Meet The Team
Founder: Richard Lappenbush
When I was seven years old, my parents bought a 1979 Ford bronco, black and grey. I remember it like it was yesterday. Since then, I have always wished to be a Bronco owner. In the early 90s, my parents gave the Bronco to my uncle, who was having a rough time in his life.
Growing up as a teenager, I dabbled in some mechanical and wench, pulling by helping my brothers with their BMX bikes and helping around the farm yard, repairing equipment and other odds and ends. Then, after graduating high school, I would tinker around on weekends with my little Chevy Sprint compact car. I ended up getting into the welding trade, and then in 2000, I started my own business Rheton Welding Sevices Ltd.
After leasing my shop for 14 years, I decided to take the plunge and build our facility in the fall of 2014. So we moved into our new shop.
Last year my youngest son Terris asked his grandma if he could have grandpa's old 1967 Mercury M350 restored. After that restoration, I started thinking about getting into Broncos. So I started searching the Internet for older early Bronco's, and within a couple of weeks, I found a 1966 U15 in rough shape.
I knew that my son and I were capable of doing restoration on an older classic vehicle, like the early first-generation Broncos. I started researching restoration shops in Canada and looking for parts locally available. Found out that nobody specialized in the earlier generation Bronco's and that there were no parts companies in Canada. I decided to bite the bullet and start a new division of Rheton. On September 30th of this year, I started up Bronco North Restoration. To specialize in the first generation Bronco's from 1966 to 1977, supplying first-hand restoration and parts, everything from body steel, custom frames, complete builds, and bodywork. From the ground-up builds to a finished product. Within the first week, we have already started with our first customer, a complete retrofit of his 1976
Joe
I was born in southern Alberta but was raised in Grand Prairie. Now I call Beaverlodge home while raising three children, ages 10, 12, and 14.
I have 25 years of Auto body experience. I started my career working for a company and then bought and managed a company for 15 successful years. Building and repairing vehicles is my passion. One of my philosophies is “never do something to someone’s vehicle that you would never want to be done to your own.”
When I was asked to come to work for Bronco North, I was more than happy. A dream come true working on older vintage Fords. I love challenges, big or small, and I believe I bring a positive and open-minded attitude and the knowledge to do whatever task is necessary and do it to my greatest ability.
Terris
As an auto body mechanic apprentice, I have gained valuable experience in the field of restoration and auto body work over the past three years. This hands-on experience has allowed me to develop a strong skill set and knowledge base in repairing and restoring vehicles. My passion for this industry extends beyond my professional pursuits, as I also engage in restoring Broncos as a personal hobby.
In addition to my work in restoration, I am actively involved in my community through extensive volunteering endeavours. Giving back is something that I hold dear, and I believe in making a positive impact wherever possible. Whether its participating in local events or assisting in recreation and sports.
I am a dedicated athlete and currently serve as a goalie for our local junior hockey team, The Beaverlodge Blades. This role has taught me the importance of teamwork, discipline, and commitment. These qualities have not only enhanced my performance on the icebut also translated into my work as an apprentice, where I consistently strive for excellence and aim to deliver the best results.
One of my aspirations in the industry is to grow a business with my father. Together, we envision creating a successful venture that not only provides quality services but also fosters meaningful relationships with our customers.