Savage, Minnesota: Classic cars rolling into Community Park on August 12

From the Savage Pacer: Classic cars rolling into Community Park
Now and then, local groups put on little car shows in Savage, but the Chamber of Commerce wanted to create a larger-scale operation that would draw a crowd – enter the 1st Annual Classic Cars in the Park car scheduled for Aug. 12.

“It’ll be a free event and a fun night for the community,” said Lori Anderson, Chamber of Commerce executive director. “We’ll have raffle prizes, con-cessions and sponsor booths.”

If all goes well, the Chamber’s Car Show Committee anticipates 100-200 vintage cars on display from 1979 and older. Awards will be presented in three categories: Best in Show, People’s Choice and Collector’s Choice.

The gates open at 4 p.m. for car registration, and the cost per vehicle is $10. Goodie bags will be given out to the first 100 registrants.

Jason Trout, Chamber and Committee member, plans to have his red 1977 Trans Am on display.

“I’ve been in quite a few shows on my own,” he said.

In fact, over the last several months, Trout has used his car show experience to round up potential car enthusiasts to bring their cars out to the Savage show. He guesses that drivers will come in from a 20-25 mile radius.

“We’ve been going to other car shows and giving out flyers,” said Trout, noting that he’s also posted the event on car show blogs and other networking sites.

“I went to these car shows as a kid,” said Trout. “I always remember that.”

If you go …

What: Classic Cars in the Park car show

When: 5-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12

Where: Savage Community Park, 13500 Dakota Ave.

Info: Free and open to the public. Car show registrants must pay $10 entry fee and registration opens at 4 p.m. For more information call the Savage Chamber of Commerce at (952) 894-8876 or by email at lori@savagechamber.com


Read more: Savage Pacer - Classic cars rolling into Community Park

Engines Roar at Fifth Chatham Car Show

White 1951 Buick, Dark blue 1917 Detroit Electric Car

From Chatham Patch: Engines Roar at Fifth Chatham Car Show
Drivers revved their engines as they rode into Chatham High School Thursday, to show off their vintage and classic motor vehicles for all to see.

Chatham Township's 5th Annual Car Show began started 6:30 p.m. as car owners gathered together to have fun and compare vehicles.

Krazy Kat DJ Productions provided the music, with hit rock classics from The Beach Boys to The Beatles. According to Krazy Kat, he has worked at this event for two years now, a testament to his ongoing popularity and amazing track list.

Cars rolled into the high school's front lot, where they were put on display. Drivers made their way over to the reception area, where they registered their vehicles with Anna M. Riker, President of Riker Conference Connection and the Car Show's event planner.

“We get cars dating back from as early as the 1930's all the way up to present day,” said Riker. “Sometimes, we also get military vehicles to come in, things like Jeeps and motorcycles.”

According to Riker, this year's car show received contributors from all over the state of New Jersey, besides Chatham's usual slew of participants. Riker also advertised the event at other car shows in the area with her son, which helped to increase the number of attendees.

“I started this event five years ago because Chatham didn't really have its own car show,” said Riker. “Every year shows something different, and this year, we have a lot of variety."

Joe Schirripe, one of the many car owners who attended the event, proudly showed off his 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire, a classic beauty sporting a glossy red coat. A Chatham resident, Schirripe came to the car show not just to get his car attention, but also for a much friendlier purpose.

“Being at a car show is all about the comradery between car owners,” said Schirripe. “It's about talking to other drivers and just having fun.”

Pete Van Seggern, another driver, brought in his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, a vintage car donning a coat of sky blue. Seggern, a Florham Park resident, saw the Chatham Car Show as an opportunity to show off his prized possession.

“I got this car back in 1966 and hasn't had a car wash since 1969,” said Seggern.

One car in particular turned several heads. Donald Davidson drove to the show in a 1917 Detroit Electric. According to Davidson, the vehicle was made by the Anderson Electric Car Company and runs completely on electricity. The car is powered by 14 six-volt golf cart batteries and reaches speeds up to 25 mph.

“On normal output, the car can go on for about 60 miles on its own,” Davidson said. “But if pushed to maximum, it can probably travel up to 90 miles.”

Local restaurants provided opportunities to grab a drink or a bite to eat. River Grille volunteered to provide burgers and drinks for the car show's attendees. As an added bonus, a classic ice cream truck rolled in with some frozen delights for the kids. All refreshments were free of charge.

Sponsors of the 5th Annual Car Show included RXR, Comcast, River Grille, Investors Savings Bank, Touchpoint Pediatrics, Kings Super Markets, Short Hills Hilton and Shop Rite, who helped make the event possible, Riker said. Investors Savings Bank had a booth at the car show to lend their support.




“Anna Riker came and asked us to be a sponsor, so I said sure,” said Jill Greg, a branch manager. “We also wanted to get out into the community and help out.”

The Investors Savings Bank offered a bunch of free swag to all those who attended the car show. But as a complement to the community, they held a raffle for a basket prize. The prize included a $25 gas card, a cooler and a blanket.

Attendees voted by paper ballot for their favorite cars, and handed them in to be tallied by judges. Prizes were prepared for two separate categories; the Kid's Choice Awards and the People's Choice Awards.

Among the Kid's Choice Award winners, the 1954 Ice Cream Truck won third place. Second place went to John T. Dean for his 2011 Shelby GT500, and Scott Butler won first place for his 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 s/c.

For the People's Choice Award, John and Ida Sgroi won third place for their 1969 Z-28 Camaro. Second place was stolen by John Carini for his 1965 Ford Mustang. Davidson's 1917 Detroit Electric Car won first place.

The show was temporarily interrupted by a heavy rain shower. Attendees flocked into the high school building, seeking refuge from the sudden surge of rain. After 10 minutes of patient waiting, the storm shortly ran its course, and the event continued without any further hindrance or delay. Another impending storm ended the show ended prematurely at 8:30 p.m. rather than 9:30 p.m. as originally intended.

Classic cars stolen in Grand Prairie

From Daily World: Classic cars stolen in Grand Prairie
Police are asking for the public's help in solving a theft of two classic automobiles in the Grand Prairie community.

The June 24 theft of the two vehicles in that small community are this week's St. Landry Crime Stoppers' crime of the week and a reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to their recovery.

"The vehicles had been left on an old homestead that had not been occupied for a long period of time," said Jimmy Darbonne with Crime Stoppers.

"It is uncertain as to when they were stolen because the owner did not live there and would not go every day."

Darbonne said the stolen vehicles are a green 1954 Mercury and a gray 1962 Chevy Caprice.

"No value can be placed on these vehicles, but the sentimental value alone is priceless," Darbonne said. "If you have any information about this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 948-8477."

Darbonne said tips can also be filed online by going to stlandrycrimestoppers.com or you can send a text message by texting TIPS625, plus your tip, to CRIMES (274637).

All calls are kept confidential and the caller doesn't even need to give their name.

Instead, when a tip is called in, the person is given a code number that is used for all future correspondence.

If that tip leads to the solution of the crime, Crime Stoppers can even arrange for payment of the reward to be made through a third party so the tipster can remain anonymous.

Darbonne said the one exception are commissioned law enforcement officers and members of their immediate families, who are not eligible for crime stoppers rewards.

Alaska Collector Car & Truck Clubs

OldRide.com has a list of 11 of them. Most of them are located in Anchorage, which surprised me - I would have thought there'd be at least one in Fairbanks!

Anchorage - Anchorage Corvette Association
Anchorage - Alaska Sports Car Club
Anchorage - Arctic Aircooled vw Club
Anchorage - Alaska Miata Club (AKMC)
Anchorage - Northern Rush Racing
Anchorage - British Sports Cars Alaska
Anchorage - Midnight Sun Street Rod Assocation
ANCHORAGE - THE CROWD OF ALASKA
Eagle River AK PT - Cruiser Club
Wasilla 49th State - Street Rodders Association
Wasilla - Valley Cruzers

We'll start with the Anchorage Corvette Association.

Here's their website:
http://www.alaskacorvette.com/

Classic Cars Website

I'm busy working on an accompanying website for this blog.

As I find out information for the website, I'll share that info here on the blog too, of course.

So what will be on the website - and here?

1. Classic Car Clubs by State and eventually, country

2. Classic Car Conventions, and/or informal gatherings

3. And of course, what I'm already sharing, classic car news.

4. Also, classic car articles.

What is my definition of classic cars? Anything car that looks cool, frankly.

Dearborn, MI: Classic car buffs take to Telegraph for annual cruise

This has already occurred, but it's an annual event so mark the date for next year.

Detroit Daily News: Classic car buffs take to Telegraph for annual cruise

Dearborn -- Tom Hipple of Dearborn was so excited about today’s classic car cruise on Telegraph he took a pre-event ride last night to check out the best gathering places.

Hipple chose to park his white ’68 Chevelle at Shamrock Automotive on Telegraph in Dearborn to watch the Telegraph Tomorrow Classic Car Cruise. He and his wife, Linda, joined dozens of other car buffs under the shade of a large tent to watch the classic cars drive by.

"It's kind of nice -- it's gotten bigger and bigger," he said. "All the makes and models, it's great."

The cruise, in its seventh year, stretches from Eureka Road in Taylor to Puritan Road in Redford Township. Spectators have gathered in various spots along Telegraph in foldable lawn chairs to watch the cars.

The city of Taylor kicked off the day's event with a parade this morning. Cruising ends at 9 p.m.

Dan Roach, of Tecumseh, Ontario, drove his black '66 Thunderbird to the cruise. He stopped to look under the hoods of the classic cars parked in front of Oxford Lanes in Dearborn.

"I like to see cars you don't see very often," he said, mentioning a 1953 Hudson Hornet he saw earlier in the day. "You don't see those cars around."

Kentucky dreams of classic cars

Lalique hood ornament
From Boston.com: Kentucky dreams of classic cars
By Patricia Harris, Globe Correspondent

After I wrote about my childhood family road trips in the Mother Appreciation Issue (May 8), almost all my friends rushed to tell me about their family vacations, more often than not featuring that automotive emblem of postwar suburbia, the station wagon. But cars of all sorts manage to awaken both memory and desire, as I learned last weekend at the classic car show that''s a popular feature of Lexington, Kentucky's annual Concours d'Elegance. About 250 cars—including 85 examples of the Alfa Romeo marque that was featured at this year's event—took over the lawns of Keeneland's thoroughbred race course.

Bob Lykins had brought his 1930 Model A. He often gives rides to his grandchildren (talk about a family road trip!), but gets an even bigger kick out of taking local veterans out for a spin. ''One old gentleman told me that he could remember the sound of his father turning his Model A into the driveway after work while his mother was cooking dinner. It was such a happy memory,'' Lykins told me.


But cars are surely also the stuff of dreams. Young boys and middle-aged men alike seemed ready to squeeze behind the wheel of sleek race cars, while a few women (my friend Patti and I among them) dreamed of driving the Amalfi coast in a zippy Alfa Romeo with red leather suitcases made to match the red leather upholstery.

And who wouldn't dream about possessing a 1930s Rolls Royce coupe, a dark green 1941 Dodge Custom Coupe with its gullwing hood, or a 1938 Packard Super Eight with a Lalique hood ornament that lights up in the dark? ''Sometimes I go into the garage at night and just look at it,'' the Packard owner admitted. ''It's just so pretty.''

UK: Salon Privé draws in classic car enthusiasts at Syon Park

From the Telegraph: Salon Privé draws in classic car enthusiasts at Syon Park
If you want to see the very finest of a kind, only certain events will do. The Oscars if you’re a film lover; the Paris catwalk shows if you’re a fashionista – and Salon Privé if you’re a classic car enthusiast.

This – the fourth event in the BMW 6 Season, heralding the launch of the BMW 6 Series – is the sort of car show where the contents of the car park alone would win several prizes (and have done), and where the gleam from all the highly-polished bonnets must cause quite a distraction to Heathrow-bound aircraft.

Held this year in the gracious grounds of Syon Park, west London, Salon Privé has become a fixture on the circuit for those global car aficionados whose plans revolve not only around whether to visit the house on Lake Geneva or the apartment in Monaco, but whether to drive the classic coupé or the race-tuned supercar when they get there.

It has several major features: a prestigious auction for those with a few yen, dollars or dinar to add to their dream garage; a showcase of modern elite vehicles, from frankly terrifying 200mph supercars to unimaginably luxurious limousines; and a concours d’elegance competition, where the most highly pampered and perfectly prepared examples of the world’s classics battle it out to be crowned the best of the best.

These thoroughbreds are coaxed by teams of experts into better-than-new condition, their provenance is triple-checked and every tiny detail honed to utter perfection.

There are legendary tales of engineers painstakingly filing down the undersides of screws, for instance, so that when they are tightened to the correct torque their slotted heads all line up exactly. This is car maintenance raised to the level of an art form.

And, of course, while the cars are the stars of Salon Privé, the people who come to see them, and to be seen doing so, are equally elegant. From global royalty to rock stars, and from those endowed with old money to those with youth and beauty, the lawns of Syon Park were awash with champagne-sipping glitterati.

The English weather did its best to put a damper on the event at the start, so those standing by with sponges and chamois leathers were delighted when the sky cleared and the attendees were able to swap large umbrellas for oversized sunglasses.

And the team showing off the new BMW 6 Series Convertible were equally very happy to lower the roof and impress the onlookers with its summery elegance.

Even among a collection of the world’s finest cars, its sleek leather interior garnered plenty of admiring glances.

Meanwhile, the owner of one of the many BMW classics in the car park was being awarded a prize – his cherished motor was voted ‘the car most people would like to go home in’. In truth, almost every vehicle at Salon Privé came into that category.

Lehigh Valley: Car Crazy car shows and cruises July 14 to 21

From Lehigh Valley Live: Car Crazy car shows and cruises July 14 to 21
ALLENTOWN | America on Wheels Museum, 5 N. Front St., will host a slot car show with East Coast HO Road Racing 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Participants can race cars on a custom track. A championship race will be held 3 p.m. Saturday. Slot car vendors will be on site. Admission is $7, adults; $5, seniors; $3.50, ages 6 to 16; free to ages 5 and under.

Information: americaonwheels.org, 610-432-4200.

ALLENTOWN | Blue Mountain Classics will hold a cruise with DJ Hodge-Podge Variety Music 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ritz Barbecue at the Allentown Farmers Market, 1725 Chew St.

Information: 610-791-3642.

ALLENTOWN | Found in the 60s Car Club will hold a cruise to benefit Canine Partners for Life with trophies, 50/50 drawing and door prizes 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Queen City Diner, 1801 Lehigh St.

BALLY, Pa. | The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation will hold its first antique and classic car show and block party to raise awareness and support breast cancer research 11 a.m. July 24 at the Bally Hotel, 600 Main St. (Route 100). The event will feature participant-judged trophies, live music, food, wing eating contest, 50/50 drawings and children's activities.

Information: 610-845-0100.

BELVIDERE | Warren Hills Future Farmers of America alumni will hold its sixth annual rain-or-shine car show 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 31 at the Warren County Farmers Fair, 165 Route 519. Registration is $15 by Sunday; $20, day of show.

Information: 908-213-0568, warrencountyfarmersfair.org.

BETHLEHEM | Lehigh Valley Legends will hold a cruise 5 p.m. Friday at the Westgate Mall on Schoenersville Road. Rain date is July 22.

Information: lehighvalleylegends.net.

CLINTON | Unity Bank, 64 Old Highway 22, will host the fifth Cruisin' Bob's Classic Car Show to benefit Interfaith Hospitality Network and ARC of Hunterdon County 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature music by Doctor D. Entertainment, games, prizes, food and chances for the bank's Blizzard of Dollars booth.

Information: unitybank.com/carshow, 908-713-4568.

COOPERSBURG | Coopersburg Diner, 336 N. Third St. (Route 309), will host a free cruise open to all vehicles with trophies for best looking cars 5 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Information: 610-972-9468.

COOPERSBURG | Crossroads Harley-Davidson, 5118 Route 309, will hold a car and motorcycle cruise to benefit Animal Health and Welfare with DJ Hodge-Podge Variety Music 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Information: 610-261-2123.

DANIELSVILLE | Edgemont Acres Mini Golf & Ice Creamery, Mountain View Drive (Route 946), will hold a cruise with 50/50 drawing, food and music 5 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Information: 610-264-9966.

FORKS TWP. | Lehigh Valley Region Antique Automobile Club of America will host a cruise with live band, door prizes and cruiser jackpot 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Bella Luna Restaurant, 3417 Sullivan Trail. Rain date is July 25.

Information: 610-252-1656, lvraaca.com.

FRANKLIN TWP. | Home Plate Dairy, 2664 State Route 57, will hold its weekly classic cruise night open to custom and classic cars and trucks 5 to 8 p.m. today. A 50/50 drawing will benefit a local Franklin Township organization.

Information: 908-859-1725.

LOPATCONG TWP. | Sammy's Drive In, Route 22 West across from Phillipsburg Mall, will host a classic car cruise 2 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 908-454-4244.

NAZARETH | The Lehigh Valley Thunderbird Club will hold its 11th annual Nazareth Days car show 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Nazareth Borough Park. Rain date is Monday.

Information: 610-218-1500.

PHILLIPSBURG | Joe's Steak Shop, 274 Main St., will hold a cruise 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Information: 908-454-9545.

POHATCONG TWP. | Pocono Mountain Cruisers will host a Christmas in July cruise open to all cars and motorcycles with DJ music and door prizes 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Ruby Tuesday's at Wal-Mart Plaza on Route 22 East. Proceeds will benefit prostrate and breast cancer research. A collection of nonperishable foods will benefit local food banks.

Information: 908-380-2679.

SNYDERSVILLE, Pa. | Jane's Ice Cream, Business Route 209, will host a Monroe County Cruisers car cruise with 50/50 drawing, door prizes, trophy and food 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Information: 484-542-6895.

TATAMY | The Tatamy Historical Society annual rain-or-shine car, truck and street rod show with food and entertainment will be held 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 31 on Broad Street. Participants' choice trophies will be awarded in 10 categories. Dash plaques to first 100 registrants. Registration cost is $9 until July 15; $15 on day of show.

Information: 610-258-3380, 610-759-6268.

U. MACUNGIE TWP. | Lone Lane Park, 30 Lone Lane, will host a free cruise open to all vehicles 7 p.m. Friday with showing of the movie "Grease" at 9 p.m. Rain date is Saturday.

Information: uppermac.org, 610-395-4892.

New Jersey: Canlan classic car show raises funds to help area young people

The Daily Journal (Vineland, Millville and Greater Cumberland County): Canlan classic car show raises funds to help area young people
VINELAND -- Bud Sulzman relives his glory days of high school each time he fires up his turquoise 1954 Bel Air.

So, the 1954 Vineland High School graduate made sure not to miss the first-ever Spring Fling Festival and Classic Car Show at Canlan Ice Sports in Vineland Saturday.

The Vineland resident rarely passes up a chance to show off the glorious ride known to turn heads.

"The flashbacks are good ones," Sulzman said.

The event gave those nostalgic for automobiles like Sulzman a moment in the sun while benefiting area youth.

All proceeds raised from a $15 entry fee for classic car owners, in addition to funds gained from vendors, went to children's programs at Vineland First Church of the Nazarene, event organizers said.

More than 30 classic cars were entered Saturday.

Oldies music blared throughout the parking lot as the colorful paint jobs shone and chrome bumpers sparkled for dozens of attendees. Inside, Canlan Ice Sports offered discounted rates for kids at their bounce area.

The Reinbott family of Vineland learned about the classic car show after seeing a flier for it at a recent birthday party at Canlan.

"We're car fanatics," said Keith Reinbott, alongside wife Domenica holding 4-year-old daughter Brianna.

"Well, mostly just me," he said with a laugh. "It's a good day to spend together as a family."

Organizers from Vineland First Church of the Nazarene, at 2725 Delsea Drive, said they strive to put kids first.

"We live in the poorest county in the state and there are so many bad things for kids to get into around here," said Pastor Chuck Serbeck. "We hope to provide somewhere positive to learn and form relationships at. It's a vital part of what we do."

The church said it plans to use all proceeds to pay for Vacation Bible School, Family Fun Nights, future Christmas events and a basketball program.

The car show fundraiser was a first for the church. They said whatever profit they make they'll be happy with and are already excited about holding it next year.

Canlan Ice Sports Sales and Marketing Manager Lisa Haught explained that by working with "great organizations" like churches gets their name out there while "fostering goodwill in the community."

Vintage car show beaming its way to Main Street

Interior News: Vintage car show beaming its way to Main Street
Shiny chrome, supple leather, and big engines will be flooding Smithers’ Main Street Friday as the BMW Vintage and Classic Car Club of America makes their way through the Bulkley Valley.

Since 2004 the club has been organizing the annual rally that in 2011 will take them from Vancouver to Vancouver Island, where they’ll catch the ferry to Prince Rupert and carry on to Jasper and Banff before making their way back to Vancouver, and the U.S. border. Club members who take the trip must own a BMW that is 25 years or older.

B.V. Museum Director Fergus Tomlin said he was contacted by the club, who had read about the Gasoline Valley exhibit and wished to know more.

After he told them of how the first vehicle came to the valley overland in 1911, they were intrigued by the story. So intrigued that they agreed to stay and host a parade.

“They’re over the moon about this because it’s the only place on their entire journey where people are making a big noise about them,” Tomlin said. “So they’re really excited to come to Smithers.”

The drivers will arrive in Smithers on July 14 for a tour guided by Tomlin through Gasoline Valley. From there, the fun starts on July 15 at 9 a.m. when the cars will begin to line our Main Street. Tomlin thanked the Smithers Merchants for making such a thing possible for the Smithers tour.

For two hours, the cars will be on static display on Main Street, some of which have come from as far away as Germany, the United Kingdom or Switzerland to take part in this rally, although most are from the U.S. The latest numbers indicate that 34 cars will be making the tour, the oldest a 1937 model.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet these people,” Tomlin said, who noted the drivers, many of whom have not been to this area previously, will be with their cars available for questions and discussion.

At 11:30 a.m., the drivers will start their engines for a parade down Main Street. After a couple of laps they’ll then make their way through the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District to Prince George for the night, before carrying on to Alberta.

After the show, Tomlin encouraged those who enjoyed the show to continue to enjoy all that Smithers has to offer by taking part in the Culture Crawl that includes the Gasoline Valley exhibition. He’s anticipating this event to not only draw in locals but those in the region as well.

“It doesn’t end with the parade,” Tomlin said.

Culture Crawl pamphlets are available from the museum.

Who stole the Andy's Deli car?

10Wistv.com: Who stole the Andy's Deli car?

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Just like the fountain, some say it's a Five Points landmark of sorts - A 1972 classic car that sits in front of Andy's Deli. Now, it's gone and the owner wants to know what happened to it.

It may have looked like business as usual for Andy Shlon Monday afternoon, but despite the steady crowd, something was missing. "I told my wife, 'My car is gone!'" said Shlon. "She said, 'no, you're kidding!' and I said, 'No, the car is gone.'"

The Lebanese business owner has been greeting customers at his deli since 1978. He bought two classic cars several years back, a 1940's Chrysler and a 1972 Chevy. That Chevy Caprice two-door convertible was stolen Saturday morning from right in front of Andy's home.

It may seem like a material loss, but Andy's son says he saw his dad tear up for the first time. "That car was his pride and joy," said Shlon's son, Andy. "I can remember when I was in first grade for elementary school, going to Hardee's and going in there, eating my biscuit in it, then he would drive me to school."

"I always kept it in good shape and worked hard to keep it running," said Shlon. "It will not drive for another person, it was an old car for an old man."

Andy has filed a police report, but so far, no leads. He just can't understand how someone stole it right from in front of his house.

As for who has it, Andy doesn't so much care. "I say bring my car back to me and I will thank you very much and I might reward you for bringing it back," pleaded Shlon.

If you have spotted the car, you are urged to call Columbia Police at (803) 545-3500.

Classic Car Stolen From El Paso Body Shop

KFOX 14: Classic Car Stolen From El Paso Body Shop
EL PASO, Texas -- An El Paso man took his classic car to a body shop for repairs, but never got it back.

"It's a 1967 dark green Chevy Biscayne, 44 years old and has a lot of meaning to me. I just want my car back," said Ray Schweitz, the owner of the classic car.

In February, Schweitz took his Chevy to Angel's Auto Service to put in a new motor and begin restoring the classic car.

"Months have gone by, and now it’s July. I was informed two weeks ago that my car is gone. I asked why it took so long, and it was just one excuse after another," said Schweitz.

Shweitz reported his car stolen after Padilla told him it was missing.

Schweitz said, "They told me it was ready to go and they parked it in front of their shop. They turned around and it was gone?"

KFOX14 tried to contact the owner to ask more questions about the car's mysterious disappearance. Phone numbers called had changed and or where disconnected.

Finally KFOX14 went to the shop and found it was no longer there but relocating.

KFOX14 received a call from, Gabriel, the son of the owner and mechanic who had worked on the Chevy after taking the search to Facebook. Gabriel Padilla said, "I parked the car in front. The next couple of days I didn't see the car there so I figured he already picked it up."

KFOX14 asked if the keys to finished cars were just left in the inside and if this had every happened before. He said there never was and customers have always just picked up their cars in that manner.

Gabriel Padilla also said, “There are a couple of old cars in there, and people would stop by to window shop all the time. It was nothing out of the norm."

Despite miscommunication between the shop and owner, both said they have remained in contact.

"They've been working with me to try and get the car back and also offered restitution, which to me, it's not about the money," said Schweitz.

KFOX14 asked Padilla why they offered to reimburse Schweitz if the car was stolen. He said, “because he's a good guy and I've had a truck stolen, and I didn't get reimbursed for squat."

But Schweitz told KFOX14, "I just want my car back."

If you know anything about the stolen Chevy or have seen it, you can call the El Paso Police Departments Auto Theft Task Force at 915-298-9600.

Young drivers learn stick shift in classic cars in Dearborn

THe Detroit News: Young drivers learn stick shift in classic cars in Dearborn
Dearborn— Sixteen-year-old Nathan Goocher received a crash course in driving a manual transmission Friday — something he had done only in video games before.

The Riverview resident was among 35 drivers ages 16 to 20 who learned the intricacies of shifting while driving and motoring in vintage cars, thanks to the inaugural Hagerty Driving Experience at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn.

Hagerty Insurance Agency LLC, a Traverse City-based insurer of vintage and collector cars, had good reason to teach young drivers about manual transmissions.

Roughly 90 percent of new cars are equipped with an automatic transmission, so many young drivers never have the opportunity to drive a manual, the company said.

Friday also happened to be Collector Car Appreciation Day, a fitting time to instill a love of classic cars in the young.

"People of all ages like old cars, but not everyone gets to drive one, so here's their chance to drive an old car," said Jonathan Klinger, a Hagerty spokesman.

Friday's lessons began with a quick classroom explanation of the gear shifter and that funny left pedal. Then students split into two groups. While one group drove classic and modern cars, from a 1928 Packard Phaeton to a 2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe, the other learned basic car maintenance.

Glynette and Barry Wolk, of Farmington Hills, provided their 1955 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

"I remember being this age, and I remember being so excited about old cars," said Glynette Wolk, whose love of cars began as a teenager.

"I'm just excited to give other people this chance."

Although the thought of teens driving the Porsche gave her some pause, she found them very respectful.

The test drives were tailored mainly to novices, but Hagerty also kept experienced teens on their toes.

For instance, the 1940 Buick Super Convertible had the gear shifter on the steering column instead of the floor.

"It was interesting because I was never familiar with the three-on-the-tree shift pattern," said Quinn Culbertson, 17, of Farmington Hills.

Other old car intricacies include a stiffer clutch, less-than-accurate gear shifter and a tighter steering wheel, but the biggest difference, Klinger said, is the lack of modern electronic functions like antilock brakes and stability control.

"The old car is going to do exactly what you tell it to do," he said.

For those who preferred electronic assistance, or simply admired the modern design, there were more recent manual transmissions available.

Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, provided his 2011 Camaro SS Convertible.

He knows that a lot of people really enjoy driving manuals, so he wanted to help teens conquer the clutch.

"Getting over the hump is sometimes a little challenging," he said.

Man Stole Antique Cars [from] Client for Four Years

Pix11: Man Stole Antique Cars [from] Client for Four Years

MINEOLA, N.Y. (PIX11)— A classic car repairman has been charged with grand larceny for stealing three 1930’s cars, selling them, and keeping the money, said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice Thursday.

Joseph Simeona, 71, of Torrington, Conn., owned a Glen Cove business called Simeone Classic cars, Inc. The store would repair and restore antique cars.

Between October 1997 and November 2010, Simeone stole three classic cars and cash from a client that totaled more than $250,000. The cars included a 1934 Ford Roaster, a 1936 Ford Phaeton, and a 1939 Ford Cabriolet convertible.

After Simeone sold the vehicles he would put a tarp over similar sized vehicles and fool the owner into thinking they were the real thing. These fake shells were kept in difficult to reach parts of the garage. Simeone also painted half of each fake car in case anyone wanted to verify the vehicle.

Simeone also continued to charge the client for using his garage for storage until 2010 even though the cars had been sold.

The client he stole from had been bringing Simeone business since the mid-1990s.

A private investigator realized what was going on in 2010 after being hired by the client to check on his vehicles.

“This defendant was playing a literal shell game to hide his crimes, dupe his victim, and pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen cash,” Rice said. “Thanks to the work of the members of my office’s Auto Theft and Fraud Unit, Mr. Simeone will not be able to hide any longer.”

If convicted, Simeone could face up to 15 years in prison, said Rice.

Jacksonville MOPAR man's reputation of meticulous restorations of old cars

Jacksonville.com: Jacksonville MOPAR man's reputation of meticulous restorations of old cars

By Dan Scanlan

Jacksonville MOPAR man's reputation of meticulous restorations of old cars
Chuck Smith's love of MOPAR is all over his muscle car-filled AWR Restorations garage off Commonwealth Avenue, from a Plum Crazy 1970 Dodge Charger R/T to the Sublime 1971 Dodge Super Bee.

There's even a MOPAR joke in the airplane-shaped pedal car hung in one corner, as Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote drops an Acme bomb on the (beep-beep!) Road Runner on a poster below.

You see, MOPAR is the MOtor PARts and service arm of Chrysler, synonymous with its muscle cars of the 1960s through today. MOPAR has been legendary in NASCAR as well, from Richard "The King" Petty winning 200 races, most in Plymouths and Dodges, to the five Dodge Charger-shaped racers in Saturday's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

A MOPAR was a teenage Smith's first — a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Now, dozens of cars later, skills he started learning to keep that Road Runner running have led to a busy career restoring others' muscle cars.

And the man who once owned seven MOPARS at one time? He has none now, and that's just fine with him.

"That's the bad thing about a car guy, especially if he does it for a living," he said. "If you have a car that needs work, the last thing you want to do is work on it because you do it eight hours a day. ... I am having fun working on other people's cars and helping them."

Smith's restorations are so meticulous they even include the paint marks assembly line workers put on cars to make sure the right parts were installed down the line. That's why legendary drag racer "Big Daddy" Don Garlits gave Smith's 1971 Plymouth GTX a Best of Show at a recent show at his Ocala museum. That Dodge Super Bee won Garlits awards as well.

"It is very nice to have someone make sure a car is restored to save them for future generations," Garlits said. "I like the authenticity of them and the great pains he takes to put them back the way the way were made."

Smith credits his brother's muscle cars, such as a 1970 Dodge ("awesome car; wish he still had it!") Challenger R/T, for starting his interest almost 40 years ago in Dunkirk, N.Y. Working at a gas station at age 16, he kept wrenching until he joined the Navy at age 23. That brought him to Jacksonville, where he mustered out four years later and worked for years at a company that made convertibles for General Motors, then a carpet pad maker and a wire and cable company.

Cars were still part of his life.

"From when I was 16 until about eight years ago, I have had 47 MOPARs," he said. "I worked on other people's cars and I drag-raced them out of Pecan Park, and unfortunately out here on Imeson Road late at night."

He started full-time car restoration about nine years ago, opening a tiny shop on Leon Road. His current 8-year-old operation is now filled with cars in various stages of restoration, such as a 1968 Dodge Dart convertible starting its new life, to the award-winning Sublime Super Bee with Air Grabber hood scoop that rises to show painted teeth. Then there's the freshly painted gold coupe.

It's no muscle car, more like the regular family cars that Chrysler based its monsters on. This 1974 Plymouth Duster is the proverbial "driven to church on Sunday" grandma's car, delivered June 25, 1974, to Fern Casteel in Illinois. She was Clifford Claypool's grandmother, and it's the first car he ever drove, at age 14.

Laid up for 12 years and getting dusty and rusty, the car has only 29,000 miles on the clock, and Claypool wants it restored to showroom new as an homage to his grandmother. So starting three years ago, Smith has redone the Duster's body and found an original yellow-green snakeskin vinyl top, like the car carried new.

Other work replicates the assembly line finish the car had when new. That includes dribbled black sealant on the firewall, the "G-60/15" crayon mark inside the trunk lid that told what spare tire size the car should have, and black tape securing a wire on a trunk hinge.

"That's what people want, especially if they restore a car. They want it factory original right down to the QA marks and down to the messiness," Smith said. "Of course they want a beautiful paint job, but they still want the factory markings. This is actually the original tape that they used back then."

That level of restoration is important, said Garlits, whose museum houses many classic cars, as well as dragsters and racing memorabilia.

"It lets people see how the car was when it was at the showroom," Garlits said. "Some people are adamant about them that way, and it is nice when you know where to put the crayon marks."

That also means Smith has to research every aspect of how these cars were built, plus dissect each one to see how it was built.

"This car alone [the GTX], I probably have 1,500 pictures of this car coming apart, going back together and some oddities that some of the mega-shops don't even know about," Smith said.

"I love his work. He is meticulous in his detail and it is unbelievable the research he does," Claypool said. "It is slow work, but you can't rush quality."

Claypool plans to reveal his grandmother's restored car at the Cruisin' Mopars of Jacksonville show Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Baymeadows Junction shopping center.

The rest of AWR Restorations is filled with odds and ends of automobilia, from trophies near freshly painted engines to parts stored overhead on a balcony.

And not every project is MOPAR. Smith says he loves classic Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs. He even has a former U.S. Post Office Jeep that he's fixing for a customer.

England: Buying classic cars as an investment

The Telegraph: Buying classic cars as an investment

Mike Rutherford
In a corner of Sussex yesterday afternoon, Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 auction of Collectors' Motor Cars, Watches and Automobilia presented a golden opportunity to secure a motoring bargain.

At Goodwood, lovely old stopwatches carrying estimates as low as £33 apiece have been spotted sitting alongside items such as a Tag Heuer chronograph wristwatch that's closer to £5,000 territory.

For collectable cars on sale at the breathtakingly beautiful Sussex estate, think as low as £6k-£8k (for a 1998 Rover Mini Cooper 'Sports Pack' edition) or as high as £300k-£400k (1967 Aston Martin DB6 Volante Convertible).

But Festival of Speed-goers are also expected to be leaving Goodwood later this weekend with more accessible and affordable automotive memorabilia and ephemera such as genuine, decades-old motorsport posters (from £40), limited edition motorsport books or magazine collections (£100), an extremely rare and signed Ayrton Senna Christmas card (£300-£400) and what has to be the giveaway of the summer – a Williams F1 OZ rear wheel and tyre, complete with authenticity certification, for just £80-£120. Imagine both – wheel and framed certificate – on the wall of your garage, your downstairs loo, even your lounge.

The all-important classic cars selling at Goodwood are too numerous to list in full, but worth a mention are a 1984 Aston Martin Lagonda at £20k-£25k, 1971 Jenson Interceptor MkII (£18-£22k), '58 Facel Vega HK500 Coupé (£20-£30k), '67 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 (£20k-£25k) and white Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8 Competition Coupé for £50-£70k.

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As Goodwood unapologetically admits, "the annual Bonhams' sale attracts the high rollers, and the dreamers, to its auction of the rarest and most valuable classic cars". The phrase "money no object" isn't quite mentioned by Lord March and his team, but he and they come close to using it. And that's fair enough because, unlike this column, the current Goodwood Festival of Speed and Car Buying is not about penny-pinching.

Later this summer, however, I'll be doing precisely that as I'll be concentrating, among other things, on the most affordable end of the collectors' car market where as little as £200 is enough to buy you a vehicle – albeit a modest one crying out for repairs and more than a little TLC – that just about qualifies as a modern classic. Fiat 124 that's almost half a century old, or late '80s Rover 800 Vitesse anyone?

Also, I'll be naming some of the old cars that are wise investments which will be comparatively kind to your finances. And at the same time I'll be shaming the classics that will inevitably burn a hole in your pocket.

There can be worthwhile tax and insurance advantages when owning and running a car of a certain age, too. And again, over the summer I'll be touching on these and related points, along with spelling out how a classic can be part of a pension portfolio. Or can it?

Meanwhile, I have to tell you that's it regrettable – but not surprising when you think about it – that the overwhelming majority of car owners (regardless of whether their vehicles fall into new, less than a decade old, or classic categories) are sitting on automotive assets that depreciate rather than appreciate in value.

True, there can be the odd exception to the rule. For example, I've recently been reliably informed by somebody in the know that about seven years ago the Porsche 964 RS could be snapped up for about £15k-20k, yet the same model is pushing £100k today.

And of course, it goes without saying that the above-mentioned Aston DB6 bought in '67 for only a few thousand pounds didn't turn out to be a bad buy in view of its value today of up to £400k.

If the auction at Goodwod is anything to go by, ageing Porsches with heavyweight supercar looks but featherweight price tags of only a grand or two are now a thing of the past.

For example, the 928 S4 should be able to be picked up for as little as £2,000 or just over £7,000 tops, according to up-to-the-minute estimates from respected price guide experts. Yet this weekend's Bonhams catalogue has a 1990 version selling for a hefty £8k-£12k.

Another possible future classic is the sublime, hugely underrated Citroën C6. It was a circa £30k car when new about five years ago, but can be had for nearer £5k today – in theory at least – thereby making it an obvious and ideal potential classic. So far, so good.

But these elegant saloons were sold in such tiny numbers that they're available in even smaller volumes used. So, in theory a C6 is a hell of a used buy but in reality you'll struggle – and then some – to find a used example for sale.

If I were putting up to £10,000 into a modern or potential classic I'd go for something built and sold in larger, but not enormous, quantities. For example, an early 2000s Audi TT Coupé or Roadster at £6k. Or better still, and for only a grand or two more, a Porsche Boxster from the same era.

These pocket supercars both hail from the two finest manufacturers in Germany, and the fact that such seriously good hardware can be picked up for this sort of modest money or even less in mid-2011 is astonishingly good news for the consumer who's thinking of dipping a toe into the potentially wallet-busting classic car waters.


* Car and motorsport nuts missing out on Goodwood and the Bonhams sale this weekend should worry not.

That's because plenty of classics of similar price, quality and stature – and perhaps even those that failed to sell at Goodwood – will be going under the Silverstone Auctions hammer on July 23.

The fact that this sale coincides with the Silverstone Classic race weekend at the Northamptonshire circuit is the icing on the cake.

A week from now I'll have more details on the event, plus the cars and bikes being sold at it by Great Brits such as Eric Clapton and Sir Stirling Moss.

These days, just as a car's value is deflated heavily by occupants who make the costly mistake of smoking inside it, it's value can be greatly inflated by the people who have sat in or, better still, driven it.

That's why I loaned my Golf GTI to Stirling Moss for a weekend a couple of decades ago (when I was his ghost writer), in return for a pic of him sitting behind the wheel.

And I used that as a selling point when I sold the car – it certainly added a few hundred to its value.

Days may be numbered for old American cars in Cuba

Jalopnik: Days may be numbered for old American cars in Cuba

Tom Joslin - Authorities in Cuba have proposed laws that could mean an end for many of the classic American cars that are still in use in the country. Under current Cuban law, cars registered after the 1959 revolution cannot be bought or sold. As a result Cubans have used a mixture of ingenuity and backyard engineering to keep the fleet of pre-1959 American cars on the island running.

Although to the rest of the world the notion of old cars lining the streets of Cuba is a romantic one, Cubans have no other choice. Many would jump at the opportunity to drive a newer car if the option is made available to them. That is exactly what the proposed law would do, allowing Cubans to purchase any car they want.

The laws are expected to be passed by Cuban parliament by the end of the year. When they go into effect they will bring several improvements to the Cuban way of life, but also signal the end for many of Cuba's old cars. Many will likely be abandoned for newer and better vehicles while most of the more desirable models will likely be exported to collectors. While the introduction of newer vehicles will likely take time, it would seem the days of old American cars lining the streets of Cuba are probably numbered.

London, England: Classic cars set to take over Chelsea on Sept 4

EasierCars: Classic cars set to take over Chelsea
Enthusiasts are so keen to show off their gleaming classic cars at London’s premier motoring event [on September 4] that the organisers have been swamped with entries.

A special Showground area of Chelsea AutoLegends – to be held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, on Sunday 4 September – has been set aside to allow members of the public display their unusual and rare cars.

But the idea has become so popular that, with close to 200 confirmed entries, the Showground is already almost full. As well as Ferraris, Porsches, Maseratis and Lamborghinis, there will be examples of classic British marques such as Jaguar, AC, Lotus, Triumph and MG.

And there are some genuine rarities including a 1955 Swallow Doretti and a 1963 Fiat 900T van that once served the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team.

“The response from enthusiasts has been fantastic. We have been overwhelmed with some great cars, everything from supercars and sports cars to those family saloons so commonplace in the 1960s, but hardly ever seen today,” said Chairman Eric Verdon-Roe.

“With the Showground now nearing capacity we are reserving the remaining slots for very special cars that reflect three main themes of this year’s Chelsea AutoLegends.”

Held a stone’s throw from London’s King’s Road, many of the displays at the show will feature cars, events and fashions from the 1960s. There’ll be tributes to the Jaguar E-type, celebrating its 50th birthday this year, and to another 50-year-old, the Mini Cooper.

“We have reserved some Showground places for unusual Minis and Jaguars. If anyone has a Mini-based special, such as a Unipower GT or Mini Marcos, we’d love to hear from them. We would also like more Minis once owned by somebody famous – a Beatle or Peter Sellers perhaps – or a Cooper or E-type with a competition or interesting history,” said Verdon-Roe.

Chelsea AutoLegends will be packed with motoring memories. The event Patron is Sir Stirling Moss OBE, who will be joined by two-wheel ace Phil Read with other great motorsport names to be announced over the coming weeks.

But the cars and bikes will be the real stars. More than 30 classic Le Mans racers will be on display alongside countless other important historic machines. There’ll be displays of the brutal Group B rally cars of the 1980s and the ten most significant road cars of all times.

There will be cavalcades of supercars and classic bikes arriving at the show during the day, while themed displays include a special tribute to some of the British ‘Patrons’, the private race team entrants of the Fifties and Sixties, who took on the factory teams… and often won.

Tickets for this year’s Chelsea AutoLegends are now on sale either via the event’s new website (ChelseaAutoLegends.com). Those pre-booking can take advantage of considerable savings with adult tickets priced at £15 in advance rather than £20 on the gate. Underlining the event’s family entertainment values, accompanied children aged under 12 will be admitted free of charge.