On July 15, Roy Asbahr will make his annual pilgrimage west. The retired Gresham construction company owner is a longtime supporter of the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance, one of the West Coast's premier classic car shows, and has shown several of his cars over the years.
"I feel strongly about supporting local events," said Asbahr, who has about 20 cars but is especially fond of Oldsmobiles. "It's a wonderful venue and it's been going on for a long time."
This year Asbahr has entered a rare 1949 Oldsmobile 88 Woody Wagon in the show. It was part of the 88 line that was first introduced that year. About 3,300 were made that year, although Asbahr estimates there are only around 25 in any kind of condition in the country today. Like all woodies, the exterior wood required more care than most owners provided, growing increasingly fragile and hard to maintain over time.
Asbahr's wagon is a rare exception, however. He bought it a few years ago with only 65,000 original miles through an ad in Hemming's Motor News. It had been previously purchased from a Philadelphia doctor's estate and sold at auction to an Oldsmobile dealer who understood its value. He sold it to a General Motors employee who edited the Oldsmobile magazine.
"Obviously, it led a charmed life," Asbahr said.
After he bought the wagon, Asbahr had the wood refinished. The interior is all original and nearly perfect. It won first place in its category at the Oldsmobile Nationals in Reno last year.
The Forest Grove Concours, which is celebrating its 40th year, has dozens of categories, including "antique," "classic" and "modified."
The wagon competes in the modified category because Asbahr has added a few rare but historically-accurate speed parts. They include a performance intake manifold, dual carburetors, headers and dual pipes.
Although the engine is not original, it is the same first-year 303 Rocket V8 that came in it. As Oldsmobile fans know, the advanced overhead-valve high-compression Rocket 88 revved up the company's somewhat conservative reputation, accompanied by the popular 1950s slogan, "Make a date with a Rocket 88."
Asbahr has been fascinated by cars for as long as he can remember. His grandfather gave him his first, a 1932 Studebaker, when he was 15 and did not even have a driver's license.
Asbahr still has that car, and many others he has bought over the years. They include a Model A Ford he bought for $15 and a replica of the modified 1950 Oldsmobile 88 that Hershel McGriff drove to victory in that year's Carrera Pan American Mexico Road Race. Asbahr worked with McGriff to recreate the car, striking up a friendship that continues to this day.
Asbahr describes his commitment to cars as "sort of a disease" but admits that working on them was a great tension reliever when he ran his construction business.
Although he has retired from that line of work, Asbahr still manages property and maintains an office where he receives his issues of Hemming's Motor News by priority mail, just so he doesn't miss another rare Oldsmobile.
Other local cars on display
Roy Ashbar's 1949 Oldsmobile isn't the only car from East County that will be on display in Forest Grove on July 15. Here's a sample of other local entries:
- Larry Swiggart, of Sandy, is bringing a 1959 Cadillac Seville, one of just 975 made.
- Michael Gudge, of Welches, will display his 1937 Lincoln Towncar.
- Tricia Crockett, of Damascus, will be showing her 1956 Thunderbird.
- Richard Mick, of Damascus, is bringing his 1949 Mercury 4-door.
- Ernie Brawley, of Fairview, will show off his 1960 Mercedes 300 SL.
- David Koetje of Happy Valley will display his 1931 Chevy 1 ½-ton truck, originally used by a local fruit company.
