Black to basics at Pappa’s Garage
Vancouver auto show display highlights the loving handiwork of an extreme hobbyist
It would seem that Dennis Marander restores just about every collectible he can get his hands on.
Trained as a heavy duty mechanic—his 52-year career starting as an apprentice and now partner at PacBrake, an international supplier of truck engine and exhaust braking systems—Dennis loves to get his hands dirty restoring collectibles from the ground up. An invitation to put up a display at the Vancouver International Auto Show was his opportunity to share his collectibles.
“I’ve never done this before but I always wanted to do a one-time show,” the 74-year-old says of ‘Pappa’s Garage.’
Much of his family works in the business and they’ve spent nearly three days setting up the barn board display with the rolling stock and other collectibles laid out on straw on the convention centre floor. There is even a mannequin dressed as a farmer wearing jeans and sporting a straw hat who is asleep in the barn with a beer in his hand.
Show visitors will see the 1965 Cobra 427SC replica Dennis built from a fibreglass body and frame purchased from a manufacturer in North Vancouver. It is powered by a Ford 351 Cleveland engine running through a four-speed transmission complete with Jaguar independent rear suspension.
Next to it is the 1928 Model A tudor street rod he built from a rough body on a frame purchased in Alberta. Powered by a chromed up 289 cubic inch Ford engine, this old ride is built for comfort with a deep red leather interior.
Dennis has had a love affair with motorcycles since his earliest teen years, reflected in his restored 1942 Harley-Davidson WL with a 45 cubic inch twin cylinder engine. He says its very similar to one he owned as a teenager, but this one is restored to better-than-new condition. His 1962 BMW R 69S motorcycle with a two-cylinder engine is a restoration that he is really proud of. A prime example of top German engineering of the era, the restoration is the next thing to perfect. Both his motorcycles were purchased in pieces as ‘basket cases’ and took approximately three years each to restore.
Dennis does the restorations himself including hand-making parts in a garage and workshop on the lower level of his North Burnaby home. The only work he farms out is final paint and upholstery.
Pappa’s Garage has creature comforts despite looking like it is part of an old barn. A restored ‘Poly Gas’ pump from the 1940s is a stunner. Also displayed is an antique gas station air pump with a working bell to indicate tires are being inflated to the correct pressure.
But the most interesting antique is a 1930s General Electric refrigerator purchased in a Langley antique shop and painstakingly restored.
This very early refrigerator has a freezer compartment and works very well, according to its restorer. The ‘halo’ condenser on top is filled with circulating hydraulic oil that acts with refrigerant to keep everything cold.
“It’s my beer fridge,” Dennis says. “I named it ‘Poly want’a crack one’ in keeping with the Poly Gas pump theme.”
The display includes antique tools collected by Dennis shown spilling
out of an old tool chest.
What really stands is out is all his restored vehicles are black.
“I just love black. It shows off the bodywork and it has a rich classic look,” he says.
So why Pappa’s Garage?
“I have four grandkids and they all call me Pappa.”