Dave Joseph, 67, of Delphos, drove his 1966 Plymouth Belvedere to the Happy Daz Cool Car Cruise-in during May. The car was originally owned by Kyle Lewis, who was known for helping raise money through benefit car shows by impersonating Deputy Barney Fife from the Andy Griffith show. Lewis passed away on June 17, 2022.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
DELPHOS – Dave Joseph knows he not only owns a 1966 Plymouth Belvedere, but he’s also the caretaker of a memory for those people who knew the late Kyle Lewis.
Lewis was a barber in Lima for more than 50 years. He was famous for his one-liners and for his love for cars. Before passing away two years ago at age 71, he could be found playing an integral part of many car shows. Often that would be as a Barney Fife impersonator, something he enjoyed doing since 2004.
Joseph can tell you the exact date – Sept. 5, 1975 – when he bought his 1966 Belvedere from Lewis.
“We were both young men then who loved fast cars,” Joseph recalled. “I was at the Van-Del drag strip near Middlepoint when I saw Kyle’s car was for sale. He wanted $750 for it but I only had saved up $700. I thought I was out of luck, but a couple days later Kyle called and said he would take $700.”
Joseph ended up renovating the car. He had it painted black from its original silver, and also put in a new motor – a 446 cubic inch big block – and a new transmission.
“Everything from front to back is new. A lot of work was put into the car,” he said.
For 37 years though, it sat in storage.
“It was stolen twice. After the second time, I said ‘that’s it’ and put it away,” he said.
He took it out of storage a few years ago after learning Kyle was ill.
Joseph noted, “I saw where his friends were having a benefit car show for him. I thought I would bring his old car to the benefit … that Kyle would enjoy seeing it. Sadly, he died the night before the benefit.”
Joseph said those who knew Kyle in his drag-racing days enjoyed seeing the car, though.
“They would look at it and say, ‘That’s it! That’s Kyle’s car.’”
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