here but did you check the MTO for previous owners. They might have that info in the buyers package.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

I have tried to run the VIN with our local MTO office but nothing shows up. They tell me that when they went on computer way back when, not all the records were put on. Also, they tell me there was a fire that aslo destroyed a lot of old records. OK ???
What we are really looking for now is some help from Wallaceburg Ontario. Someone must remember dealing with the parts department at Hallmark Motors in the late 60's. We need a name of anybody that worked in the parts department back then. We were hoping to connect with a member of Ontario Rodders from the Wallaceburg area, but so far nobody has come forward. Any help from anybody would be very much appreciated as we try to identify this last remaining mystery owner.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Wondering, a long shot,, but wondering if the Wallaceberg town office may have some kind of records of home owners and their place of employment during that time?

Probably not much help, but just trying to come up with something along the lines of employment records or?

meoracing · SAULT STE MARIE, ONT

Hows about calling the Wallaceberg Chamber of Commerce. Maybe they have old business information. OR Is there an old museum there that kept pictures of businesses or other info??

meoracing · SAULT STE MARIE, ONT

Andy Walters operated under the name Modern Motors at the corner of Nelson and Wellington, also Wallaceburg Motors from 1937 to 1946 and Wallaceburg Motors 1952 to 1955 on King St. (east of Museum) until 1970 and lastly location of 40 highway, selling first Dodge and DeSoto and later Volkswagen

Looks like they do have a museum that has info about other dealerships......

Eric Sutherland, Eric Sutherland Motors beginning 1989, formerly Hallmark Motors on Arnold St. during 2005 merged with Riverview Motors

Maybe this guy has some info.

Just thinking outloud here.......

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Not sure if Wallaceberg is big enough to have had a "Vernon's city directory"?

Anyone that may have some old ones, they are collectible to some, may have one from that era.
Probably a long shot again, without the guys name, which it sounds like you don't have?

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Thanks guys for your thoughts and ideas. I have been down the road with the Eric Sutherland lead but no luck. The Chamber of Comerce is a maybe, definately will be in touch with them.
I am not sure about how much info the Town Office is prepared to give out. The privecy laws prevent most of that now.
I have sent requests for help to both the editor of the local newspaper as well as to the fellow that runs the local WAMBO car show in the summer, but again nothing.
I am now thinking of running an ad with the picture of the car from the mid 60's in the local newspaper asking does anybody know who owned this car in 1968 etc.
Oh well, I will just keep trying.
Again thanks for you help.
Cheers
John

89lxstanger · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

GREAT story i love the historical energy from it, makes me wanna find out more about my econoline..... no time for that tho, good luck on your search for that missing owner

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

John, yes i think the pic and request in the local paper may jar someones interest.

Good idea, well worth a try!!

Rusty Nuts · ONTARIO

I wonder if the Wallaceburg library (assuming they have one) would have copies of old newspapers. You might find an old advert for the dealership that just might include the name of the head of the service dept.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

The library and maybe a newspaper ad with some names - GREAT IDEA -
The old story, - two heads are better than one and in this case many heads are better than mine.
thanks guys

John

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Thanks for all the ideas guys! Some of you may have read the story of this car in Old Autos or Canadian Hot Rods. As stated, John was the 4th owner and is now number 21 as well. The car was found under a pine tree, full of needles and built into a Hot Rod in 1955. It changed hands a few times in the London area and was sold to the Chatham and Leamington areas and eventually to Windsor where it was passed around quite a bit but it always remained much the same as it was originally built with changes to wheels and tires to keep up with the 70's look and finally received the small block transplant shortly before it was sold to the States. It still retains the chrome dropped axle that was purchased at Rossini's Speed Shop back in 1955! Our "team" John, my friend in Windsor also named John and myself spent many hours on the phone and on line researching the history of this great roadster and with all that work and a lot of luck and a lot of help from friends in the USA, we were able to find the car in Michigan just as that owner was getting ready to put it up for sale. Neat that it's back home.
Here's what the car looked like back in the 50's

will · WALKERTON, ONT

I set the car up yesterday at the London Speed and Custom Car Show - 48 years after showing it back in 1964. Should be a fun weekend.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

THE LOST HAS BEEN FOUND

Theo Van Vylmen originally from Wallaceburg has been located living in Port Lambton. He is owner #6 of our historic old hot rod.

The attached pictures are from when he owned the car. Check the licence plate - 1967.

The Wallaceburg newspaper ran the story, personal friend Dave Elliott from the NAPA store in Wallaceburg copied the story to all his email contacts and the local Wallaceburg radio station did an on air interview with me about our search.

Theo saw the article in the paper and sent me an email introducing himself.

WOW - Thank you everybody

21 owners in 56 years

(we got them all - I hope)

Off to Chatham on Saturday for their Retrofest Car Show and then Steve Plunkett's the following weekend.

If any of the Ontario Rodders see this car at any of the car shows this summer, PLEASE come up and introduce yourself to me. I would like to meet you.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Congratulations John,, this has been a fascinating interesting story,, i was just wondering the other day if you had located the missing owner yet.

Thanks much for posting this great story!!

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

Really cool story .Just wondering what you will do with all your spare time now that the quest is over,dumb question My guess is drive the wheels off that duce to make some new history,great story,way to go,have fun with it. Ed

Adslow65 · LINDSAY, ONT

Awesome! Great story, congrats on finding that missing owner... if I see your car in my travels I will stop to say HI... I'd love to see it in person!!

69SS454 · MILTON, ONT

Love a happy ending

meoracing · SAULT STE MARIE, ONT

Great story. Wow..what a history...pretty cool......love the pics..expecially the one with the little child from 67.

89lxstanger · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

i see this made it into hot rod delux ...super cool to see when i picked it up today

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

The T Bird deuce will be in Wallaceburg this weekend for a reunion with the guys we've just found! Stop by and say hello if you see the car there. I'm hoping to spend some time with John Saturday but heading to London for the HArtman bash in the afternoon.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

This year's edition of WAMBO - Wallaceburg Antique and Motor Boat Outing was a big success for our "T-Bird Deuce"
We had the reunion with owner's 6 & 7 and many residents who remember this old car being on the streets of Wallaceburg. The weather was not good and both cars and spectators were down.
The "T-Bird Deuce" was awarded the inaugral "Chipper Award" which was presented in the memory of Chip Gordon, a long time supporter of WAMBO.
The following link will take you to the Wallaceburg Courier Press article.

http://www.wallaceburgcourierpress.com/2012/08/13/the-chipper-awarded-to-hot-rod

-- Edited by will on Tuesday 14th of August 2012 04:00:55 PM

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Congratulations on the award John. Well Deserved! Now that we've documented every owner since 1955, what are we going to do this winter to pass the time?

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Sorry for taking so long to reply Mike. We just returned home from taking the train to Vancouver and back. A great way to see our country in the "raw". Still see a few old vehicles sitting as we crossed the prairies.
As for this winter Mike I plan to rebuild the front end on the "T-Bird Deuce." It developed a bit of a vibration so I think it is time. I have no idea how long it has been since any work was done to the front end. I do know the front axle has been in there since 1955.
I also have a 77 Ford Maverick on the go, so that should take most of the winter.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

The Story Continues.

This past Saturday an article on "The T-Bird Deuce" written by Glen Wood**** appeared in the Autonet.ca section of the London Free Press. Glen Wood****'s writings are all automotive related and appear in a number of newspapers. He and I had exchanged emails a few months ago as he found the history and the story of this old hot rod to be very interesting. He wanted to do the story in one of his articles. It was published on Saturday but I don't know in what papers or where other than London.

http://www.autonet.ca/auto-news/automotive-industry-news/2012/12/09/time-machines-1932-ford/

Yesterday I received a phone call from a Ross Moore in London telling me he also used to own this car. He tells me he bought the car from a Pete Clark who also had lived in London. The story goes that Pete traded a 1955 Ford 2 door post car to Michael O'Byrne for the hot rod, but only kept it for a month or two. He sold the car to Ross. Ross was working at CFPL radio station in London and drove the car on nice days. He did what the rest of us did with the car - cruise Dundas Street, hit the drive-in's and do a little street racing. Ross needed a daily drive and he took the hot rod back to Dorchester and looked up Michael O'Byrne. Michael was working on a Austin-Healey and they made a trade right there on the spot.

Michael had his hot rod back.

I talked with Michael today about these two "new" owners and he confirmed that they did indeed own the car before he sold it to Bob McGregor in Petrolia. He had totally forgot about these two London guys owning the car. I can fully understand as this took place over 50 years ago.

Next year the car will have been a Hot Rod for 58 years and has now had 23 owners. Michael and myself have both owned it twice. I hope this is the last of "new" owners as my daughter is getting tired of making the changes on the posters I use at shows.

Welcome Pete Clark and Ross Moore to the list of previous owners of The T-Bird Deuce.

-- Edited by will on Monday 10th of December 2012 04:56:25 PM

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

WOW John! What a great deal this has been. Since you and Michael both owned the car now, I'd put you at #6 and 24 not 23 like we spoke of on the phone. Looking forward to seeing you and the T Bird Deuce at the Detroit Autorama in March. Have you mentioned this to Terry Denomme? I'm sure he'd like to have the update for Canadian Hot Rods. Guys, John has also located a possible source for the Wells Wheels that were produced in London and were on this roadster for many years as well as many other London Area Hot Rods and drag cars. I'm lining up for a set as soon as they become available.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

You are right Mike. I forgot to count Michael twice. We are in the process of adding Pete and Ross to our posters.
The web site received over 300 hits on Saturday and Sunday.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

T Bird Deuce Updated Poster

T-Bird Poster - 24 owners - Jan 2013.png

-- Edited by will on Monday 25th of February 2013 09:51:26 PM

Ragtop · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Your graphic artist did a great job on the new poster John. Looking forward to seeing youat Autorama. I'll be spending most of my time at the Right Coast Cars booth so if any of you are there please stop by and for a chat.