Classic car dream delivered with gratitude

LYNNWOOD -- Maybe only a group of guys who take pride in belonging to an organization that has no president and charges no dues could have pulled it off with such quick efficiency.

Not only did they help deliver a restored classic car, a 1933 Hupmobile, to Jerry Dahl's door, they organized a car show nearly overnight. The show ceremoniously rolled into Dahl's Lynnwood cul-de-sac on July 30.

Dahl, 63, bought his dream car in April last year. It's one of a limited production line of cars built from 1909 to 1940.

One day, Dahl went to Jamey Leckner's shop, Dreamers Rods & Pickups Northwest in Everett, to buy some car parts and noticed that they also worked on restorations.

Dahl had spotted a '34 Ford painted purple and white at a car show in Reno, Nev. It was a look he hoped to duplicate in his own car.

His plans to restore the car were interrupted in October when he was diagnosed with an advanced case of kidney cancer that had spread to his lungs. From there, the cancer progressed rapidly.

So about four months ago, Leckner began restoration work on Dahl's car.

A few weeks ago, Dahl's family was told he may only have a few weeks to live. They called Leckner with a big request. They asked if he and his fellow employees could somehow complete the Hupmobile's restoration so Dahl could see it while he was still alive.

Leckner agreed. "We definitely bumped it to the head of the line," he said. "I did what anybody would do to take care of a good customer."

Leckner even made "house calls," showing Dahl paint chips so he could pick out just the right colors, said Kerry Dahl, Dahl's daughter.

Overall, Leckner figures about 500 hours were put into the restoration project over four months, including body work, repainting the car, working on the car's suspension and general mechanical work.

Some of the hardest work, though, occurred in the final week. Leckner stayed up until 2 a.m. July 30, the day it was to be delivered.

Not content simply to restore the car, Leckner also called some buddies, who know each other through a loose confederation of classic car enthusiasts called the Thursday Night Garage Association.

"Jamey called and asked if I could get together 10 to 12 guys to go over when he took Jerry his car," said Ed Janzen, of Everett, owner of a 1926 Model T. "We were tickled to death to help him out," even though many, including Janzen, didn't know Dahl.

The group met up with Leckner so they could file into Dahl's street together. The Hupmobile was parked in Dahl's driveway.

"It really looked good," Janzen said. "Pearl white and fenders in maroon."

It took four men to bring Dahl down the stairs in his wheelchair to see his car. When he reached the doorway, the men waiting for him outside burst into applause.

"As I recall, he reached out to touch the front end of the hood ornament," Janzen said. "He was glowing all over."

It was a moment that affected everyone who saw it. "Seeing him out there with that car. Wow!" Janzen said. "Nobody likes to cry in public. Everybody's eyes were watering."

The Hupmobile's side door was opened so Dahl could get a good look inside. "We gave the family and Jamey respect by staying back," Janzen said. "He was weak. Nobody pressured him to talk."

When Dahl finished looking at his car, the Thursday Night Garage Association members opened up the doors on their cars, including a '58 Chevy Impala, a '65 Ford Mustang and a '47 Lincoln, and Janzen's 1926 Model T. Dahl was wheeled up to each one, a car show just for him.

"He came by mine and I told him what it was and how long I had had it, letting him see the inside upholstery and the whole bit," Janzen said.

Dahl smiled and nodded his head. "In car circles, that's all you've got to do, you just look at him and nod. The guy knows you like it."

They took a group photo. "Everybody felt so good and pumped up," Janzen said.

Nobody wanted to leave, but they realized Dahl's energy was flagging.

One by one, each car filed back down the road, their engines revved as a final goodbye.

"It was like my dad's own Make-A-Wish," Kerry Dahl said, referring to the national foundation that grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.

The family has been told that Dahl could die at any time. "My dad has shown signs of dying for the last few weeks," his daughter said. "It's very much been a roller coaster."

He mostly sleeps, sometimes not eating for days, and then will wake up.

One day last week he was able to sit up. She told him she had been e-mailing and telling people about the story of the restoration of his Hupmobile and the car show organized by the Thursday Night Garage Association.

"No stories about me," he told her. "I'm not the guy you want to write about. It's those boys."



Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.