Cal was born and raised in North Vancouver, and lived there until 1958.

In 1951 Cal started building a unique 1934 Ford hot rod. This car became a labour of love and he spent many spare hours working on the car from 1951 until displaying it at the 1953 Pacific International Motorama car show at Kerrisdale Arena. Cal joined the British Columbia Custom Car Association (BCCCCA) about the same time and was an active member.

He continued modifying and customizing the '34 coupe and installed an Oldsmobile V8 with twin 4 barrel carbs. The car featured a radical chop and channel job which gave it a very low appearance. It won trophies at local Motorama shows in the '50s.

In 1954 Cal drove the car to California and bought more speed equipment for it. On the return trip he drove to Bonneville Salt Flats and took in the Speed trials . At this same speed week, another car that Cal had helped to build, the Syndicate coupe was racing. This car was another 1934 Ford coupe and featured a fuel-injected Chrysler Hemi V8. Cal, along with team members Don Cartwright, Brian Devine and Bob Scott had constructed this car

CAL MORROW - Inducted 2001

Pioneer - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

Cal Morrow ’34 Ford Coupe  (Larry Braine collection)

in Cal’s North Vancouver garage. The car turned a speed of 144 mph.

Following this trip Cal and his Olds powered street rod were featured in an article in Rod and Custom magazine in January, 1955. In July, 1955 they were also featured in Car Craft magazine. He

also raced the car at Abbotsford drag strip in the mid ‘50s.

Cal spent his working years in the concrete industry in Greater Vancouver.

He is retired and living in West Vancouver.

 

by Larry Braine, 2004, edited 2006

Cal Morrow