If you have ever ventured out to an old car event in the area, you no doubt have come across at least one if not both of this pair, if not perhaps at least seen their cars.  This couple has been married for a number of years now and really enjoy spending time together with their cars and visiting with friends and others who enjoy old cars.  Whether born with the love and fascination for cars, or having it been an acquired taste, they certainly enjoy spending time together with their old cars.  While you may have seen them or their cars out and about, you may not know really who they are.  Allow me the opportunity to introduce them to you.  Ward and Dianne Morrill together own and operate Watabed in McAllen.  They also have A&A Diecast Cars which is located within Watabed store.  Along with their businesses, they have a great collection of diecast cars and related memorabilia and a couple of interesting and unusual late 50's classic cars.  Ward loves cars with tailfins, so of course, they would have to own a car with fins, and does it ever have fins.  The car is a 1958 Desoto which is more commonly referred to as "her" car.  Dianne is usually who you will find behind of the wheel of the DeSoto, parading the oversized tailfins around.  Ward can be seen at the helm of their 1959 Studebaker Silver Hawk, of course it has tailfins of its own, just not as impressive in size.  Introductions out of the way, let's find out something about this pair....ladies first.

     Dianne was born and raised in Michigan. ( I won't mention how many moons ago.)  She had some experience around cars, as her father was a mechanic who showed her a few things about cars, including how to drive them.  How to drive a 1960 Volkswagen with a 4 speed transmission to be specific.  She later came across a young man, by the name of Ward Morrill, who caught her eye and would become her husband.  Ward had a great interest in cars and was involved in local drag racing, so of course Dianne would learn to appreciate motorsports and the cars Ward drove.  They were married and made their way to the Valley in 1973 along with their one son, Rick.  I would dare say that Dianne probably has more of a love and appreciation for her 2 1/2 grandchildren than she does for old cars, however for our purposes, she really still loves old cars.  I would also say the 1/2 grandchild is in reference to the one which has not yet arrived.  After living in Harlingen for about 5 years, they packed up and headed a few miles over to McAllen, where they still call home today.

     Because of the cars which Ward and Dianne have had throughout the years, she states that that is what has fueled her interest in old cars today.  They bring back memories and reminiscences of great times of the past.  Particularly, she recalls the Pontiac GTO and Plymouth Barracuda they had and recalls great memories of having fun while driving fast.  Her particular interest in older cars focuses on those from about the mid-1950's to the early 1970's, or as she puts it, "anything fast." 

     "Her" current cherished car, which she frequently will cruise out to various car outings and events, is a 4 door 1958 DeSoto Fireflyte.  This is certainly not a car you see everyday.   The car is in very nice original condition, still wearing what is believed to be its original two tone coat of paint in French Turquoise and Seamist Green.  The interior has been redone with NOS grey fabrics.  Under the hood, rests a 361 ci V8 which is rated to hold 305 horsepower.  These horses are run through a TorqueFlite automatic transmission which are commanded by a push button control.  The car is equipped with factory options of power steering and power brakes, fully operable AM tube radio, and the exceptionally rare factory air conditioning.  A little over 4,000 of these cars were produced in 1958 and I am told that only a handful of them were equipped with factory air conditioning.

     Dianne also enjoys collecting dolls of all sorts and kinds and has a very impressive collection of them, but since this site is about old cars, that is all I will say about that.  =)  Together Ward and Dianne enjoy getting out their old cars and enjoying the company of others who appreciate the old cars as well, you will probably find them at one of the future old car events together enjoying their old cars.  Look for the next part of this article and read about Ward and the Studebaker Hawk.

Click here to GO to Part II