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Collector Classics: 1947 Chrysler Royal Coupe

Vintage two-door restored to create memories for dementia patients in long-term care

Alyn Edwards
May 01, 2021  •  May 19, 2021  •  3 minute read  •  Join the conversation
Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation executive director Karen Morgan with members of the Torque Masters Car Club that restored the 1947 Chrysler coupe to enhance the lives of dementia patients.
Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation executive director Karen Morgan with members of the Torque Masters Car Club that restored the 1947 Chrysler coupe to enhance the lives of dementia patients. Photo by Ken Coward

The engine in the Canadian-built 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe won’t start, the brakes don’t function and the car will never be driven again. But the lovely old car has been beautifully restored to the way it looked when it was driven off the dealer’s lot almost 75 years ago.

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It is designed to stimulate memories of long-ago drives in the country, family trips, picnics and photos with the family car.

That’s the hope of Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation President & CEO Karen Morgan. She got the idea to place a vintage car in the design of a new memory garden at the hospital where long-term care patients with dementia can walk and experience things that were important to them in their lives.

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“I saw a CBC program featuring a hospital in Ontario that had an old car right inside the building,” she says.

The Torque Masters Car Club of Sidney had put on an annual car show for long-term care unit patients, and the club became part of the plan to incorporate a vintage car into refurbishment of the memory garden. The 180-member club ran with the idea of restoring the car for the memory garden. The car was purchased by the hospital foundation and club members went to Duncan to trailer it back to Sidney to begin the two-year restoration journey.

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“The car was in rough shape but had good bones,” says Torque Masters Car Club president Ken Coward, noting the idea was to have members do all the work on the car on Saturdays but COVID changed all that as the group couldn’t safely come together.

So the decision was made to have club volunteer members work on the car when possible following COVID-19 restrictions to a maximum of two members at any time. Coward coordinated the project, Cam McLennan offered shop space with tools to do the job and Jamie Cox handled parts and services procurement as needed. Retired boat builder Peter Black, who owns a 1948 Chrysler sedan, took charge of the restoration as fellow club members began to disassemble the car – piece by piece.

“Every place we went, community people identified with the project and found ways to help support us,” Cox says.

Local businesses made major contributions to move the restoration forward: Jetstream Custom Auto donated the body work and paint; Electro Shine Metal Finishing and Victoria Plating chromed bumpers and dozens of small parts; Rightway Heritage Trimming upholstered the seats and Capital Glass donated and installed the windows.

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  1. The 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe was in rough condition when purchased but it had good bones.
    The 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe was in rough condition when purchased but it had good bones. Photo by Ken Coward
  2. he Canadian-built 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe was purchased by the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation in Duncan and transported back to the Vancouver Island community of Sidney for restoration.
    he Canadian-built 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe was purchased by the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation in Duncan and transported back to the Vancouver Island community of Sidney for restoration. Photo by Ken Coward
  3. Members of the Torque Masters Car Club separate the engine from the 1947 Chrysler coupe as restoration work began.
    Members of the Torque Masters Car Club separate the engine from the 1947 Chrysler coupe as restoration work began. Photo by Ken Coward
  4. The original dashboard was in poor shape when the restoration of the 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe was undertaken by the Torque Masters Car Club in Sidney on Vancouver Island.
    The original dashboard was in poor shape when the restoration of the 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe was undertaken by the Torque Masters Car Club in Sidney on Vancouver Island. Photo by Ken Coward
  5. The restored dashboard is a main feature on the 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe.
    The restored dashboard is a main feature on the 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe. Photo by Ken Coward
  6. Torque Masters Car Club president Ken Coward and fellow members with Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation executive director Karen Morgan with the restored 1947 Chrysler placed in the long term care memory garden to enhance the lives of dementia patients.
    Torque Masters Car Club president Ken Coward and fellow members with Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation executive director Karen Morgan with the restored 1947 Chrysler placed in the long term care memory garden to enhance the lives of dementia patients. Photo by Ken Coward
  7. Seat recovering was donated by local business Rightway Heritage Trimming in Sidney on Vancouver Island.
    Seat recovering was donated by local business Rightway Heritage Trimming in Sidney on Vancouver Island. Photo by Ken Coward
  8. The coupe all restored and ready to be enjoyed.
    The coupe all restored and ready to be enjoyed. Photo by Ken Coward
  9. The interior is sure to be enjoyed by patients and visitors alike.
    The interior is sure to be enjoyed by patients and visitors alike. Photo by Ken Coward
  10. The freshly painted and reupholstered 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe ready for display in the memory garden to improve the quality of life for dementia patients.
    The freshly painted and reupholstered 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe ready for display in the memory garden to improve the quality of life for dementia patients. Photo by Ken Coward
  11. The restored 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe.
    The restored 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe. Photo by Ken Coward

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After eight months at Jetstream for body and paint and now sporting a new blue color, the car was ready for Peter Black to put the jigsaw puzzle back together. He spent hundreds of hours painstakingly reassembling the car and custom fabricating special pieces needed to complete it. The body was lowered closer to the ground to allow easy access for elderly patients. It will now be a permanent fixture in the hospital’s memory garden.

“I think the old car is going to add significantly to the quality of life for patients with dementia,” says Foundation CEO Karen Morgan. Her brother had dementia and recently passed away.

A formal presentation of the car is planned for the memory garden when B.C. health restrictions allow.

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“This project brought members together with the opportunity to give back to the community,” says Torque Masters Car Club president Ken Coward.

We want to set up ways where our patients can help care for the car.

Club members are now working toward making the lights come on and the radio play when the car doors are opened. They hope patients with dementia enjoy the full experience of old cars to stimulate fond memories of days gone by.

“We want to set up ways where our patients can help care for the car,” Karen Morgan says. “Maybe they can help wash and wax it. That will help bring back those memories of the cars in their early lives.”

For a history of the restoration of the 1947 Chrysler Royal coupe go to: tawkyn2u.wixsite.com/saanpen1947chrysler

And to learn more about Torque Masters, like joining as a member for only $30, visit torquemasters.ca

Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and partner in Peak Communicators, a Vancouver-based public relations company. aedwards@peakco.com

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