In the late 1950s, when most 12-year-olds were putting together plastic models of airplanes and cars, Dan Yuran spent $15 on a rundown 1941 Chevy. When he turned 16, a sophomore in high school and old enough to drive, the car was ready to go.
Yuran, 65, lives in Bonner Springs and is driven to restore cars — sometimes to an even better state than when they came off the assembly line.
“I just love cars, always have,” Yuran said Saturday, while rain pelted Riverside Park and interrupted, but didn’t postpone, the fifth annual Chevelle Cruise-In Picnic.
“The rain kept some owners away, but we still had 18 cars and more than 60 people,” said Danny McKarnin, its organizer. “But, no one complained. We needed the rain.”
Even though some owners kept their spiffy show cars under cover at home, “several came in their everyday cars to take in the picnic,” McKarnin observed. “We had a good time, good food from Jamie Rourk’s barbecue and we saw Don Nichols’ classic cars,” warehoused at 224 N. Washington.
The 18 cars that showed up weren’t far off McKarnin’s estimate of 25 for the fifth annual event. An aside was a downtown shopping spree organized for women coming from out-of-town.
“Mom (Jeannie McKarnin) always has something for the ladies to do,” McKarnin said. “Owners of the downtown shops have gotten to know about it and do some special things for them.”
YURAN might be called Mr. Chevelle in this part of the country.
Not only has he had a life-long affection for his own cars and their care, he also worked 40 years restoring others’ autos. He retired three years ago to pursue his passion, restoring Chevelles.
The first Chevelle came out in 1964.
“I have 40,” from fully restored and ready to show to others just retrieved and towed to his huge shop — 56 by 150 feet — in Bonner Springs.
All 40 were manufactured between 1966 and 1972. The body style changed in 1973, but Yuran prefers the older version.
“I’m looking for 1964, ’65 and ’68 models” to complete his run of early Chevelles, Yuran said. None of the Chevelles are for sale.
Yuran’s connection to cars came from his father, who was a mechanic. His brother specialized in body work. After a stint in the Army ending in 1969, Yuran worked for a dealership as a painter and then fulfilled his dream of by purchasing his own shop.
He was so taken with cars that sometimes he broke a date with his future wife, Janice, “because I needed to finish up something with a car,” he said with a smile.
They’ve been married 40 years and have three children and three grandchildren.
