LARSON FAMILY Pioneer - Hot Rod and Custom Car - Nominated 2013 The Whole Family By Alyn Edwards Bill Larson and his older brother Model A Fords and four1950s Fords. $850 for a low mileage 1940 Mercury Jim grew up in South Vancouver during His current driver is a Wimbledon coupe and took it to Barris Customs the hot rod and custom craze of the White 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 fastback where the top was chopped and a host fifties and sixties. They were into cars with a beefed up V8 engine. It replaces of body modifications were completed before they were old enough to have a a similar car that he sold to get married. over the next year. driver’s license and between the two of Younger brother Bill also got into Bob Larson has recreated the spirit them have owned more than two dozen cars at an early age with a 1937 Ford of the ‘Matranga Merc’ with his own hot rods over the years – all Ford coupe purchased for $75 earned with a radically customized 1940 Mercury products. Jim and Bill credit the support paper route when he was just 13 years coupe powered by an early Chrysler 354 and patience of their wives, Jackie and old. As time progressed, Bill built a hemi engine. Eileen for the long hours of garage time. series of Model A Ford coupes and It was in the summer of 1957 that sedan models - most with modern high Jim Larson saw his first car – a 1939 performance Chevrolet V8 engines. Ford tudor sedan – on a Main Street gas He then followed up with a very station lot while riding home on the bus. rare 1937 Ford four-door convertible He has just finished peeling onions at purchased in pieces in Saskatchewan the Pacific National Exhibition for ten and rebuilt with modern power. He days earning $37.50. The car cost $35. drove his hot rods tens of thousands of His father bought him a low kilometers before he got sick. mileage 1954 Ford Tudor sedan when Jim Larson’s son Bob was in the Jim was 17. Jim and his friends garage learning about cars from his dad eventually drove the Ford to Tijuana, and his Uncle Bill from the age of three Mexico for a custom green and white and built his first completed hot rod in tuck ‘n’ roll naugahyde interior that his early twenties. took one day to complete and cost $129. Bob Larson’s present ride is extra In the years following, Jim built a special because it represents one of the series of hot rods with a number of cars first radically customized cars done by from the thirties and forties including legendary California customizer Sam 1939 and 1941 Ford convertibles, two Barris. In 1949, Nick Matranga paid 2013 - Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society Below: Bob’s “Metranga Merc” Above: Don’s 1941 Ford Convertible Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society - 2013 .