‘It looks amazing': Restoration of 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible for Princess Elizabeth tour finished
One of the 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertibles that Canada bought for Princess Elizabeth's tour is seen on June 21, 2025, after being restored by students at NAIT in Edmonton. (Galen McDougall / CTV News Edmonton)
One of the 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertibles that Canada bought for Princess Elizabeth's tour that year has been restored to its former glory.
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology students who did the work over this school year revealed it to owner Ron Lyons on Saturday.
'I was flabbergasted. It looks amazing,' Lyons said in an interview with CTV News Edmonton. 'I think the kids in the program here did an amazing job restoring it and invested a lot of time and effort. It turned out beautiful.'
According to NAIT auto body instructor Ryan Pomedli, the car was one of 60 the Canadian government bought for the future queen.
Lyons, owner of the Legends Golf and Country Club east of Edmonton, purchased it in 2024 for the club's Golf Car Museum.
Having worked with NAIT to restore other vehicles for some 20 years, he was familiar with the caliber of work done by the NAIT program – yet still impressed by the students' latest efforts.
Expand Autoplay
1 of 3
Ron Lyons & 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible
Ron Lyons stands in front of his 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible that was restored by NAIT students in Edmonton in 2025. (Galen McDougall / CTV News Edmonton)
1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible
A view of the interior of one of the 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertibles that Canada bought for Princess Elizabeth's tour that year and restored by NAIT students in Edmonton in 2025. (Galen McDougall / CTV News Edmonton)
1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible
A plate on a restored 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertibles, one of 60 that Canada bought for Princess Elizabeth's tour that year, reads 1951. (Galen McDougall / CTV News Edmonton)
'My car was in pretty decent shape when I first got it, but they took it up to another level – like, to an elite level.'
Of entrusting his restoration projects to NAIT, Lyons added, 'It's not really the past, it's the future, right?'
'Having good, safe vehicles and properly repaired, and all that is important to the industry… At NAIT, the kids are properly trained. They're respectful. They have a beautiful, clean shop. They have the best equipment. They have the best instructors. And there's 80 of them going out into the industry and making the car industry safer.'
One of those students, second-year Beverly Burke, was one of the last to work on the convertible. Her group sandblasted and painted the wheels.
'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity,' she said.
'Cars built in the 1950s, they don't build them like they do now.'
Lyons plans on showing off the project at a few shows this summer before putting it on display at his club's museum.
He told CTV News Edmonton, 'I have a nice spot for this. It's gonna have its own little bay.'
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Galen McDougall
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
29 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘Way too many accidents'; Concerns over potential fatality prompts permanent Elgin County Rd. closure
A sign indicates the west end of Ford Rd. will close permanently on June 30, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) A large volume of serious crashes has prompted Southwold Township to shut down Ford Road at Talbot Line in Elgin County. As of June 30th, the road which sees close to 2,000 cars per day, will become a dead end at Highway 3. 'It's just the number of accidents we're seeing and some pretty serious accidents,' said Grant Jones, mayor of Southwold Township and warden of Elgin County. 'Fire (Southwold Fire Dept.) is out there a lot and they are saying the same thing that they're concerned about what was going on there.' He added that with traffic volumes expected over the next few years, the 'most common-sense thing to do is to just shut it down.' The three-way intersection which includes Ford Road, Talbot Line and Ron McNeil Line, is notorious for crashes, with Jones saying they happen almost weekly. With a curve in the highway, drivers often fail to anticipate the speed of those on Talbot Line. CTV London attended a crash there last month. 062225 A serious crash at the intersection of Ford Road and Highway 3 in Southwold Township on May 28, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'Drivers often try to sneak through, and they don't really have the time because those cars are coming at 80 km/h or 90 km/h around that bend in there. They get to that intersection really quick.' The intersection will soon be under construction as part of the Highway 3 widening project, which will see new roads built to bypass Talbotville. Before that happens, the municipality decided to shut it down early, and will build a turning circle at the west end of Ford Rd. 062225 A drawing from Southwold Township shows a turning circle will be constructed at the west end of Ford Road and it will no longer connect to Highway 3 as of June 30th, 2025. (Source: Southwold Township) 'We had the public meeting for the final meeting for the closure and we had full council chambers,' said Jones. 'Everybody was supportive. I know the locals along Ford Road and the whole Ferndale area, I think there's only one person that was a little upset about it. The rest of people are happy we did it right.' With a number of serious crashes sending people to hospital, Jones believes they are doing the right thing. 'We haven't had anybody die there yet, but it's just a matter of time before it did happen,' says the mayor.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Highway 1 exit in Burnaby to close for summer
This image form the Ministry of Transportation shows road closures that come into effect July 2. The busy offramp from Highway 1 to Kensington Avenue will be closed for at least two months so crews can complete 'crucial safety repairs,' according to officials. The westbound exit will close on July 2 and remain closed until the end of August. One lane northbound on Kensington Avenue will also be closed for the summer. 'The ministry is undertaking this work to address pavement settlement issues that have resulted in bumpy conditions for motorists along the Kensington Avenue interchange. Full closure is necessary to allow crews to safely complete the repairs,' a statement from the Transportation Ministry said. Drivers are being advised to plan ahead, expect delays and take alternate routes where possible. 'The ministry is working closely with the City of Burnaby, residents, businesses and organizations in the Kensington Avenue area to minimize disruptions while work is underway,' the statement form the ministry said. Motorists can exit the highway at Gaglardi Way or Willindgon Avenue while the closure us in effect.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Annapolis County collision shuts down Highway 1 overnight: RCMP
An RCMP vehicle can be seen in this file photo. (David Prisciak/CTV News) A collision in Nova Scotia's Annapolis County shutdown Highway 1 overnight. RCMP posted about the crash in Cornwallis Park on social media around 1 a.m. Sunday. Police said Highway 1 was closed between Passchendaele St. and Broadway Ave. Police asked drivers to avoid the area. Shortly before 9 a.m., police said the highway had reopened. RCMP did not say how many vehicles were involved or whether anyone was injured. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
