By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Gary Moreland has fond words for his gleaming black 1936 Plymouth classic car.
“It’s three years older than me and it can run but I can’t,” Moreland joked. “I can only walk.”
Moreland and his wife Connie were among the participants who turned out on Thanksgiving weekend to display the well-loved vehicle in Wallaceburg’s first WAMBO celebration held in two years.
Connie said it felt good to bring back the Wallaceburg tradition.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “People have missed this so much.”
The Wallaceburg couple doesn’t usually take the Plymouth too far from home, normally attending car shows in Bothwell, Port Lambton and Mitchell’s Bay.
The Morelands have owned the car vehicle for 42 years after purchasing it in Chatham. Aside from refurbishing the interior, they haven’t had to do much to the car through the years, except to add speciality items such as hubcaps and a one-of-a-kind hood ornament.
It’s old but it’s still a winner.
The Moreland’s cherished Canadian-made automobile ended up taking first place in the WAMBO original auto pre-1939 class Oct. 9.
Matt Thomas, who has been the car organizer for WAMBO for the past 12 years, said the Thanksgiving event turned out well, given the fact it was put together on short notice and wasn’t held in its usual August time slot.
“We didn’t have as many cars,” Thomas said, “but people really enjoyed coming out and being part of WAMBO.”
Organizers aren’t sure what’s in store for WAMBO 2022, as it will depend on what is happening with the pandemic.
