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Love for cars becomes livelihood

“I’m a borderline hoarder, but I’m organized. I like anything that’s old. I’m a nostalgic person,” says Vern Bisson.
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Vern Bisson and his daughter, Charlie, in front of one of their family cars, a customized hearse. Vern Bisson and his daughter, Charlie, in front of one of their family cars, a customized hearse. Leah Blain photo

“I’m a borderline hoarder, but I’m organized. I like anything that’s old. I’m a nostalgic person,” says Vern Bisson.

Surrounded by an impressive toy car and vintage collection, ranging from coke machines to a 1958 gas pump, the walls in Bisson’s business, Vern Custom Auto Ltd., are lined with toy cars, most of them still in their packages. Others of varying sizes are displayed in glass cases.

“I know every single car I’ve got – it’s ridiculous. I’ve bought these over the last 20 years.”

His parents, Ross and Gaille, didn’t have to guess what Vern would do when he grew up. ‘Car’ was his first word and cars have been his consuming hobby ever since he can remember.

By the time he was four he was playing mechanic with his car up on blocks and he was underneath with a wrench.

Some years later, Bisson was shoveling and mowing lawns to make some money for his first purchase.

“I bought my first car when I was 12. I went with dad to Ben’s towing and I paid $50 for it . There were frogs in the pond in the back and weeds growing in the front. I got it to a state when I was 16 I insured it and drove it to school on my last day of Grade 10.”

His work was impressive enough that he started getting jobs.

“Dad gave me a 20- by 20-foot garage and said, ‘Here ya go, buddy.’”

Within a few years he had outgrown that space and the neighbours were tired of the noise and paint fumes.

“I rented a shop a few blocks from here, ran it for 10 years and then I built this place.”

There is more to the shop in the industrial park than meets the eye. The bay gives a little hint as there is a plastic skeleton hanging out the window of a rumble seat coup ’32 Chevy. Vern, along with his wife, Brenda, and their daughter, Charlie, all have a thing for Halloween. Decorations stay up in their house year round and they have an impressive collection stored away that comes out once a year.

Behind the garage there are lots of vintage cars, trucks and hearses, all nicely organized and all in need of work. He has a few vehicles he has fixed up just the way he likes, including a hearse he bought from Fischers.

“So, it’s a local car,” he says smiling. “I’ve put in a custom exhaust, stereo super charger…”

He goes on about all the customizing it will eventually get. The whole family loves the hearse, but the 1948 Anglia, and 1993 VMAX motorcycle are also pretty cool. His 1967 Chevy needs some work, but he has a soft spot for his 1966 Oldsmobile 442 convertible – the car he bought when he was 12 years old.

“I had a picture of it in my locker in Grade 8, 9 and 10. It was yellow with a black top and frogs in the back seat.”