For two decades, hundreds of people have flocked to the Arbuckle Car Show in late October to celebrate the birthday of the Arbuckle Railroad Depot, which was the hub of the community from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century.
Rehabilitating the 146-year old structure to serve as a museum and community center was the reason the Arbuckle Revitalization Committee was formed shortly after the turn of the 21st century – and the car show instituted as a primary fundraiser.
Time, however, has not been kind to the building, which also suffered damage from a fire two years ago. The depot is in the process of being dismantled.
“It really is too far gone to save it,” said Debbie Charter, who started the popular depot fundraiser in 2002.
The original railroad depot was built by Central Pacific (later Southern Pacific) in 1876. It was identical to two others built in Yolo and Zamora.
Dismantling of the structure began Oct. 24 and the building should come down completely in the next week or so, said incoming ARC President Elijah Rodriguez.
Instead of a complete restoration project, which originally called for moving the structure away from the railroad tracks, ARC will use the money they have raised from the car show and barbecue over the years to build something of a replica, although much of the original wood and windows will be salvaged and used in the project.
“Everything that can be saved, will be saved and stored,” Rodriguez said. “Our plan is to pour a new foundation and put up a metal building. The outside and the inside will be encased with as much of the original wood and materials as possible so it will look the same, but be structurally sound and look better than it does now.”
The cost to dismantle the building is $25,000 and the foundation work is another $18,000. It may take another five years of fundraising to complete the project, Rodriguez said.
But none of that was on anyone’s mind at the car show on Sunday as they walked the length of Fifth Street looking at restored and stock vehicles, ranging from early models, such as Frank Martinez’ 1929 Ford Model A, to a plethora of classic vehicles from the 1950s and 60s, including Manuel Topete’s 1968 Ford Mustang.
Of course, few cars resonate nostalgia like a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, which was made famous in the 1973 movie “American Graffiti,” and there were several of America’s dream cars at the show, including the red hot T-bird belonging to Winston and Julie Peterson, of Arbuckle.
This year’s show set a record with 326 vehicles entered, but visitors said 2022 was the year of the pickup truck.
“I don’t think I have ever seen this many pickups at this show, especially from the 1960s and 70s,” said Stan Robinson, who attends the car show every year with his family. “I think it’s pretty neat. Some are completely restored, but many are just cool stock trucks.”
Among the pickup beauties was a 1936 Ford, owned by Pete Bradford, of Arbuckle. There were others owned by many Colusa County residents, including Brandon and Lacey Gimple’s 1974 Ford Ranger; Mal Dunlap’s 1969 Chevy CST 20; Michael Cervantes’ 1979 F-150; Jordyn Stephens’ 1970 Chevy C-10; Alison Crandall’s 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super Cab; Ross Charter’s 1946 Chevy Rat Rod; and Woody Yerxa’s 1949 Chevy 5-window ¾ ton.
Bill Cox, formerly of Sacramento, just moved back to Arbuckle a few months ago with the 1938 Ford pickup, originally owned by Charles “Coach” Gwimmer, who died in 1956. Sunday was Cox’ first Arbuckle Car Show with the vehicle.
Although Gwimmer’s daughter drove the Ford to Pierce High School for a few years after her father’s death, the pickup remained parked in a barn for over 50 years, before Cox restored it from the ground up.
“We had it completely torn apart and then painted everything individually and put it back together,” Cox said. “It only had one tail light when I got it so I did have to add a tail light. Otherwise, everything is original, except for the brakes.”
Michele and David Carter purchased their 1961 Chevy C-10 already restored.
“We bought it about 10 years ago,” Michele Carter said. “A friend of ours told us about it and we went and looked at it because I liked the color and (David) likes yellow.
The Carters have been showing the Chevy C-10 for about eight years.
“This pickup originally came from Oklahoma as a pile of parts,” David Carter said.
The late Jeff Phelan’s 1961 Chevy C-10 was also on display at the Arbuckle Car Show in his honor.
Phelan, 58, of Arbuckle, died unexpectedly earlier this year.
Of course, Glenn Arbuckle’s original 1955 Ford F-150 from his Chico garage, which is named after him, has been a regular at the show for a number of years.
Arbuckle is the great-great-grandson of Tacitus R. Arbuckle, a rancher who settled in the area in 1866 and on whose land the town of Arbuckle was built.
This year’s top car show winners were Mike Gross, of Esparto, with his 1932 Ford 3-window Coupe, and Tim Kerrigan, of Eagle, Idaho, with his 1956 Ford pickup.
Both vehicles will be featured on next year’s Arbuckle Car Show t-shirts.
The show, which also included motorcycles, featured vendors and live music. The barbecue lunch was provided by the Buckhorn. ■