Local car buff has one of Ford`s Last Rancheros

CRUISING CALENDAR
MONDAY
Cruzin the River in Lowellville, from 5
to 9 p.m. at 224 E. Water St. 200300 cars, food, prizes, DJ Lee
Martinell, vendor nights, and more.
Call Al at 330-536-9009 or Cindy at
330-540-3517.
Local car buff has one of Ford’s Last Rancheros
Photo by J.T.Whitehouse,Town Crier
Dave Bayoski of North Jackson stands next to his pride and joy, a 1981 Ford Durango, which could
be a one-of-a-kind. It is parked next to a classic Packard that is also part of Dave’s collection.
By J.T. Whitehouse
Town Crier
Dave Bayoski of North
Jackson, and a member of the
Mahoning Valley Olde Car
Club (MVOCC) loves the
hobby of collecting cars and
through his travels, may have
latched onto one very rare one,
a 1981 Ford Durango.
According to information
supplied by Bayoski, the
Durango came a few years too
late. Ford Motor Company had
entered the pickup truck based
on a car market in 1957 when it
released the Ranchero that
competed with the Chevrolet El
Camino. Ford continued
production until 1979 when the
Ranchero became to large for
the market. When 1980 rolled
around, the economy wasn’t
that great and the market was
fading away.
Ford tried to gain back the
small pick up market by
contracting with National
Coach Products in Gardena,
Calf. National Coach took a
new two-door Ford Fairmont,
gutted the rear interior and cut
across the roof to the rear of
the car. The company then
filled in the void area with a
one-piece fiberglass box and
the entire back end of the
Fairmont was transformed into
a tail gate. The finished
machine became the 1981 Ford
Durango.
The original concept was
to produce 12,000 to 25,000 per
year, but the market for car-like
trucks just wasn’t there. Pickup
buyers were heading more
towards the new Chevy S-10
and Ford Ranger models,
leaving the Durango to suffer a
short-lived fate.
For
Bayoski,
the
ownership of one of these rare
finds began during a trip to
California. While in the
sunshine state, Bayoski picked
up a copy of “The Recycler,” a
publication similar to the Mini
Merchant. He said he saw the
ad for the 1981 Ford Durango
and he immediately arrange to
go look at the vehicle. When he
showed up, he knew he just had
to own it and that proved not
to be an easy task.
“I got involved in a
bidding war,” Bayoski said.
“Someone had called on a
phone and was trying to buy
the Durango too.”
Bayoski did win the
bidding and brought the rare
Durango home to North
Jackson. After some research,
he believes he may have a very
rare model. He said the
Durango has a “jazzed up”
paint and striping package.
“I think it was jazzed up
for a dealership to show off the
new Ranchero replacement,”
he said.
He also believes this one
was one of only 200 built.
The vehicle has become a
keeper for Bayoski and one he
loves showing at events like
Cars in the Park in Boardman.
He also takes it out once in a
while for local cruises.
Bayoski does have other
cars in his collection, some of
which he will sell. The
Durango is in the do not sell
column though as are several
others that his wife Terry loves
so much.
“I’m very lucky to have a
wife who loves cars too,”
Bayoski said.
In fact, Terry owns her
own vintage 1967 Olds Cutlass.
Bayoski has also taken his
hobby further. He said his
family had been car collectors
and he grew up with that.
“I guess its in my family
blood,” he said.
He formed his own
business in 1979 called
Mahoning Auto, in which he
handles collector, custom rod
and specialty vehicles. He is a
certified appraiser who can
assist others through a variety
of services involving rare
vehicles.
He is still on the lookout
for rare vehicles to add to the
collection or sell at a profit.
“We still keep looking for cars,”
Bayoski said.
Terry added, “Once we get
them, sometimes it is hard to
part with them.”
TUESDAY
Chick-Fil-A, 1051 Boardman-Poland
Road, Boardman, every Tuesday
(weather permitting). Benefit Hospice
of the Valley. Music by “Two’s
Company” DJ’s, dash plaques, door
prizes, trophies. Call Bob at 330545-9313 or visit www.mvocc.com.
WEDNESDAY
Drake’s Landing Restaurant, 2177 W.
Western Reserve Road, Canfield. All
through summer, from 5 p.m. to dusk.
Raffles, door prizes, DJ’s.
THURSDAY
Westside Ice Cream and Grill, 3003
Mahoning Ave., Austintown, from 6
to 9 p.m. every Thursday. DJ, 50/50
raffle, door prizes and more.
Boardman Belleria Cruise Night, 5 to
9 p.m., Thursday nights at Belleria
Pizza, 8485 Market St, Boardman.
Give-aways, DJ’s, food specials, etc.
FRIDAY
A&W Drive-In, 680 YoungstownBoardman Road, Boardman, from 6
to 10 p.m. Special theme nights
throughout the summer, music by
Two’s Company, T-shirts. Call 330792-2444. Now through Oct. 14.
SATURDAY
Shepherd’s Self Storage, Boardman
(the old Sam’s Club) on South
Avenue, one mile south of U.S. 224,
every Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Vendors, music and more. Hosted by
Valley Cruzers. Call 330-533-4911.
SUNDAY
Quaker Steak and Lube in
Austintown, Interstate 80, Ohio 46
exit, from 5 to 9 p.m. Music by DJ
Big Rick, discount to cruisers, hosted
by the “Chicken Coupe Cruisers.”
Call 330-668-4767.
LOCAL EVENTS
SEPT. 6 - Classic Car Cruise-In at
Center Road during Buhl Day, Labor
Day, Sept. 6 at Buhl Park, 730 Forker
Blvd., Hermitage, Pa. Food, music,
kids’ petting zoo and more. Visit
www.buhlfarmpark.com/
specialevents/buhlday.
SEPT 17, 18 AND 19 - Canfield Swap
Meet and Car Corral, hot rod and
classic car sale, at the Canfield
Fairgrounds, hosted by Dave and
Ed’s Auto Events, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit www.autoevents.com.