I got my Zephyr from an old Italian woman, her and her husband immigrated to Canada in the 50's from Italy and the Zephyr was the first car they bought, they drove it right through to 1970 when they bought a VW beetle, (still out on the farm, not far from where the Zephyr was parked) and that was the last vehicle they owned. The husband passed away in the late 80's and the woman (Maria) still lives out on the farm by herself.
A friend of mine heard about the Zephyr, and talked to Maria and purchased it
around 2002-2003. I helped him get it going (drained the fuel tank and blew out
the lines, new battery, and she fired up with some fuel down the carb) and then
he drove it on to the trailer. It went back to his house, then a loop around
the yard and it was parked in one of the garages with some of his other cars (
he had 20-30). I ended up moving to Manitoba and he sadly passed away from
Cancer. I moved back the Summer of 2004 and about a month later his wife
started selling off his collection and I was able to purchase the Zephyr for
$400 (it was supposed to be given to me but...).
He never went through the trouble of getting papers for it
so I have been working with Maria to get them, it was always in her husbands
name and nobody knows where the insurance papers have gone and ICBC can’t find
any trace of its existence, so I will have to have it inspected and they will
affix a new VIN to it.
From talking to Maria I have been able to find out how every dent and ding was
made on that car. (rust spot on driver rear fender is from chipping bondo, at a
wedding in the early 60's (63 she thinks) it was raining quite heavily for a
few days so the ground was slick, they were leaving the reception and the rear
end swung out and hit a parked car).
She made me promise to keep the car original just as my
friend promised and I agreed, and she was happy that a 'young guy like me' was
interested in old cars. I hope to have it on the road this summer so I can take
her for a drive in it, I think that would really make her day.
Scott, British Columbia