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Waitsburg car collector, Herb Mettler, is a 2017 car calendar favorite

WAITSBURG – It's a rare event for one collector to have three separate vehicles showcased in three different Hemmings Motors calendars in the same year. In fact, according to a Hemmings representative, this may be the first time in history that it has ever happened.

The honor goes to Waitsburg vintage car collector Herb Mettler whose has a bright red '52 Ford pickup in the 2017 Vintage Pickups Calendar, a 1950 Buick Special in the 2017 Cars of the 50's calendar, and a '37 Oldsmobile in the 2017 Classic Cars calendar.

Mettler said he's had a love for old cars since he purchased his first car – a 1950 Buick Super he bought for $190 his sophomore year of high school. He has collected and restored dozens, maybe hundreds, of cars over the years and currently has a baker's dozen, in various stages of refurbishment, housed in the shops and garages on his property.

Mettler said his first car made a strong impression and if he had to pick a favorite make he would still choose a Buick.

"They're just nice driving, gorgeous cars," he said.

Mettler and his wife, Lois, moved to Waitsburg from the Tri-Cities about 13 years ago, after he retired from Hanford as a machine designer. They purchased property on DeWitt Road and had a three-bay shop built before they even moved in.

His current collection includes a '28 Buick that his brother recently reupholstered, a '26 Model T Speedster that he and his wife take on 200 mile endurance runs, and a '26 Model T Coupe that he purchased from the Bill Thompson estate and had survived the flood of '96.

At 75 years old, Mettler says he still works in his shop at least a little bit every day and sometimes well into the evening.

"It's a good hobby and it keeps me out of the bars!" Mettler said. Of course that statement is only true if you discount his personal bar.

Mettler's setup is enviable with plenty of shop space, a large upholstery table, a sewing room, and even a private bar covered with photos of dozens of vintage autos owned by himself and his friends.

Mettler says friends and family are part of what makes car collecting fun. His wife, daughter, and granddaughter get in on the action and enjoy driving the cars – they each have their own favorite – in parades and events.

Mettler joined with Waitsburg locals Fred Gonzalez, Lupe Torres, and Ron Henderson to organize the Waitsburg Classic Auto Show which takes place during Waitsburg Celebration Days, the third weekend of May, each year. The show had its eighth run last spring and usually brings in 60-90 contestants, he said.

"It's not a club, just some local guys who got together and put on a car show," Mettler said. "The car that wins the People's Choice Award is the one we use on the flyer for the coming year," he added.

Dena Wood

Mettler sits at the private bar just off his shop where he can relax and admire photos of vintage autos.

Mettler said having three of his vehicles featured in the Hemmings calendars was somewhat of a fluke. A photographer had scheduled a shoot with the pickup but stopped in to see the rest of Mettler's collection before heading to Walla Walla.

"He called back and asked if we could have the Buick and Olds downtown at 5 a.m. the next morning. My wife drove one and I drove the other," he said.

Mettler's Buick and Oldsmobile have also been featured in the Hemmings Classic Cars magazine's November 2015 and February 2016 issues.

Mettler said he purchased the Oldsmobile off the street in Portland in 1969 for $500. The odometer shows just under 49,000 original miles and this Times reporter was fortunate enough to find out firsthand that it still rides like a dream.

The Hemmings' car calendars may be purchased online at http://www.hemmings.com/store/calendars.html.