Kamloops Vintage Car Club (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

VINTAGE CARS

Kamloops Vintage Car Club looking for a new home for four classic vehicles

May 23, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Vintage Car Club has been operating for more than 50 years in the Tournament Capital. Currently, the club has 86 members, with more than 200 vintage cars in their catalogue.

But now, four pieces of Kamloops’ history are in need of a new home. The City of Kamloops needs the space in its city lot back, leaving the club until September to find a spot for its fire truck, ambulance, tow truck and sedan.

“We have been fortunate enough over the past few years to have storage over the years at the City of Kamloops garage, and they now need the room and we have been asked to vacate,” said Club President Ken Hoshowski. “We are looking for homes for the four vehicles. We need storage, preferably covered, secure, doesn’t need to be heated.”

The four rides are all a part of Kamloops’ past, helping serve the community through the past century.

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“These cars are historically significant because they are all Kamloops-area cars. The ambulance and fire truck were actually purchased new by the City of Kamloops and used in the city for many years,” said Hoshowski.

“1952 Austin Ambulance, bought in 1952 by the City of Kamloops. Very rare — there are only a handful of them out there. Beautifully restored. It took quite a few years,” added Club Property Manager John Bone.

While the club has a Plan B, which is to place the vehicles in storage containers, the members don’t have the financial flexibility to make that work long term, leaving them to seek help from the community to secure a new home.

“Some of them are close to 100 years old and we think it’s important to keep these vehicles in the area and let people appreciate the history that goes with them,” said Hoshowski.

The old cars are put on display at city events like Hot Nite in the City coming up this summer.

“I mean, you put a little kid into the fire truck, they don’t want to leave. And it’s their opportunity to sit in one of these and that is going to be gone one day,” said Bone.

The vintage car club must vacate the city facility by September 1.