Classic cars were spotted roaming the M-24 corridor in great numbers Saturday during the Lapeer Country Cruise, but only one vintage automobile had a connection to local history.
Sitting amongst the shiny, chrome-laden vehicles of yesteryear outside Dunlap Collision at 75 N. Washington St. was a 1948 British-made Ford Thames panel delivery truck.
This tiny green truck was used by the late Oxford postman, Ralph E. Campbell, to deliver local mail from 1948 until his retirement in 1964.
Campbell’s grandson-in-law, Joe Dunlap, put 100-plus hours into restoring the vehicle, which had spent many years stored in a barn.
Ford imported approximately 250,000 various models of English Fords to the United States between 1948 and 1970. The Thames name was adopted to give the trucks a distinct British identity.
‘It’s rare now, but it used to be pretty common,? said Dunlap, who restored the Thames to its former glory because of its sentimental value to his wife, Gloria.
Gloria remembers summers long ago riding on the truck’s wooden floor with her sister, Connie Haddrill, as they made their way to their grandparents? farm in Petoskey.
These days Dunlap only brings it out for display at car shows and cruises.
Because of its ‘tiny four-cylinder motor,? Dunlap said, ‘You can’t really drive it on the highway. It doesn’t keep up.?
Dunlap had a total of seven vintage vehicles (shown below) on display in front of his collision shop during the day-long cruise.
They ranged from a 1935 Ford coupe complete with rumble seat to a 1964 Dodge Dart.
Believe it or not, that wasn’t Dunlap’s entire collection.
‘I’ve got more,? he said with a small grin. ‘It’s a sickness.?
The First Annual Lapeer Country Cruise spanned the 18 miles of M-24 (Lapeer Rd.) between Oxford and the City of Lapeer.
Music and events were held in both communities along with a 1950s sock hop in the Village of Metamora.
An estimated 600 to 1,000 classic autos participated in the nine-hour cruise, according to cruise coordinator and sponsor Walt Wheeler, owner of the Oxford-based Royal Auto Sound and Alarm.
‘Everyone enjoyed it. Everyone thought it was a good idea. They can’t wait until next year,? Wheeler said. ‘Give it a couple years and this thing’s really going to take off.?