Chris Case stands next to three restored antiques that drew attention at the St. Ignace Car Show Saturday, June 28. Not only did Mr. Case restore a 1946 Chevrolet pickup, he also restored an original Tokheim gas pump and an oil dispenser common to the era. Dressed in an authentic Texaco gas station uniform, Chris Case drew the attention he desired at the St. Ignace Car Show Saturday, June 28. Not only did he restore a 1946 Chevrolet pickup to gleaming perfection, earning him a Nostalgia Productions top 40 award, he also restored an antique gas pump and "lubester," an oil-dispensing device, creating a gas station display.

"People think this is so cool," he said.

Mr. Case stood next to his fireengine red gas pump, lubester, and the dark-green truck that matched his Texaco uniform all day, fielding questions. He turned on the pump's calculator, set at 21¢ a gallon - the price of gas when the pickup rolled off the assembly line in 1946 - and calculated $4.19 worth of gas, the price displayed for one gallon at the Shell station across the street. The calculator showed he would have received 18.6 gallons for the price people now pay for one gallon.

An original Tokheim device, the pump he restored was commonly used by Texaco and other gas distributors in an earlier era.

"Everybody used these things," he said.

Mr. Case gathers his gas pumps from antique dealers, and finds some rusting away in farm yards.

"One guy said, 'You can have the pump if you dig out the tank,'" he noted.

He did. To get the pump, Mr. Case dug out the 1,000-pound gas tank beneath it.

At earlier car shows, he dressed up in 1940s clothing and displayed his antiques. Now, his garb has evolved to a gas attendant uniform.

Someone gave him a Texaco hat, completing the uniform.

Mr. Case's restored lubester also drew attention. The mobile oil-dispenser included two pumps, one for heavy-weight oil, one for lighter-weight oil.

In the 1940s, rather than the fully fledged gas stations of today, often, there was just a pump on a curb, and distributors would wheel lubesters out and dispense "summer or winter oil."

A Munising resident, he works at for the National Park Service at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, where he explains geology and ecology to park visitors. At the car shows, he's known for explaining outdated gas station technology.

As for his truck, it's fun to look at, but uncomfortable to ride in.

"It about paralyzes you to drive over here," he said, noting that '40s pickups were built for farm work, not highway cruising.

He bought the vehicle in 2002, and restored it over five years.