Draggins car club unveil Project Car IX in Saskatoon

The Draggins Rod and Custom Car Club are gearing up for its annual car show by partnering with SaskAbilities for a unique fundraiser.

For the ninth time, Draggins has completely stripped and rebuilt a car to have it raffled off with the goal of raising $80,000 for Camp Easter Seal in Manitou Springs.

Titled Project Car IX, the 1964 Mercury Parklane Convertible was  donated to SaskAbilities in 2016 needing plenty of repairs.

Draggins spokesperson Bruno Konecsni said the car was in decent shape when SaskAbilities handed it over to them, but it was obvious how much work was needed from the moment he drove the 55-year-old car.

“The first time we took it for a drive around the block and we stepped on the brakes, it took a considerable amount of time to bring this 5,000 pound car to a stop,” Konecsni said at the car’s unveiling on Tuesday.

“We knew right away there had to be some work done with the braking system.”

That wasn’t all for Konecsni and the Draggins. After the paint and rust were removed, plenty more revealed itself.

“There it is, there’s gaping holes, there’s rusted out body mounts, floor panels and rusted out trunk pans,” he said.

“You have to make all those parts again because you just don’t go to your Ford store and order new ones.”

With the club’s expertise in these matters, members rolled up their sleeves to rebuild nearly every component of the vehicle as local companies were sourced for every minute of work involved on the car.

“We are quite pleased we have a diversity of skillsets in the group,” Konecsni said of the member’s efforts.

All the work aside, Konecsni said the Draggins car club is happy to do the work each year, knowing they played a small part in giving a child a memorable experience at a summer camp.

“They see the magic, the power of camp,” SaskAbillities regional director Alison Robertson said.

“Once you have a chance to experience how much it can change lives, it’s really easy to become a longtime champion just as they have.”

To date, the car club has raised more than $1 million for Camp Easter Seal.

Tickets to enter the raffle are $2. The car will remain at Merlin Ford Lincoln in Saskatoon until Monday before making its way to the Majestic Car Show in Regina on April 6 and 7 and the Draggins Car Show April 19 and 20 in Saskatoon.

The draw date is on April 23.