Rolls Royce with Snowplow! Seen on frozen Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior Bay, Minnesota

Gary Berry's Rolls Royce Snowplow on Lake Minnetonka. Gary is a regular at the summer Tonka Cruzers Car Club Car Shows in Excelsior, MN. He took his unique vehicle out on the ice roads of Lake Minnetonka last week.  Here is the story of this unusual car in Gary's own words:

Info provided by Gary Berry:

Some specifics on my car

1981 Rolls Royce Silver Spur originally from Germany

I bought off ebay from a dealer in florida

Through a series of unfortunate circumstance the motor blew leaving the car pretty much worthless. Rather than scrap it i held onto it to bring back to life a project i wanted to do in the early 80s when i had a 1962 rambler with a good body and bad frame and a 1976 jeep cherokee chief with a bad body. I had totally rebuilt the drivetrane in the jeep so i was going to put my rambler body on the jeep frame. That project never happened so when the Rolls became a project it seemed natural to Minnesotaize the Rolls by making it 4 wheel drive.

 I bought a 1993 suburban, tore it down to the frame and shortened it by 8"

I bought a new 4 bolt 350 chev, 4 speed truck trans and a remanufactured transferre case and have now been working and tweeking on it for about 4 years

 I still have lots of work to do but at least it is useable and a fun car to have.

Photos by Rick Meyer

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! from Tonka Cruzers Car Club

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Yeah that’s my Mildred decked out for Christmas.

Sorry for a lapse in updating my Blog site but have been busy with the Christkindlsmarkt Event in Excelsior for the last few months and now the follow up. This is the 8^th year of this event which ran the 3 days after Thanksgiving and our most successful one yet.

Check us out at ExcelsiorChristmas.com

Please view the photos of the opening day Parade the Friday after Thanksgiving with Santa and the Christmas Angel in the lead with some Elves. Check out the photos of a couple of the Car guys [Roger and Chuck] who faithfully participate in the Parade every year – a big thanks to them!

Will continue to update my Blog on a more regular basis with tidbits of interest to all the Car Folk out there so keep checking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photo of the transformation of Jim Boylan’s 1940 Chev [after he sold it] is amazing. It was at a couple of my Car Shows and gotta say it was very straight and a solid car to begin with and the party who bought it did a great job of having it restored to original – absolutely my kind of restoration, thanks for sharing Jim. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now had to include this last photo of Tracy and me at the Assisted Living Car Show I sponsor in Bloomington. This one of three I sponsor during the summer and getting more successful every year.

This last summer a restored Bus from the Excelsior run showed up that was part of a collection and a Bus that was one that actually was used in the Excelsior run, how cool is that – made for a great photo op!

 

Anyway, that’s it for now and if you have any news or interesting car related “stuff” please send it to me to include on my Blog. It will help fill a void until we can get back on the road again.

Have a safe Holiday Season and hope to see or hear from you soon.

Rick and Tracy,

Tonka Cruzers Car Club - Excelsior

Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt this Weekend and Grande Parade on Water St Friday morning

All,

 

Hi to all and a very Happy Thanksgiving! I haven’t updated my Blog for a while as I have been very busy with the “Main Event” I am part of in the great town of Excelsior.

 

If you don’t know I am involved with the Tonka Cruzers Car Show, Flea Market and now the Christkindlsmarkt 3-Day Event the Friday/Saturday/Sunday after Turkey Day.

We are our own group which sponsor these 3 events – not the City itself and not the local Chamber.

 

Well I’m here to tell you don’t miss the Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt [check our website] for more info. Great Event for a number of reasons Food, Gift shopping for the hard to shop for, Music, Santa on the Trolley for your Kids or Grandkids, Reindeer, Alpaca, Boy Scouts selling Wreaths/Swags and trees. Yep, one stop shopping with entertainment in an Festive outdoor setting.

 

Plug this in your Browser for more information –www.excelsiorchristmas.com

 

The Kick Off Parade is on Friday 11//29/13 on Water Street -Some of you will be joining us for the Parade! meet at 9:45 AM on Water Street by Dunn Bros for the 10:00 AM parade down Water Street with Santa and the crew!

I will keep updating my Blog after this event is over and have more time with interesting tidbits car related so keep checking my Blog -www.Tonkacruzerscarclub.blogspot.com

 

OK all I have time for now but here is something else to check out about my fair town –

http://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2013/10/excelsior-crown-jewel-minnesota-s-little-vacationland

 

Lots of restaurant choices in Excelsior so drive on over some evening and find out what we have to offer and also shop in town, more fun then going to the crowded mall.

 

Be Well,

Rick Meyer

Tonka Cruzers Car Club

 

Sept 7 Apple Day some 1920s Model classic cars in Excelsior by the Excelsior MN Flea Market

Here are a few shots from Excelsior's Apple Day Model T show running concurrent with Ricks Tonka Cruzers car show, duels by the Excelsior Flea Market and right by Lake Minnetonka.

Minnetonka Assisted Living Cruze in

A great big thank you for making the 5th year of the Minnetonka Assisted Living Car Show such a success! I received an RSVP for 25 cars and that’s how many showed up – wow, you are the best.

 

Minnetonka Assisted Living does put on a great event with the sit down meal and the raffle is a fun event along with good entertainment. The Residents do appreciate the car event as do the folks that work there.

 

My Mom is in Assisted Living so I know the first hand the Residents do enjoy someone to chat with and it might require you to talk loud enough for them to hear but no matter thanks for engaging their attention as they have led interesting lives.

 

I have attached some photos I took in more in an intent to be a little artsy/interesting – comment if you want to.

 

Check the blog when you get a chance as Tracy will post them soon.

 

Thanks again,

Rick Meyer

Tonka Cruzers Car Club – Excelsior

http://www.tonkacruzerscarclub.blogspot.com/

Tonka Cruzers Car Club Member's car in wedding

Tom Veilleux provided his 1962 Buick Skyark convertible for an Excelsior wedding this month in Excelsior! Was a great day for a ride from Church to the wedding reception!  

Rick Meyer sent out the call for a vintage convertible to be used for his neighbor's wedding and Tom was able to provide it as well as chauffeur. Tom is also a photographer that produced a 2013 calendar featuring Excelsior vintage cars from the 7-Hi Cruisers club in and around Excelsior, MN and Lake Minnetonka.

Tonka Cruzers Aug 31, 2013

All,

Well another Tonka Cruzers Car Club season almost under our belt [6th season]… have been lucky with no rain-outs due to my superior scheduling [Ha, ha!].

Thank you sincerely to all that have come and displayed/shared their cars with the general public and other car folk at the Car Show – always something to learn by chatting with each other.

NOTE: August 31^st was supposed to be the last Car Show of the season.

But wait, the good news is I have been asked to do one more on Sept 7^th during Apple Day on that Saturday. This is great news is for those that come that day [with Collector Cars] will have a prime parking at my Show to be able to check out Apple Day on a day that parking is hard to find.

I have changed the hours slightly to 10 to 2 so take note, this is a great opportunity for all of you and I would love to see a huge turnout of your Rides.

Apple Day celebrates [since 1929] the Apple Orchards that used to be in the area and is a big event.  Check – Excelsior-LakeMinnetonkaChamber.com for more information.

The Flea Market by the theatre will also be run that day with vendors that are bound to have something you can’t live without so be sure to visit the Excelsior Flea Market that day.  

Sincerely,

Rick Meyer [612] 750-6917

Tonka Cruzers Car Club