Knapp family holds on to their 1936 Ford pickup
By Claudio D'Andrea
Posing next to their restored 1936 Ford pickup are (l-r): Mary Knapp and Bill Knapp, Mary's son Ben Makepeace and Bill's son James Knapp. Bill and James both work at a Ford dealership that's operated by a relative, Ken Knapp. Photo: autoblog.com
"He Gave Away His Ford -- Then Spent 7 Years Bringing One Back," announces the headline on an autoblog.com story about a Windsor-area Ford family and their treasured wheels.
The Knapp family and Ford have been a tradition in the Windsor-Essex area for more than a century. There has been a Ken Knapp Ford dealership in Essex since 1983 and the Knapp family has had multiple generations of loyalty to the car brand since the 1930s.
It dates back to Bill Knapp and his mission to restore a classic 1936 Ford pickup, according to autoblog.com news editor Pablo Salapantan.
Bill's family history with Ford goes back to his father Leo who worked for the automotive manufacturer in the 1930s. According to Salapantan's story, Bill used to own a 1936 Ford pickup but gave it away. A good friend and car restorer tracked down another one and the Knapp patriarch went to work restoring up the beat-up vehicle--a process that took seven years.
Some parts were impossible to find so they had to be fabricated, according to the story. A custom high-performance V8 engine from a company in Georgia beats under the hood like a healthy heart.
"Every automotive manufacturer aims for true brand loyalty: a repeat customer, and even better, the whole family across generations staying with one brand," Salapantan writes. "That type of legacy buyer is tough to have nowadays, with an ever-growing list of new car brands and a widening variety of preferences.
"Which is why when stories come along of true loyalists, we can't help but be in awe. Just like a family from Canada who've spent most of their lives as Ford people."
The read the story, click here.
Image Gallery
Do you have a story to share?
We're always looking for great stories from our community. Send us an email, and be sure to include some photos — we'd love to feature you!
Share Your Story