Bismarck man reunites with car he helped build 50 years ago

Henry Vannett spent more than 25 years teaching auto body classes at Bismarck State College. During some of his first years at the school, he and his students took on a unique project, and he never thought that project would end up in a museum.

Vannett started teaching in 1966 at BSC. In 1967, he saw two old Ford cars and decided to put the two front ends of the car together with his students. Vannett lost track of the car after a while, but now has been reunited with the prized possession.

Vannett says the idea popped in his head while looking at a couple of 1957 Fords.

“Maybe I should put them two together but I never done this and I don't know how,” he said.

So he enlisted 20 students from his auto body class at Bismarck State College. For about two years in the late 60s, they worked on the car. But it wasn't just any automobile.

“You could steer it from both ends,” Vannett said.

For years, Vannett drove the car around towns in North Dakota, participating in parades and showcasing the vehicle. After a while, the car was sold, and he lost track of it. But, a call from Klairmont Kollections museum in Chicago revealed they had bought the car. So Vannett, his wife and kids took a trip down memory lane, and got to see it for the first time in years.

“It looks like a new car sitting there, and I tell you it puts a lump in your throat, you know, your baby come home, you know,” he said.

Vannett says the car isn't the only thing he reunited with. He says one of his old students found out about the trip he took to see it, and called him to reminisce about the time they spent building it.