Hundreds mulled around West Street Saturday for the Farm-City Days car show. Everything from brand-new Camaros to 80-year-old farm trucks glimmered in the sun.
One show entry, however, was a little rough around the edges. That’s just how Michael Schrick wants it, too.
Schrick, Ottawa, brought in his 1926 Model T Coupe for the show. Its rusted body (complete with pasted over bullet holes) has a “Bonnie and Clyde thing going on.” It has a Frankenstein thing going on as well.
Parts of the classic car have been made from dozens of different vehicles. The motor is from a 1984 Crown Victory, and the various other body parts come from vehicles of the era, as well as more contemporary parts. He even used tractor headlights.
“You’ve got to be able to see the vision of what you can mix and match,” Schrick said.
He pointed to the roof of the car’s cab.
“That used to be my neighbor’s porch floor,” he said.
The “rustic” theme is something he strived for as well. For the headers, he soaked them in water and vinegar and then left them in the elements for a while. Now, they match the rest of the vehicle’s style. While it may not look much, Schick said he “takes it everywhere” and it’s a lot of fun to drive. He has taken it to multiple shows in the area.
“It’s like driving a go-cart with doors,” he said.
He recently had the transmission rebuilt on the coupe. He originally bought the frame in Ottawa in 2011, and had it running in just over a year, after “tweaking a few things.”
He pointed out a few lighter spots on the body of the car, where bullet holes had pierced the metal body. They were in the car when he bought it.
“I’m thinking about digging that putty out, so you can see the bullet holes,” he said.
