Classic cars at Chula Vista Elk’s Club

Joe Bane saved $150 per month for 25 years to buy his brown 1932 Ford Victoria. He said it was

worth the wait. Banes’ fellow classic auto owners at the Chula Vista Elk’s Club Car Show

understood. Their rides were more than cars, they are almost family.Bane said he looked far and

wide for his Victoria.

“My car was advertised in Rod and Custom Magazine,” he said. “I went to Kentucky to buy it. Chip

Foose, an L.A. custom wheels and rims designer, worked on my car.”

Bane said he paid $34,000 for the car and another $35,000 on restoration.

“My Victoria has won Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Rims and Tires, and Best Restoration

trophies,” he said proudly.

Elvia and Stephen Perry traded their classic 1964 Chevy in 2013 for their 1938 chopped four and

one half- inch Chevy rat rod truck.

Lowrider enthusiast David Crosthwaite stood proudly by his 1940 Chevy Coupe. He bought his

Chevy in 2002. He said he traveled to Indiana to get it.

“That fox’s tail represents cars from the 1930s and `40s,” he said. “I listed my car under the model

Pachuco.”

Reyes Samaniego beamed next to his 1941 Chevy which he and his son, Steve, found the

1941 in Solana Beach.

“It was a project involving my family and friends,” he said. “There are Pachuco car clubs in San

Fernando, Texas, Japan and San Diego.” Samaniego said for insurance purposes his Chevy is

valued at nearly $25,000.

Elks Louis and Lilly Molina of the Elks

Club organized the show to raise funds

for local charities.

“We recently purchased backpacks and

shoe gift certificates for 72 preschoolers

who are from

abusive homes,” said Lilly Medina.

“Home Depot brought a children’s clinic

enabling the

preschools to assembly bird house kits and other crafts.”

Southwestern College adjunct journalism instructor Bernard Gonzales is an Elk who lent his

communication skills. A former television news reporter, Gonzalez handled MC duties at the car

show. He introduced a 2014 Harley Road King motorcycle owned by Delina and Mario

Valadez. Delina Valdez said their previous Harley was almost completely destroyed by a hit and

run driver.

“My husband took the damaged Harley’s salvageable parts and built our Day of the Dead air

brushed 26-inch rim Road King,” she said. “We bring our Harley to various shows to support

Down syndrome and blind people.”

Helen and Jack Beasley spoke fondly of their 1929 Ford Cabriolet truck, family owned for 40

years.

“My late brother, Virgil, had the Ford on blocks in his garage for 30 years,” said Jack Beasley.

“Virgil donated cars and trucks to the old truck museum in Campo.”

Bonita Classic Club member Sam Beatty stood next to his 1931 turquoise Ford delivery vehicle.He

said there were only 31 sedan delivery trucks built on a car chassis.

“They were mainly used for in town deliveries by pharmacies,” he said. “I searched for this Ford

delivery for 35 years and bought this street rod in 2010.” Beatty said he had to sell his 1934

Lincoln sedan street rod with an eight-foot glass roof to buy his delivery sedan.

“Model A aficionados do not understand the rarity of this sedan delivery,” he said. “They do not

believe it exists.”

Beatty said he spent $70,000 to rebuild it.

George Bagdasarin said his 1973 Pantera cost $12,000 new but is now worth $140,000.

“Look at the mid positioned De Tomaso Pantera Engine,” he said. “I bought this car in 1987. I put

$60,000 to rebuild it.”

Best of Show was awarded to Carl Parrick’s 1968 GTX Plymouth. Parrick said he drove it on Route

66 from San Diego to Chicago in September 2014.

“It is valued at $60,000,” he said. “There are only three 1968 GTXs in documentation in San

Diego.

“This is the original which sold for $3,513.80 from Swift Dodge in Sacramento.”

Today the Plymouth provides happiness money cannot buy.