Two friends bring vintage Hamilton Spectator van back to life

An old truck has found new life back on the road in Hamilton.

The truck started hauling bundles of newspapers around town for The Hamilton Spectator in 1956. Nine years later, it was sold to Complete Rent-Alls, who painted it up and promised delivery of all manner of items, including something called a Slenderizer.'

But like all vehicles, it outlived its usefulness and disappeared, probably left to rot in a field.

Enter Bernie Langan and Mike Burton, friends from Beamsville with a passion for old vehicles.

The pair were visiting a mechanic in Tillsonburg and spied the vintage treasure, which had been started on its road to recovery but was in need of so much more love and elbow grease.

Langan and Burton purchased it and brought it back, a sorry looking beast with no windshield or seats.

A month later, she's back on the road, sitting atop a frame from a 2008 Chevy van, with a new engine, transmission, fuel injection and even a backup camera. The rusted shell has been preserved, as has the faded writing.

The pair are planning to sell it, perhaps back to Complete Rent-Alls who have expressed interest.

Barry Gray is a Hamilton-based photojournalist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: bgray@thespec.com