Gangster-era cars from the Twenties, muscle cars from the Sixties and a lineup of classic British Minis will be displayed alongside exotic, hyper and super cars as well as the newest models at the 2025 Vancouver International Auto Show.
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Abbotsford’s 360 Fabrication will show eight of their restorations and creations, while a British Austin, Morris and Cooper Mini collector will show some of his 16 restored examples. A pair of 1920’s Chrysler cars brought back to better than new condition by 360 Fabrication shows off the engineering advances of that long-ago era. A black 1926 Chrysler Sedan Model F58 was so named because it’s advanced six-cylinder power plant could propel the car to 93 km/h (58 mph). It was one of the first cars to feature four-wheel hydraulic brakes making Chrysler a pioneer in automobile safety. The owner of this classy Chrysler loves the prohibition-era and had the car restored with Bonny and Clyde in mind. There is a replica tommy gun and six-shooter stored in the kick panels.
“The car was in amazing original condition before we began the restoration, but the owner wanted it to be perfect, so we restored it to as close to perfect as possible,” says 360 Fabrication’s Rick Francoeur. After the auto show, the car will be part of the owner’s home ‘speakeasy’ bar, named Whiskey Six in honour of an infamous West Coast rum runner boat.
The second Chrysler to be displayed is a 1931 Chrysler Royal sedan that was a blend of luxury and reliable performance during the Great Depression. Modern refinements for safe and comfortable modern driving include a new Jeep inline six-cylinder engine, suspension modifications and power disc brakes.
Ladies like Corvettes and a Fraser Valley female owner commissioned a sky blue 1960 Corvette with a bespoke white interior which will get a lot of attention at the auto show. The car features a custom chassis, four-wheel disc brakes and a 430 horsepower General Motors LS3 engine. Custom fitted luggage for the rear compartments are designed to carry the lady’s hats.
A pair of uber restored 1971 Dodge Super Bee muscle cars – one black with red striping and one white – will also be on display. The black car is powered by a monstrous 440 cubic inch engine coupled to a ‘pistol grip’ four-speed transmission. And a radically customized 2022 Mustang GT convertible in bright red with a supercharged engine and an Alpine sound system that might break glass will also be displayed.
Trucks are very much a part of the auto show, and a custom 1974 Bronco retains much of its original look, but it is powered by a Ford Generation 2 Coyote engine paired to a six-speed automatic transmission delivering 420 horsepower to all four wheels. Rick Francoeur’s own 1976 Ford F250 pickup truck pays homage to a similar truck owned by his father in the Seventies. Built as a ‘high boy’ it rides on 35-inch wheels and is powered by a 550 horsepower 429 cubic inch Cobra Jet engine. “Of all the vehicles I have owned, this truck commands the most attention. People love the look and the crazy power it has,” the owner says.
Another show highlight comes from Britain with a lineup of Minis representing models from all variants over 40 years of production from Nadir Ibadullah’s collection of 16 models. The ‘NIMini Collection’ represents Nadir’s love of one of the sub-compact British cars he owned in his native Pakistan. Now much of his Surrey home is surrounded by garaged Minis. Examples to be displayed at the VIAS include a 1962 Mini woodie wagon, a 1981 pickup called a pup, a 1977 Moke and two sedans with one featuring a fully chromed up engine.
Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and a partner in a Vancouver-based public relations company. [email protected]