LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Len McIlwrick just hates to see old things go to waste.

This mindset extends to old stereo equipment (he believes a good stereo hasnB次元官网网址檛 been built since the early B次元官网网址�80s), animals (he owns many of the rabbits run off the University of Victoria), plants (he has saved many from developments by replanting them on his boulevard) and property (his, which he has owned since 1990, is ripe for development, but heB次元官网网址檚 not planning to sell).

B次元官网网址淲hat it really boils down to is I love bringing things back to life, or I love saving things,B次元官网网址� said McIlwrick. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e tried to save a couple of women, that didnB次元官网网址檛 work for me. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the one exception.B次元官网网址�

Perhaps most of all, this spirit of B次元官网网址榥ew doesnB次元官网网址檛 always mean betterB次元官网网址� extends to cars.

In an enormous shop, a separate two-bay garage, a carport and throughout the driveway are cars, more than 15 by a quick count.

But the cars arenB次元官网网址檛 just junkers, parked and forgotten. Most are on the list for restoration, a hobby he picks away at mostly in the winter. Some are for parts for those restorations, such as the 1990s era Chevy truck he bought off a neighbour for its good transmission. The rest are either used regularly or are finished projects, gleaming with chrome and gloss.

The car obsession started in 1976 when McIlwrick traded in his 1973 Toyota Corolla straight across for a 1968 Camaro RS/SS with a 396 big-block engine.

B次元官网网址淗e was getting some heat from the parents and it was time to get rid of the speeding tickets,B次元官网网址� McIlwrick said.

As he has done to many cars, McIlwrick restored the Camaro in the late B次元官网网址�90s, finishing in 2000. He stripped it down, had the body repaired and painted, and then rebuilt it, perfecting and fixing as he went.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a fun, fun car to drive, let me tell you,B次元官网网址� McIlwrick said. B次元官网网址淚 managed not to wrap it around a power pole in my first six months of owning it. You donB次元官网网址檛 step on it if youB次元官网网址檝e got the wheel turned. You want to make sure youB次元官网网址檙e going straight.B次元官网网址�

Other finished products include a 1969 Camaro Z/28 (with a stock 8-track deck) and a 1973 Avanti.

McIlwrick canB次元官网网址檛 explain the origins of his obsession with cars, but said the B次元官网网址渃ollector geneB次元官网网址� is in his bloodline and shows up in various family members. His father had no particular interest, and neither do his brothers, but his aunt, his great uncles and others are into collecting.

Over the years a fixation with old Packards grew for McIlwrick and he now focusses on restoring a series of the ill-fated, beautiful cars.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always been interested in different or unusual vehicles,B次元官网网址� McIlwrick said. B次元官网网址淥nce I  read stuff (I thought) this is a neat car company.B次元官网网址�

Packard was an American car company, with cars built out of Detroit from 1899 to 1958, when the company closed down due to poor sales. Despite fading away, Packard produced some unique vehicles with innovative designs, one of the factors which draws McIlwrick to the cars.

McIlwrick has a restored 1956 Packard Clipper and, perhaps the belle of the entire ball, a 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible.

Each car takes about four to five years to restore, about 350 to 400 hours of work, with most done during the winters.

His current project is a 1965 Studebacker Wagonaire, an enormous station wagon-style vehicle McIlwrick plans to use as a work vehicle for his company, Coho Communications Ltd.

B次元官网网址淪ome people llke to drive cars, some people like to work on cars. IB次元官网网址檓 more of the work on cars sort of guy,B次元官网网址� McIlwrick said. B次元官网网址淩estoring cars has never been cheap but neither is golfing and all that.B次元官网网址�

See the show

The Westhills Show and Shine is Sunday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Goldstream Ave.

The show will feature classic and muscle cars from 1975 and earlier, along with a barbecue, beverage garden and peopleB次元官网网址檚 choice awards.