OLIVER PAIPOONGE, Ont. — The extensive car collection of an area resident who's prepared to donate it to Oliver Paipoonge may soon find a new home.
The municipality is proposing to establish what its request for proposals calls a "car collection building" on the grounds of the Founders' Museum and Pioneer Village on Highway 61.
It would accommodate the vehicles acquired over many years by Russ Wanzuk in Murillo.
The RFP outlines the requirement for a structure at least 110' by 50'.
Mayor Lucy Kloosterhuis says council has not made a final decision to proceed with the project.
"If the price is over what we feel is adequate, it's not going to happen" she told Tbnewswatch.
Last winter, when council initially considered relocating the car collection to the municipal office property on Highway 130, the estimated cost of a 5,000 square foot building was $500,000 to $600,000.
The 76-year-old Wanzuk has spent his life restoring vintage race cars and other vehicles.
A number of years ago, he proposed that Oliver Paipoonge set up a space to show off the collection.
Some of his cars were donated previously to the Duke Hunt Museum on Rosslyn Road, but the municipality decided to close that building and relocate the artifacts to the Founders' Museum.
The site will be renamed the Duke Hunt Museum.
Kloosterhuis said Wanzuk has assembled "a beautiful collection" of vehicles.
"I think it's very nice of him. They're worth their weight in gold, I'm sure," she added.
The deadline for responses to the request for proposals is Oct. 26.
