Mike Ebeling, rest in peace

[James Gosling]

Last night I received the sad news from Mark that his dad Mike Ebeling had passed away peacefully at home the previous night after a long battle with ill health.
Mike was one of the early Canadian vehicle collectors, taking his superbly restored Otter to Normandy in 1984. He went on to restore many vehicles, mostly all fitted with his favourite engine the Ford V8 including a Lynx, WOA1 and WOA2. An exceptional mechanic and vehicle body builder he even taught himself how to sew in order to remake the head linings on his staff cars, his knowledge and abilities will be sorely missed.

Thinking of Mike and his family at this sad time.

James

[Hanno Spoelstra]

James,

Thanks for sharing this sad news. I first met Mike back in 2000 when I was visiting the W&P show with Geoff Winnington-Ball. We had a long talk with Mike, and Geoff was taken on a ride by Mike.

A very nice man and extremely competent mechanic and restorer.

Last year I last talked to him on the phone, his health was going downhill then. May he now rest in peace. Please pass on my condolences to the family.

Thumbs up, Mike!

[Stefan Leegwater]

James,

I am sorry to hear this, Dirk and I met him at the war and peace shows, a very kind man with a lot of knowledge.

He will be missed, strength and condolences to his family.

Stefan

[Andy Mitchell]

Sad news , RIP Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

On FB, Stuart Wade wrote:

Sad to learn of the passing of Mike Ebeling, I had known him for around 30 years. He took on the restoration of my WOA 1 project.
Mike is seen here on the left with the car when he displayed it at the NEC on the club stand some years ago. A true preservationist of the old school.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Mike Ebeling’s GM Otter, back in 1984 during a trip to Normandy. Note that he enlarged the front visor to increase driver visibility.

Second pic shows him driving in a liberation parade in Holland, 1985.

(The Otter has been sold.)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Photo by John Blackman‎: "Another blast from my photographic and magazine past...
Mike Ebeling's WOA1 and WOA2 photographed on a dull day in June 2008."



And two more pictures of the WOA1:


Source: http://miliblog.co.uk/?p=151


Source: https://flic.kr/p/5akgyk

(The WOA1 has been sold.)

[Ian McCallum]

James,

I had heard via another Ford enthusiast of Mike's passing, such a loss.

I first got to know Mike in the early '90s as we shared a common interest in Canadian built vehicles. We became closer friends, sharing a beer, laughs and a tape measure during a number of W&P events during the restoration of his WOA2, as he used my then WOA2A as his 'template' for a number of requirements.

His work on both the WOA1 and WOA2, not forgetting the Otter and Lynx was exceptional and his skills will be sadly missed in the restoration world.

RIP Mike, it was a honour to know you

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The ex-Mike Ebeling Otter at a recent outing:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A sort of "Then & Now" of Mike's Otter:

Derek Gardner: Sorting old photos out and found some from the South Sea D-Day show 1984 not sure who owns this one now

Clive Pemberton: Hi, this is the Otter now , purchased from Mike in 2019, still in original paint from restoration in 1983/4 and still in Essex