The automotive narrative surrounding car events over the past few years honestly hasn’t been very favourable. Much of what makes car culture so great has been buried by take-over culture pushing “street racing” and “stunt driving” back into headlines.
Social media, hasn’t helped either, with people posting increasingly outlandish things hoping to hang on to a couple of likes and reposts.
This is frustrating for us lifers, but people like Ceaser and his club, the Road Reapers have put considerable effort into promoting the best parts of car culture to the public with events like Toronto Hot Rod Kulture and Dream Wheels on Eglinton.
Working with the Eglinton Business Association, Dream Wheels is a one-day event hosted on Eglinton Ave West from Avenue to Castlewood. The event is part car show, part street festival. On the automotive side, there are cars and awards, of course, and also live bands and a pinup girl contest.
There is also a busy vendor alley that includes many businesses located right on Eglinton, resulting in a sense of community pride that is immediately apparent to an East-Ender like myself.
The community pride in this event really hit home when I saw members of a local artist group drawing the vehicles they saw. I spoke with one of the members, and the group’s goal for the day was to draw a scene, then meet up later and compare their work.
I thought that was an incredibly unique way for traditionally non-enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of cars.
As a first-time attendee and entrant, I brought my son Ash along with me. He’s twelve years old now with a surprisingly packed social calendar, but Ash didn’t have any regrets choosing to spend the day with his old man.
I have to give a big shout-out to Gelateria Italiana and RC Paradise for their help keeping him entertained between trips up and down Eglinton.
The vehicles are more than enough to keep me entertained; one build I was particularly happy to see again was this 1967 C10 built by Fabrizio Cella Officina FC specialty vehicles located in Bolton, Ontario.
The last time I saw the truck in person was at Motorama, and vehicles always have a larger impact when they are out in public and settled down a ride height.
You can’t see the great job they did with the Porter Built chassis when the truck is just a couple inches from the road, but the stance over those Billet Specialties wheels says enough.
The beautiful engine bay featuring a highly detailed LT4 also makes a statement, as does the completely redone interior.
Officina is part of the newer generation of shops really making a name for themselves here in Ontario.
Their Instagram shows a couple of new projects in the pipeline too, so I’ll have to keep an eye on when I can check those out.
I don’t expect them to be any less impressive than this one.
Along the same lines as the C10R was this Ford F-100. I wasn’t able to get much information on the builder, but they did a great job fitting the Coyote Motor under the hood.
The last car I’ll give a bit of a spotlight before dropping a generous gallery of additional vehicles is this 1975 BMW 2002.
As a former E30 owner, 2002s have always been a vehicle I have held in pretty high regard.
I don’t see as many of them out on the street as I used to, which can be attributed to their relative rarity these days, and the types of events I’ve found myself at the past few years.
This is a fresh build, having just finished its shakedown. Prior to this car the owner owned a Z car, and it’s obvious that is where he honed his beautiful function-forward modification style.
It’s just a really beautiful car that is no doubt an absolute blast to drive.
If you’re from Toronto and Dream Wheels on Eglington is an event you have yet to attend, put it on your calendar for 2027.
The event has grown year over year, and I don’t see any reason why that will stop.
