http://www.vvcaaqldinc.org.au/1.php
Ron Daw is a founding member of the Veteran & Vintage Chevrolet Association of Australia (Queensland) Inc.
Ron, at the age of 16, left school to become an apprenticed electrician employed by Queensland Rail. The trial period of 3 months came to an end and Ron found he couldn't even wire a 3-point plug. Realizing that this career was not for him he left for a more challenging position at a local foundry where he signed on as an apprenticed moulder, casting mainly with brass and aluminium.
Shortly after, still aged 16, Ron noticed a
1929 Chev tourer for sale and purchased it. Parts were required and he found an
advertisement in the Courier Mail selling 1928 Chev parts. Not knowing the
difference at that time he went to look at the parts which were being sold by
Harry Burton. It was here he also met up with Bryan Cantrell and both Harry and
Bryan visited Ron to look at his '29. They became mates and shortly after Harry
noted a story in a magazine titled "Crash Bang" about the newly formed VVCAA
Club based in Sydney. (Crash Bang was a trade magazine of the 3M Company, where
John De Brincat worked at the time. The article featured his 1926 tourer and the
formation of the VVCAA in Sydney.) The three agreed it would be great if a club
could be started in Brisbane, so an advertisement was placed in the Courier Mail
for a meeting to be held at Ron's parents’ home to discuss the prospects of
opening a Queensland Branch.
Bryan was the contact for enquiries
received from the advert and around a dozen prospective members
attended.
Ron owned the '29 for 12 months and decided
an upgrade was required as a mate of his had just sold his '27 Chev and had
purchased a '34 Ford tourer the shape of which Ron was keen on. He looked at the
photos of his parents’ ‘34 Chev sedan and thought the shape was equally as good,
so followed up on a few vehicles for sale including a ‘34 and ‘36 Ford coupe,
however these weren’t for him. He did go to inspect a ‘34 Oldsmobile roadster
which he regrets he was too late to see, as it had sold a few days earlier.
However, the owner had another 'spectacular' car for sale under his house - a
'34 Austin, which Ron reluctantly stated was a 'nice car' but he had no
interest.
Soon after, Ron at work on a Saturday
noticed in the Courier Mail, a ‘35 Chev Standard tourer for sale that he wanted
to see. Approaching his boss he told him how 'crook' he felt and that he would
have to go home. Permission was given, home he went and then on to inspect the
advertised '35 tourer. Driving down the road in his '29, who should he see
driving towards him but his boss on the other side of the road, no doubt Ron was
trying to look invisible as the boss's car passed by. Arriving at work Monday,
his boss asked Ron "did my car see your car on Saturday?" A little more than a
bit embarrassing for Ron!
The car advertised was in Everton Park and
on arriving Ron found that the owner was - 'away up north' - and the owner's
father was selling the car on behalf of his son, Joe Foxley. Ron purchased this
vehicle for the princely sum of $140. Years later when Ron was making a delivery
to the Golden Valley Hotel in Samford he noticed the Licensee's name was Joe
Foxley and he introduced himself to Joe as the purchaser of his ‘35 tourer. Joe
was an unhappy chappie about this purchase and was very scathing of his
brother who without permission, had sold his car to Ron . Ron
didn't say anything as Joe's father was sitting at the bar at the time and Ron
decided it was time to leave!
The '29 was sold and the '35 became Ron's
everyday car and the first car for Ron to gain expertise on. The first job was
to paint it two- tone blue over the two-tone brown and Ron states he was pleased
with the job.
The collection had
begun.
Next, not
necessarily in order, came a '35 Master tourer, a '41 coupe which was swapped
for a '35 roadster in 1973 and a VW. Yes you read it correctly, a
VW!
The VW and Master tourer were sold to fund
a trip to USA with a friend, Graham Poulson. They initially arrived in L.A. and
stayed with the editor of the Chev Club magazine and his family for several
weeks. A '62 Chev wagon was purchased and then the lads toured the States for 6
months both bird-watching and car-watching. Ron returned to Brisbane and the
foundry and stayed for a further 3 years until he purchased his first delivery
truck and became an owner/driver.
Ron purchased a sewing machine to make a
tarp' for his truck and took a TAFE course on upholstery to improve his
skills. Daryl Stark took time to pass on his knowledge of welding and lead
wiping to Ron and the timber and mechanical work came
naturally.
His first major project was an FJ Holden
sedan which he purchased in 1983. The 3 year project saw the sedan become a
convertible, and the masterful shaping of the boot to encase the upright spare
wheel. This car is still in Ron's collection and is spectacular.
Talking further with Ron revealed that over
the years more cars came and went, including a '35 Standard sedan, '33 & ‘34
coupe and I am sure a few others he's forgotten, however the '35 tourer still
remained.
.
Throughout
the '70s & ‘80s Ron attended swap meets and collected Chev parts wherever he
could and I am only one of many people he has helped out with parts and
knowledge over the years.
In 1995 a '35 Master utility came Ron's way
and a 2 year project began. The ute was in 'pretty poor nick' and took every
minute Ron had to spare. Again the vehicle still remains in Ron's collection and
is a tribute to the craftsman he is. Ron swore that this was the last
restoration.
Memories fade and in 1998 at a swap in Rockhampton, Ron met a chap who was selling 7 of his 9 cars which were located in Innisfail. Photos of a '34 Master roadster were sent to Ron and a purchase price of $2,500 was negotiated and accepted. The car was shipped to Ron in a container on Queensland Rail and upon opening the container Ron thought "what have I done?" He was sorry he had purchased it and actually advertised it for sale the following weekend but had no takers.
Well what to you do with a '34 roadster
with all his knowledge? You restore it, don't you. Of the original '34 he used
the front cross member, firewall and three quarters of the roadster
section. Every other panel is from different cars. Standard guards that Ron had
in his collection were swapped for Master guards and numerous other parts from
Laurie Scheuber. Then 4 guards were made from the 7 gained. Parts from 22 cars
were used in the cowl and windscreen alone.
Don Moyland assisted Ron greatly with the
making and shaping of panels. A blue flame motor rebuilt at Wilsons’ was bolted
to an auto Turbo 400. A Falcon diff and hydraulic brakes from a '37 Chev and 16"
Pontiac wire wheels made it go forward and stop. Nine years later Ron drove it
to Wagga Wagga on the 2007 run and had no problems. I, like a lot of others, are
very impressed with this vehicle and again it remains in Ron's
stable
In 2006 Ron imported a ‘47 Indian motorbike
from the USA and enjoys outings now with the Indian Club. As you would expect,
Ron has "tidied the bike up" and it looks a picture.
The
Brisbane floods arrived in 2011 and Ron was one of the many to have major
problems. He awoke during the night and found it eerily quiet. On arising he
found flood water in his back yard and had enough time only to save his vehicles
and a few personal items. His house is a Queensland high-set with a good size
shed on the lower backyard, housing car parts and the '35 tourer on blocks. The
shed went completely under as did the '35, and the lower level of the house.
Ron's tools and laundry with sewing machines and numerous parts were fully
inundated and the top level of his home had water reaching half way up the
walls.
Friends and Club members rallied together
to help when the water subsided. When visiting Ron for this story, I found him
finishing the last of the repainting inside his home. A new kitchen and laundry
has been fitted and later in the month the floors will be repolished and carpet
laid. Nearly four months of heartache but the end is
near.
Typical of Ron, he states that others are
worse off than he and that he was relatively lucky! Ron was humbled by the
support and help he received and would like to express his gratitude to all
those that assisted him through this event.
This of course has put his retirement plans
on hold for a while but I'm sure his spirit will pull him through. He has a
property in NSW waiting for him and the prospect of starting his retirement
project - the restoration of the ‘35 tourer he purchased when he was 16 years
old. The blue flame motor will be replaced with an original and the two- tone
blue will become two-tone brown again. Three hides for the upholstery have been
purchased from the Murwillumbah swap and many other parts are being
collected. The new set of tyres previously purchased, floated away in the flood
and Ron found one last week on the roof of his neighbour's shed along with his
tent.
Talking further with Ron revealed that over
the years more cars came and went , including a '35 Standard sedan, '33 &
‘34 coupe and I am sure a few others he's forgotten, however the '35 tourer
still remains.
AAMI will not be paying his insurance claim, so we hope he gets a helping hand from the much maligned Premiers Flood Fund.
Meanwhile the cleaning of parts carries on
with Ron looking for the right sized drum to make a molasses bath.
I'm sure Ron will do a great job of the '35
restoration and we all look forward to the end
result.
No comments:
Post a Comment