Artisan Publications – writing that informs & inspires

British Automotive Royalty marries American Technology to Create Peter Ouimet’s 1931 Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake!

May 14, 2025Gordon Ficke

Vintage and Historic Vehicle enthusiast and restorer Peter Ouimet has created the perfect practical classic car! When I first saw this unusual 1931 Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake (woody station wagon), it looked completely original, except for the left hand drive steering wheel! Honestly, I didn’t know that Rolls-Royce even made a station wagon, let alone a Woody!

Peter purchased this Rolls-Royce from an online auction called ‘Bring a Trailer,’ around 3 1/2 years ago from the previous owner who lived in Colorado. This yellow and black model 20/25 was in close to original condition. This car spent the first part of its life in England before being purchased by an American from southern California, some time in the 1970s. It even ran in the 1994 ‘Great Race’ that ran from California to Pennsylvania. Some time afterwards it became part of an automotive collection on the U.S.A.’s east coast before being purchased by the seller who entered it once in the 2013 Great Race, that travelled this time from Saint Paul, Minnesota to Mobile, Alabama.

Automotive Writing Samples

Ken’s Marvellous Morris 8!

April 2, 2025Gordon Ficke

Meticulous craftsmanship and uniqueness come together in this rare British 1946 Morris 8! I encountered this gem at the annual

Completed 1928 Ford Model A truck with body made of cherry wood! note the extra front fender for the public to examine to see how it was formed.

Automotive Writing Samples

Who would believe that an all Wooden bodied 1928 Ford Model A in 1:1 scale existed?

January 18, 2025Gordon Ficke

I was flabbergasted to encounter a very unique 1928 Ford Model A 1/4 tonconvertible pickup at the Lloydminister Father’s Day

Personal Experience Writing Samples

A Lifetime Lesson I Learned from a Toy Derringer

November 28, 2022Gordon Ficke

There are many memories I have that flood my brain from time to time, but none as poignant as the one I experienced in my Grade 3 class in 1961. That day forever defined how I viewed and respected other people’s property. That day began as any other elementary school day with Mrs. Beet, our teacher conducting our class. When the bell rang for lunch, our books were put away in our desks and the students retrieved our lunches from the cloakroom. After eating lunch, most of the pupils left the classroom to go outside to play. Our teacher had left to join the other teachers in the staff room for lunch. As there were only a few kids left in our classroom, this opened up an opportunity that I could not pass up.

Historical Sketches Writing Samples

Ostracized, Dispossessed and Uprooted…the fate of Japanese Canadians during World War II

August 27, 2021Gordon Ficke

Florence Kabayama, an 8-year-old Japanese-Canadian girl was living in the remote and isolated west coast British Columbian town of Ocean Falls. Life was good here during the late 1930s and early ‘40s. She lived in one of the homes amongst other Japanese families that formed their community, on the steep hillside across from the bay from the community’s chief employer, the pulp and paper mill. The Japanese families lived in their own area on the steep hillside while the Chinese community resided below them. “I remember the steep wooden steps that led up to our homes.” Florence recalled.