Born and raised in Elgin county (Aylmer) by my Mom& brother (Dad left when I was 2) and tobacco harvest was my 1st job that paid enough to get me my first motorcycle and then first car,which then led me into an Auto Mechanics trade. A car fight in '81 ended that and while recovering I went to The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe Ohio to learn the Music recording business and came home with an Audio Engineer/Studio Maintenance credentials.Before getting married in '84 , I came within inches of going on the road with the band HELIX. I did sound for a local area band until 2014.I went back to school in '90 and started a Tool&Die apprenticeship(still registered) and then when Mulroney got in,my job went away. I wrote the Intermediate exam and started looking for work. A couple years at R J R McDonald in Tillsonburg as a Tobacco Millicutter Operator and then to Victor Gasket /Dana as Lead Hand Die Setter(best job ever) St Thomas until it closed 2002.I kept up my Mechanic licence so I went back to fixing cars;what a change! The next year I maintained my Dads estate as I was Power of Attorney. With all that crap looked after and him in a home, I found my Last Die Setter job at Taurus Stamping in London;what a difference from Victor; it was like stepping back in time. In 2007 I had to stop working. I had inherited an Auto-immune disorder from my father, Ankylosing Spondylitis and it's various manifestations. I am doing the best I can with the cards delt. Dad died in 2010.Mom's in her 84th year and living alone still.
In September of 2010 I bought what I thought was a '66 Nova SS from the estate of the late Danny Crawford St Thomas;black with pink/blue graphics,back halfed four link car.Further investigation revealed it's previous owner Mark Nimz of Burlington area was shot and killed in an attempted bar holdup(case is still open,Google it) and shooter never found. I put an add on kijiji looking for info on the car and a fellow answered looking for his buddys Nova. I gave him the names on the used vehicle package and he knew the car and said to me,John "the proof is in the Vin". I bought this car with Ontario registration in hand,but the Vin on the door pillar was gone!!! All I had to go on was the cowl tag,71837 told me it 's an Acadian Canso Sport Deluxe,which I found out, after being on way too many forums. GM Historical Documents,worth every cent,gave me the born with VIN,(and a bunch of new problems) and a search showed it was still registered to the owner who left it in the scrap yard in 1980. I think the Car God's had something to do with all this as he shows up at the dragstrip and hands me his Tech card,Holy cheese and Rice!! Long story short he buys it from me totally re badged as a Canso Sport Deluxe(not an easy feat) in 2014. His name: Dean Stille of Brantford.
So her I am; turned one shy of 60 last Tuesday.I wanted to get the Chevy II out today but then I went uptown and saw that the street had been salted; so no I have to wait for rain to wash the roads again; maybe next weekend I can bring her home
Next,don't be shy I spilled,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. HL Mencken. 1919.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell 1984
Mark Nimz was a bouncer at a restaurant on Plains Rd in Burlington when he got shot. His father, Jerry Nimz used to transport show cars around Canada, US and Europe in the late 60s and 70s the mos famous being a beautiful red and chrome 32 Ford roadster called Rudy's Beauty
Gerry Nimz bought Punk's Pickup. The '23 T that Greer and I built.
It toured Europe with Gerry. It is the one I tried to sell for Nimz' widow and had no interested parties.
It was parted out.
I never knew about his son.
DJ
Gerhard (Gerry) NIMZ
NIMZ, Gerhard (Gerry) Passed away suddenly October 15, 2013 at Joseph Brant Hospital in the company of his dear wife of 59 years Lisa (nee Breit), after a struggle with cancer. Gerry was an entrepreneur, a drummer, and builder of beautiful show cars. He was last employed at Hortico Nursery in Waterdown, ON. He will be sadly missed by grand- children Mathew Gould, Jason Nimz and Christopher Hall. Survived by his sister Margaret Acheson, brother-in-law Harold Breit, sister-in-law Ingrid (Joe) Ortiz. Also missed by many nephews and nieces whom he dearly loved and many friends. Predeceased by his son Mark Nimz. Funeral will be held at the Austrian Club, 664 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington, L7T 1J3, on Monday, October 21, 2013 at 1 p.m.
I even spoke with Matthew Nimz,he saw the car as my avatar on another 'forum' and left his phone number.
My thanks to Doug Massey who answered my kijiji ad when I was looking for info.
John
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Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. HL Mencken. 1919.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell 1984
Gerry Nimz bought Punk's Pickup. The '23 T that Greer and I built. It toured Europe with Gerry. It is the one I tried to sell for Nimz' widow and had no interested parties. It was parted out. I never knew about his son. DJ
Gerhard (Gerry) NIMZ NIMZ, Gerhard (Gerry) Passed away suddenly October 15, 2013 at Joseph Brant Hospital in the company of his dear wife of 59 years Lisa (nee Breit), after a struggle with cancer. Gerry was an entrepreneur, a drummer, and builder of beautiful show cars. He was last employed at Hortico Nursery in Waterdown, ON. He will be sadly missed by grand- children Mathew Gould, Jason Nimz and Christopher Hall. Survived by his sister Margaret Acheson, brother-in-law Harold Breit, sister-in-law Ingrid (Joe) Ortiz. Also missed by many nephews and nieces whom he dearly loved and many friends. Predeceased by his son Mark Nimz. Funeral will be held at the Austrian Club, 664 Spring Gardens Road, Burlington, L7T 1J3, on Monday, October 21, 2013 at 1 p.m.
So you fellows are familiar with the family and the car connections;My question, would this car as bought (66 Nova SS) have been their last build? Or re done?
you remember Mark Nimz,the car went to a Gary P Humes next and then to Crawford(rolling) in 97-98.
john
-- Edited by Junior on Tuesday 5th of April 2016 08:28:07 AM
__________________
Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. HL Mencken. 1919.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." George Orwell 1984
HERE GOES : DON here ( FLEET 51) My wife Gail & I live about 45 minutes N/ E of Kingston Ont . As you may have guessed by the name , we have a 1951 Chev 2 door FLEETLINE , 250 Inline for power / T-5 trans / 3:42 posi out back . My boyhood roots are in Woodstock Ont .,( 100 years ago ). Since we had such a blast last year at the ELTA Bash / Woodstock Streetfest and the Jalopy Jam-up , we have rented a B & B in Port Dover for the entire month of June this year , with hopes of some heavy-duty cruising between the London, Kitchener , Hamilton triangle. We sure hope to cross some old and new paths and make some new friends . Thanks for all of the welcomes already received -- Hope I can return them -- LATER -- DON
Wayne here(Rochie) used to be a mechanic for a bunch of years went to Western for a teaching degree and back again for a poor man's MBA in the early nineties, retired in '08. Been into cars all my life….5 years old yelling at my grandfather to come and get me from across the highway so I could go messing around in his B/A gas station across the road. I sold my 29 roadster last year to a gentleman in Edinburgh Scotland. Still have my first love, my 57 Chevy, that I've owned since 1976. I just bought a 64 Chevelle SS that will be getting some attention next winter. Winters are long for us retired guys and you know what happens when you don't have anything to do! I am a PROUD member of the East London Timing Association and am so grateful to have found the second GREAT club in my lifetime. The first was the Classmen out of Windsor when I was a kid. ELTA has a phenomenal members list with a lot of history and a bunch of great guys. I know some of you have been to our party in August and we hope you come back this year. And to those of you that have never been…shame on you! However, this year's party is going to be over the top. We have, as a club, participated in 3 shows this year so far, Detroit(7 cars), Cleveland (10 cars), and London (6 cars). London and Cleveland were on the same weekend, so we split up. At each we have met great people and toured some unbelievable shops along the way. A bunch of those people are coming in for there party so get ready for another great time in ol' London town
FLeet51, Don please find me and introduce yourself when you're down at the party. Sometimes I'm pretty busy at the entrance to the party on Nightingale, but I can allways find a club brother to take over for a bit. Also Saturday mornings at the shop are usually THE meeting place for a coffee and such. And that goes for all of you please introduce yourself WHEN you come to the party
HI ROCHIE : MANY thanks for the invitation -- It will be one of my top priorities to to again , enjoy the incredible hospitality of the E.L.T.A Brothers -- My wife and I won't soon forget our August ( first ever ) visit and the pleasant welcome that made us think we had been there before -- What a great bunch of people -- THANKS AGAIN -- LATER -- DON / FLEET 51
HI CHUCK : I have VERY limited knowledge of computers , BUT , I will try -- And THANK YOU for the kind words about the car -- Hopefully you will get to see it " up close and personal " in June -- I'll see what I can dig up -- LATER -- DON / FLEET 51
Reposted this to stickty it as it takes people a while to decide what they want to share and that's fair given some of the boards they experienced just trying to chat about cars and life without the drama.We are gonna stop it here ..
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There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs.
Wayne here(Rochie) used to be a mechanic for a bunch of years went to Western for a teaching degree and back again for a poor man's MBA in the early nineties, retired in '08. Been into cars all my life….5 years old yelling at my grandfather to come and get me from across the highway so I could go messing around in his B/A gas station across the road. I sold my 29 roadster last year to a gentleman in Edinburgh Scotland. Still have my first love, my 57 Chevy, that I've owned since 1976. I just bought a 64 Chevelle SS that will be getting some attention next winter. Winters are long for us retired guys and you know what happens when you don't have anything to do! I am a PROUD member of the East London Timing Association and am so grateful to have found the second GREAT club in my lifetime. The first was the Classmen out of Windsor when I was a kid. ELTA has a phenomenal members list with a lot of history and a bunch of great guys. I know some of you have been to our party in August and we hope you come back this year. And to those of you that have never been…shame on you! However, this year's party is going to be over the top. We have, as a club, participated in 3 shows this year so far, Detroit(7 cars), Cleveland (10 cars), and London (6 cars). London and Cleveland were on the same weekend, so we split up. At each we have met great people and toured some unbelievable shops along the way. A bunch of those people are coming in for there party so get ready for another great time in ol' London town
FLeet51, Don please find me and introduce yourself when you're down at the party. Sometimes I'm pretty busy at the entrance to the party on Nightingale, but I can allways find a club brother to take over for a bit. Also Saturday mornings at the shop are usually THE meeting place for a coffee and such. And that goes for all of you please introduce yourself WHEN you come to the party
Wayne,...that '57,..is absolutely friggin' incredible !! That has to be without doubt the nicest '57 I have ever seen. Seems to me that someone ( Parklane ?? ) mentioned to me a couple years back that you had a pristene little '57 Chevy,...Kudo's bud,..that is beautiful !!
