A Calgary icon is getting a second lease on life, thanks to an outpouring of community support after vandals defaced the vintage Cadillac perched atop Angel’s Drive-In in Bowness.
The 1963 convertible, long a fixture on the roof of the northwest Calgary diner, was spray-painted with graffiti in late February.
But, just over a month later, a volunteer group of auto body professionals say they’re determined to return it to its former glory.
On Monday, the car arrived at Legacy Speed and Body in Strathmore.
By Tuesday morning, a crew of 15 employees — all donating their time — began stripping away the graffiti and prepping the vehicle for restoration.
“It was kind of a no-brainer to help the community out,” said Renee Zuck, co-owner of the shop.
“This car is kind of an icon. I grew up in Bowness, and even just posting about it, the reaction was huge.”
The restoration effort was sparked by CJAY 92 morning show hosts Jesse Modz and JD Lewis, who brought attention to the vandalism on-air and called on listeners for help.
One of the first to respond was Stonewall Foundations, a nearby contractor that offered to lift the car off the diner’s roof for transport to Strathmore.
Owner Jason Steiert, who grew up in the area, said helping out was an easy decision.
“We were doing a job just down the street and I heard on the radio they needed a crane,” said Steiert.
“It’s pretty disrespectful what happened, and if I can help, I will.”
Once the Cadillac was delivered to Legacy Speed and Body, the shop’s crew immediately got to work.
Zuck said the goal is to restore the car’s exterior to its original “Matador Red” — the factory colour for 1963.
“It wasn’t in perfect shape before it got vandalized,” she said.
“But when we’re done, I think it’s going to look better than it did when it rolled off the lot.”
Her husband and co-owner Derek Zuck echoed that sentiment, saying the team is taking the job seriously.
“It came in rougher than expected,” he said. “We’re taking it down to metal, redoing bodywork, and making sure it’s solid. It’s going to look like a legacy build.”
The restoration is being supported by parts and materials donated by Lordco, one of the shop’s suppliers.
Zuck said the car community’s response has been overwhelming.
“When our crew heard what happened, they didn’t hesitate. One by one, they just raised their hands and said, ‘I’ll donate my time.’ That’s the kind of team we have,” she said.
For Angel’s Drive-In manager Brooke Wetzel, who’s worked at the diner since she was seven years old, the support has been emotional.
“It was a heartbreaker when it happened,” she said. “But the outreach from the community has been phenomenal. People are even coming from across the city just to check in and show their support.”
JD Lewis said the whole initiative speaks to Calgary’s spirit of community.
“Every time something bad happens, Calgarians don’t waste time — they show up to help,” he said. “This is as Bowness, as Calgary, and as CJAY as it gets.”
