Annual Local Car Cruise

Here are some photos from our recent local hometown cruise, which was held on Sunday, August 27, 2017.

We have missed attending this annual cruise only a few times since it started around 1997. We were not able to attend in 2014, but we returned in 2015, 2016 and this year, all thanks to Cousin Mark's long-time friendship with Ron, and his involvement with the GTO for MANY years, for which he has been its Chief Mechanic.   Nothing like having an automotive expert in the family!

For example, several years ago, the carburetor was in trouble and Mark's expertise brought it back to life.  He is one of a very few people today who know how to fix an 'old' carburetor!    And a few years later he utilized his automobile painting skills to remove and expertly repaint the important (and historic) Endura bumper, which after some 40 years had developed some chips and thin cracks - a common situation for this unique design innovation starting with the 1968 GTO.  It created quite a 'buzz' at the time, in the automotive world.  This design eliminated the usual chrome bumper and added a safety factor.   

 Here is a great article about it the Endura bumper:

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2006/07/Endura-Front-Bumper/1296846.html 

Here is Mark's car, the famous 1974 Bricklin, 

which is often mistaken for a DeLorean

because of the gull-wing doors.   It is a very rare car,
and it's amazing that we have one in the family!  
Mark was able to overcome many of the car's issues
which caused its 'poor' reviews.  It's certainly a beautiful
design and is a show-stopper!   

Both the Bricklin and DeLorean had production problems and

were manufactured for only two years, although the Bricklin
had models designated 1974, 1975, and 1976.

(Bricklin 1974-75; DeLorean 1981-83)

 

However, the DeLorean has been 

immortalized in the

'Back to the Future'  movies;

therefore, everyone thinks the gull-winged Bricklin is a DeLorean!

Actually the Bricklin is much more futuristic-looking 
with the 'nose' of the car having 

 hidden headlights cleverly incorporated 

into the distinctive sloped bumper.   

An exceptional article about the Bricklin can be found here:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1974-1975-bricklin-sv1.htm 

However, an earlier gull-wing door car was 

actually produced in 1954 - the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

An amazing design!  

This car cost $11,000 in 1954,  (out of range of average wage earner)

and is worth at least a million today! Very rare!

Catching Up on Car Cruises

BEAVER CRUISE, Saturday,Aug. 5, 2017

It has been several years since I have  added new posts. We have attended only a few cruises since 2013, so I am adding some photos here to keep a record.

Here are some photos from the recent  Beaver cruise on August 5, 2017.   Through the efforts of our cousin and his son-in-law, we were able to attend the cruise, and we are very grateful and appreciative!   

The weather was perfect, and we believe it's the highest-attended cruise ever in Beaver.  One of the great features is that they allow the cars to parade up and down the main street of the town all day long.  You can leave your parked spot, go for a ride, and return to your spot.  Of course, it all depends on the cooperation of others parked around you!   You may be 'locked in due so many cars trying to vie for a spot.    But this annual cruise has become a very popular event in town, and everyone wants to be there!

Happy 48th Birthday to our 1969 GTO !! 

We actually purchased it around this time in mid-August 1969 and drove it out of the dealership sometime around Aug. 25.  We took it for its first 'long ride' on Labor Day 1969.
We also remember visiting our brother while he was moving into college for his Freshman year.

We will never forget seeing it for the first time.  We visited the Pontiac dealership just to 'look at' some cars, and found the showroom empty because they were getting ready for the 1970 Pontiac models to arrive.

This GTO had already been removed to the basement of the dealership, which is where we viewed it,  Even under low-light conditions, it looked beautiful.
We signed some preliminary papers on the spot, then had to wait to pick it up a few days later.  Memories are a little vague about taking it for a test drive.

The above photo is SIGNIFICANT because it is the first time we have had the convertible top down in several years - possibly since 2009.

It's pretty amazing that the electric motor that powers the top is still working.

Unfortunately, we haven't 'polished' the tires for a while, so they look a little 'dusty' here!

And it's been several years since we attended the Beaver cruise, but we have attended the cruise in our home town for the past two years.  (see below).

Of course, we have to put out the food tray.

And the animals!

The goat didn't make this trip!


















Here is a familiar car!

It always draws attention!

Here we are across from each other.
We were lucky to get these spots.

I will soon add photos from the local cruise we attended the past two years.