Doug McBain’s 1966 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport
Doug McBain went through a few cars before he found the one he truly fell in love with.
After farming for over 25 years, McBain moved away from actively farming and started a new hobby - collecting cars.
“In 1990, I got involved in my first collector car,” said McBain. “It was a 1964 Cadillac Coupe Deville that a neighbour had. His son was using his half-ton, so he was using (the Cadillac) as a truck for his plumbing supplies. I bought it from him so he wouldn’t wreck it!”
A couple of years later, McBain bought another Cadillac Coupe Deville, this time a 1957. Two years after that, he bought a 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood Brome, which looks almost like a limousine.
“They were all good drivers, but none of them were in show condition,” said McBain.
When McBain and his wife Edith decided to move off of the farm, McBain no longer had anywhere to store the cars, so he sold them. Then he built a detached garage shop at his new home, and didn’t have any cars for it.
“I bought a ‘68 Buick Electra hardtop at a garage sale,” said McBain. “It wasn’t quite in show shape, but it was close. But for some reason, I just didn’t fall in love with it.”
McBain then had a friend pass away. McBain was helping with the estate, but couldn’t sell a 1962 Chevrolet Impala from it. Eventually, McBain bought it himself.
“I liked the ‘62 convertible,” he said. “It was a really good driver, but it had some modifications - the motor, transmission and interior weren’t all correct.”
McBain then took the car to a few shows, including to one in Wynyard and then to another in Good Spirit Lake. Another car collector badly wanted the car and made McBain an offer on it. McBain told him he could have it as soon as he found another car he liked equal or better.
“I sold the ‘62 outright, and then traded in the ‘68 Buick,” said McBain. “I found the ‘66 Chev Impala at Vintage Auto Sales in Osler, SK. It was original when I bought it, so it was 38 years old.”
McBain didn’t have to do much to the car, except replace the original white interior with red, which matched the red dash and the red accents.
“All of my vehicles are different than what is usually on the street,” said McBain. “I like them unique.”
One unique feature of the (’66 Impala) is that it has a 396 motor in it, which is very rare, and makes the car more valuable then one with a smaller engine block.
McBain knows a bit of the history of the car. He said as far as he knows, it has spent its life in Saskatchewan.
“I went on the 2005 Circle Tour with the (Regina) Antique Car Club,” said McBain. “We stopped in Lloydminster, and I talked to the son of the original salesman of the car. He was in his mid-teens at the time of the sale.”
McBain knows that the car was in Yorkton through most of the ’80s, and that eventually it ended up in Osler.
McBain usually puts about 5,000 miles on the car each year. He and his family have driven it to the United States, and through Alberta and Saskatchewan. Usually it is pulling their travel trailer behind it.
“The car doesn’t sit very much,” said McBain. “It isn’t a daily driver, but it’s probably driven twice every weekend all summer.”
McBain doesn’t see this car going anywhere soon.
“Someone’s going to have to want it pretty badly,” he said. “Although I said the same thing about the ‘62. But this one’s pretty much a keeper for the foreseeable future.”
