Port Alberni

Dave Willis' 1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe of Port Alberni, Bristish Columbia, Canada. Originally built by Gary Stermer of Vancouver in the 1950s, Dave purchased the coupe circa 1960. Dave spent two years of spare time turning the coupe into a showstopper.

Port Alberni is a city in British Columbia, Canada.

In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Port Alberni was one of the top 3 wage-earning cities in Canada. Young people could leave school in grade 10 and go to work at high-paying jobs and, of course, afford to buy the things that appeal to young people with money. In 2016 David Russell told Kustomrama that there was a car-culture history going further back than the 1950s, but the wages were not always there. David was 16 years old in 1963, and he had his first job at the local Chevrolet dealership; "This was a dream job as there were Corvettes, Chevelles, Impalas, and Novas flying out of the car lot as fast as they could get them in. The hot rod scene was very intense as well. Besides the new car buyers adding speed equipment to their cars, there was a strong group of young guys who had hot rods that were built to a high standard. There were several car clubs and shops that sold speed equipment and others that would put this equipment together to make a young man's ride turn heads. There were several Auto Body Shops that would turn out a lead sled that could compete with the big city guys as well. I can remember the scene after school as all the local cool cats cruised by the high school, trying to impress the girls."

Hot Rods of Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Dave Willis' 1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe

Hot Rod and Custom Car Clubs of Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Alberni Valley Rod and Custom Association
Cut-Outs of Port Alberni

Citizens of Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada

Dave Willis
David Russell