Decades before Robert Pattinson was born, the Batmobile was a 1949 Mercury. Gastown owner Jamie Pye now owns one.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey are a little different than any cars made today,SA国际影视传媒� said Pye.
Stretching more than five metres long and weighing more than two tonnes, the SA国际影视传媒�49 Merc is a beautiful beast. Robert Lowery drove one in a cape and ill-fitting cowl in the 1949 Columbia Pictures serial, Batman and Robin. Hollywood icon James Dean drag-raced the equally iconic car off a cliff in Rebel Without a Cause in 1955.
Souped up with a cropped top, blue flames across the hood and fenders and a 21st century custom interior, among other flourishes, PyeSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒�49 Mercury attracts attention.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople often smile or wave,SA国际影视传媒� he said, SA国际影视传媒渙r theySA国际影视传媒檒l ask what kind of car it is.SA国际影视传媒�
Pye grew up around restored vintage vehicles. His dad, the late Gerry Pye, owned more than anyone else in Yellowknife at the time.
SA国际影视传媒淕rowing up, my dad was a major influence on my love for antique cars,SA国际影视传媒� said Pye. SA国际影视传媒淗e had many different cars over the years.SA国际影视传媒�
The elder Pye loved to display his collection, often rolling down Franklin Avenue as part of the Canada Day Parade or any other excuse to showcase the curved contours and chrome accents of the vehicles in his fleet.
SA国际影视传媒淢y dad was into all makes and models and anything that could start a conversation,SA国际影视传媒� said Jamie. SA国际影视传媒淢y dad would go outside when anyone stopped to look at the car and he would show it and tell them everything he could about them. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 something he loved to do.SA国际影视传媒�
The rotating roster of autos Jamie grew up around included a SA国际影视传媒�51 Mercury, six different models of Peugeots, a SA国际影视传媒�56 Hudson Hornet, a SA国际影视传媒�63 Studebaker Avanti, and a string of Nash Metropolitan automobiles SA国际影视传媒� a now-defunct British manufacturer that attempted unsuccessfully to sell something akin to a squished compact Cadillac to the American market from 1949 to 1957.
But JamieSA国际影视传媒檚 dream ride wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 parked in his dadSA国际影视传媒檚 garage. The car that the younger Pye coveted before he could reach the gas pedal was owned by his dadSA国际影视传媒檚 friend, longtime Yellowknifer Fred Squires.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is when I first remember seeing the car (the SA国际影视传媒�49 Mercury). It has always been a car I would look at, at every car show in town,SA国际影视传媒� Jamie recalled. SA国际影视传媒淔red had put it up for sale last year and we were able to make a deal for it.SA国际影视传媒�
Pye is eager to share his new acquisition with the community, along with his 1957 Chevy Bel-Air and other classics.
SA国际影视传媒淲e would like to see a car show for this year,SA国际影视传媒� he said, musing about reigniting that tradition. SA国际影视传媒淭here are many classic vehicles and bikes in this town and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a great way for people to be able to enjoy them. You may see them in this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Canada Day parade. We havenSA国际影视传媒檛 finalized any plans yet.SA国际影视传媒�
In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the Batmobile on sunny days this summer.
