Northwest Deuce Days attracts thousands as hot rods take over Victoria’s Inner Harbour

CHEK

Vintage hot rods lined Victoria’s inner harbour Sunday as Northwest Deuce Days made a triumphant return.

The tri-annual event ran Thursday to Sunday — showing off the world’s largest display of Deuces and pre-1952 vehicles.

“A 1932 was the first V8 engine and it’s an icon in the automotive industry,” Gunner Esptep, participant from Oregon, said.

READ MORE: ‘It’s a big deal’: Northwest Deuce Days cruises into Victoria this Thursday

Jay Donovan, event organizer, said Sunday’s car show featured about 1,300 classic cars, attracting thousands of people.

“It’s a lot of cars to cram into an urban environment, but the setting here in Victoria is pretty good for it,” Donovan said.

He added there were cars from across the continent present, with one participating from Virginia.

“It really filled out well,” said Donovan.

This year’s Deuce Days is a special one as the local event is celebrating its 10th run in 30 years and the 90th anniversary of the Deuce.

“I think the significance of these vehicles getting close to a century of still being appreciated the way they are certainly has a lot of weight to it,” Donovan added.

Some participants said the Deuce is a special car and they have spent thousands to keep them revving.

John Fleury, a participant from Victoria, said the bare body is about $20,000 alone.

“From there, the chassis and everything else, nowadays it would cost about $130,000 to build,” Fleury added.

Esptep said he sold an $18,000 ski boat to buy the paint for his car.

Both told CHEK News Northwest Deuce Days is a great event to get like-minded people together and show off their projects.

Thousands packed downtown Victoria to check out vintage hot rods that were part of Northwest Deuce Days, a tri-annual event that made its triumphant return this weekend.  (CHEK News)

Mackenzie ReadMackenzie Read

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