Antique Trucks Make the Drive Back to Cloverdale
SURREY, BC — Eighteen antique trucks moved from Port Coquitlam to a new home in Cloverdale, according to the Cloverdale Reporter. The trucks are part of the Surrey Heritage Society’s vintage vehicles collection and will be part of a new transportation centre in Cloverdale, B.C.
The trucks had once been part of the former B.C. Transportation Museum, but that was between 1987 and 1992. Now, the trucks are making their way back to Cloverdale, as part of the B.C. Heritage Transportation Centre.
The trucks range from a 1912 Shell tanker and a 1931 Maple Leaf flatbed to a 1977 BC Tel service truck. And after all those years, the 1977 BC Tel service truck still sports an authentic Harvest Gold paint job.
“This was the era that was on the farm and older,” said Dennis Corrin, a retired school teacher who worked in one of the offices of King’s trucking companies at age 15.
“They have character. You can identify one from another. Vehicles today, they all look the same.”
Many of the 18 vehicles are from King’s collection.
Corrin’s favourite antique truck is the Canadian-built 1935 Maple Leaf.
Paul Orzietti, the Surrey Heritage Society’s treasurer, said word of the trucks’ return is spreading and attracting many passionate volunteers like Corrin.
“That’s where the magic comes from,” Orazietti said. “All of this gives people a reason to come together, to take care of part of our history.”
Already, private collectors have shown interest in donating if there was a permanent display space for the trucks.
“There’s a real passion to take care of these vehicles and find a proper home for them,” Orazietti said.
But, due to renovations, the B.C. Heritage Transportation Centre is not ready to open its doors to visitors just yet. So the City of Surrey agreed to lend the former Surrey Museum building to the Society until the centre’s renovations are complete.
Moving the trucks from their old home at the Teamsters Freight Museum was slow; the trucks were moved one or two at a time, and Orzietti said it took a month to move the trucks.
The society has been working since last fall to acquire and relocate the collection. Out of the 18 vehicles, 14 are fully restored.
Some of the trucks will be on display during the 9th annual Cloverdale Blueberry Festival Aug. 4.
Read the full story here.
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