1967 - 1972


One Saturday morning in January 1967 I went with my father, Fred Bell Sr., to Red Watson’s place to pick up my Dad’s latest project.  I can still remember him pointing it out to me as we drove down the driveway.  With some help from Red’s 1927 Chevy tow truck, the White was extricated from the weeds and loaded onto the back of the truck. I believe that the original plan was for the White to be made into a speedster along the lines of a Stutz Bearcat or Mercer Raceabout. My Dad was inspired by the Government sponsored tour in 1966 and when the Centennial tour had been announced for 1967, he had his heart set on going with the White.  A suitable touring body in good condition showed up at Watson’s and this was obtained for the project.  		Picking up the White
Fred Bell Sr. and son Fred picked up the White in January '67

VCCC news
... the VCCC's newsletter announced the anticipated rebirth of the White in 1967.

 
First run
The policeman said to take the White home
 and keep it there.
By the beginning of April, the White was running once again.  I can recall Dad taking me for the first ride.  The engine had been made to run and a set of old 20" wheels had been installed.  We took off down the Cedar highway and must have been quite a sight! We were sitting on the gas tank, as there was no body whatsoever on the car.  There was the spider for the steering wheel but no rim.  We made it short distance down the road before breaking down.  I sat there quietly on the gas tank while Dad worked to get the car running again.  Then a police car pulled up.  The officer didn’t look too impressed to see us out with a car with no body, let alone no licence or insurance!  I remember him asking my Dad where we lived, and when Dad pointed down the road to our house, the policeman said that we better take the White back home and keep it there.

Refinements such as a body, fenders, lights, Dodge radiator and hood were added and the White was driven in all the local parades and runs during the spring of ‘67.  By the time of the Centennial Vintage car run in August, the White was looking better with a proper White brass radiator and hood, 25" wheels, a top, and many other refinements.  Victoria Day 67
Participating in the 1967 Victoria Day parade

Mr. Dougherty
Charlie Dougherty had owned the White for many years
My parents completed the tour to Prince George and also made the trip into Barkerville.  While driving through Quesnel they lost a connecting rod bearing, but the owner of the Brody machine shop stayed up all night and poured and scraped a babbitt bearing so that the White could continue on the tour the following day.   The White and the 1912 Napier of Paul Bolam stopped in at the Maiden Creek ranch where the White had come to rest so many years before.  Mr. Dougherty was on hand, and once he was convinced that it was indeed the same car, he mentioned to my father that the old White sure was fast when shifted into overdrive! 

While stopped in Cache Creek for the evening, an older gentleman approached my Dad and told him that he had learned to drive in a very similar car.  It turned out that this man was Bill Calder, the son of Judge Calder who owned the White in 1914.  My parents traveled out to the family homestead, and the garage where the White once lived was still standing, with a 1914 licence plate still hanging on the wall.  Mr. Calder gave the plate to my Dad along with an old photo of the car taken around 1920. 
Centennial Tour
The White toured B.C. on the 1967 Centennial Tour


In 1968 my parents took the White on the International Tour in Cranbrook, including a trip over the Salmo-Creston skyway, a brutal climb to this day.  The White was later driven in many local tours and in 1968 was shown in a Chevron gasoline T.V. commercial.  All good things must come to pass, and in 1972 the Mighty White was put up for sale.