Classic Hifi Care

We left this morning in the wee tinies to get down there in time. We got a good parking spot where we could leave early if we wanted to. There was 350+ cars there, many of which I had seen. There was a '35 Buick there with a hotrodded straight 8. Dual carbs, fancy intake, dual exhaust and headers. Nobody was around it, so I don't know more particulars. There was a Rivian (snore.....). The batteries in my camera were dead, so that aggravated me. It was a cold as a well digger's elbow. The weather guesser babe said it was gonna be sunny and 73, so I just took a long-sleeved shirt with me. It was 58, cloudy with a west wind that cut right thru you. There were the usual selection of high-priced food trucks, which I do not patronize. The three brick and mortar resturants had lines out the door with a one-hour wait for the dining room. Porta-potties had long lines with no ADA accommodations. Local businesses and churches didn't open their restrooms to the public, and I understand that. In the future, we will take a "care package" with eats and also take along warmer jackets just in case. Many of the older Chevies that were there were hop cars. Apparently, there is little collector interest in these cars, so they get "juice" and hopped. After the first hop, the cars are so tweaked nothing can be done to return them to original. There was a '48 Chrysler Royal that somebody made into a hop car. Very few original cars anymore. Newer drivetrains, plus electronic gadgetry has pretty much taken over the old car scene, at least around here. I know, somebody saved them. They should have been allowed to be parts cars and had it done. People have no taste. The things they do to motor vehicles then call them "restored" is mind boggling. I'll get off my soap box now.....

I was parked next to a '60 Pontiac Perisienne, which I believe to be the Canadian version of the Pontiac Bonneville with a Chevy chassis and drivetrain. Originally powered by a 4-barrel Chevy 283 and Powerglide, it now had a 350 three-deuce engine and an aluminum case Powerglide. Pontiac had colorful interiors in those days. The car had Canadian license plates. Many Canadians winter in the area. There was a '63 Galaxie with a 406 with four on the floor, no power steering, no power anything, just all engine. The original Holley carburetor had been replaced by Holley fuel injection. That sure seems to be a popular swap, wonder how well it works? There was the ubiquitous '40 Willys with a big block and slicks. Wonder if any of those cars exist stock? I think they were originally powered by a flathead four out of a Jeep. They were raffling off a '55 Mercury Montclair. They said it was the TOTL model for Mercury. Nice car, no idea who won it. Lots of big block Chevy powered cars there. There was a '67 Impala SS 427 there. It was a vinyl top car originally with a bench seat and column shift for the Turbo 400 trans. Didn't all SS Impalas have bucket seats? It had gauges and factory tach, air, posi, all the goodies. It was pretty original, not all hacked up with aftermarket go=fast geegaws. There was a '65 Mustang with a six, advertised as the slowest Mustang ever built. White with blue interior and very nice. Nicest truck was a '69 GMC Camper Special three-quarter ton pickup with factory "400" big block, air, PS, Hydra Boost brakes, the works. A nice well-cared for original truck. There was a GMC 6500 two ton former tow truck that somebody had made into a "macho pickup". They spent a lot of money is about all I'll say about that. It had a Caterpillar diesel engine in it with automatic transmission.

All in all, it was a good day and a good show. I got the Buick put to bed without getting wet. Looks like it could start raining here any minute. I hope everyone gets home safe and dry.

Sounds like you had a good time. How did Mr. Bentley fair? For the most part, around here, restored classic cars are still classic cars and brought back to life with whatever budget the owner could afford. They make them run first and then start on the body. There are times I will see a smooth-running rust bucket and the next time I see it the front end will be done. The next time I see it the rest of the vehicle is finished. Of course, that might be years in between but at least they continue until it complete and usually look pretty good.

Bill

Mr. Bentley wimped out and went to a babysitter for the day. It was too cool for him to be out that much. He would have been miserable.

I found out this afternoon I have to be in Florence by 6am in February to get on the show lot. That means I have to be at the storage locker at 4am to have time to do what I need to do and get to Florence by 6. They have to start early because of the sheer volume of cars at these shows.

My brain does not accommodate "car show" and "January" together.

Chris Campbell

Mine, either. It's a whopping 12 degrees in nepa with snow on the ground. My garage door is frozen shut and I'm sure the car is happy hibernating.

Hey Greg,

Yes, I too have a hard time wrapping my head around a "January Car Show" (unless it is inside a climate controlled event center).....

The low yesterday was around -15*F (that was the actual air temperature, not the windchill).

Not much car projects for me, just trying to stay warm.

Here's Adam's 1959 Parisienne.... enjoy:

https://youtu.be/4GckOoQd5to?si=e2E3W5RO346KElM_