Feature Story July 8 - Sept. 2/02
1957 Meteor Rideau
Owned by John and Lynn Schwarz
Vancouver Chapter
Jake's Car
by Lynn and John Schwarz
Vancouver Chapter
In the fall of 1998 during one of our Sunday morning
coffee sessions (Squire Practice, as we called it) fellow club member, Vern
Donaldson, talked about his summer place at Harrison Lake.
He mentioned that his neighbour, Jake Gunther, had recently passed away
and his widow was going to sell their collector car, a 1957 Meteor Rideau with
17000 original miles on it. That niggled away
at me for a few months and I had to know more.
From Vern I learned that Jake bought the car about 10 years previously.
He had wanted a 57 Meteor for his 25th wedding anniversary
present as he had one when he and his wife married.
A 2-door hardtop post, commonly called a “fake hardtop”.
Only 649 of this model were made. Jake
located the car in New Brunswick, found it to be original with complete
documentation, bought it and had it shipped home to Abbotsford.
He didn’t belong to any car clubs and only drove the car occasionally.
He had a large chicken farm that kept him very busy and was saving the
car touring for his retirement.
I decided I had to look it over. In December, Vern, Earl Tucker, and myself went to have a peek. It was a black beauty in excellent condition and I had to have it! I knew if I didn’t buy it, Earl would. When I brought it home I was surprised to see in all the papers I had received, a little black book that detailed everything that had been done to it. The first entry is November 16, 1957 with 1879 miles recorded. There are regular entries every couple of months until July 31, 1969 with 10,160 miles. The last entry in 1973 is for a new muffler and tailpipe. There is also an accumulation of service records and papers that I have filed away to pass along to the next owner if I should ever decide to part with this car. The only changes I have made are the new Coker wide white wall tires and hardened valve seats to accept nonleaded gas.
Inside View - Just Like New!
Proud owner -John Schwarz
My wife Lynn and I have put on 4000 miles in the past few years attending tours in Kelowna, Saltspring Island, Salmon Arm, and Qualicum, plus numerous local tours and events. We are taking Jakes car on its new life and we are sure Jake is looking down on us and enjoying our travels.
The above two pictures are Jake and his
lovely "bride" on their 25th anniversary.
