By Kathy Krzstowczyk
VIEW Contributor
LAPEER COUNTY — When Ferd Ring met his wife Laura for the first time in 1960, he didn’t anticipate a car would ultimately bring them together for what is now 42 years.

Initially introduced by their grandparents, who were neighbors, they started dating. When Laura bought her 1964 Impala (new from the Chevrolet dealer for $2,300) Ferd realized he was in love! Married in 1965, Ferd served in the Army, working as a radio repairman. In the spring of 1967, Laura’s beloved Impala was stolen.

Prior to Laura working as a township clerk and Ferd hauling cars for a living, both were involved with (legal) drag-strip racing. Then, along came two daughters, Amy and Natalie, to raise. In fact, the last time Laura competed on the drag strip she was expecting Amy!

Later, the whole family got involved in drag racing, with their daughter, Amy, at age 16, driving all the way to third place for the ET Nationals at Indy in their 1966 Chevelle. Each day, while Ferd was making his deliveries, he kept scouting for a 1964 Impala, telling his wife, “Someday we’ll get another one.”

In 1990, he finally found her next Impala near Ann Arbor. He later discovered it was originally from Tennessee. Off and on over the years he worked on different parts, when his son-in-law Rod Swantek, a mechanic, suggested he let him and a buddy help out. The engine, a 327, is original to the Impala as is the manual 3-speed column shift.

As for modifications, when this car was first manufactured, the radio antenna was a “whip” style, placed at the topside of the right rear quarter panel. However, because Laura’s first Impala had a retractable, right front quarter panel antenna, Ferd decided to make this Impala as close to her first one as possible and moved it to the front.

Keeping this labor of love in the family, after the engine work was completed by son-in-law Rod, their other son-in-law Jeff Deschner, an electrical design engineer, reworked the electrical system. They then sent it on to Dave Vroman of Mayville for exterior painting and finally to John Pinkerton of Utica for the interior refurbish.

Since completion of all of the work about eight months ago, the Rings have been kept busy taking the ’64 Impala to car meets and cruises. They have plans to attend the Woodward Dream Cruise later this month. Residing in Lapeer County, they currently have four grandchildren, and nobody is allowed to eat or drink in the Impala!!

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