Celebrating Cars and Cruising

    Back in 1966 I was ready to purchase my first car.  I did not buy a "muscle car" as many of the guys did. My purchase, had I kept it, would fall into a collectible unique category:  the Corvair.  It probably was the first American car that had the engine in the back where the trunk would be.  I think I read that the reason most cars had the engine in the front is because we were following the model of the horse and carriage---the horses were in the front.   Eventually a book was published about the car called "Unsafe at any Speed" by Ralph Nader.  It spelled the demise of this car but today there is a significant number of people who restore and treasure their Corvairs.

 

     During our high school years we often would walk into town after football games or dances and go to local restaurants for sodas, fries and pizza.   As we walked, there was a parade of mostly older guys driving late model Chevy's, Fords, some trucks, or some classic old cars.  They traveled a known route that brought them through the Acme parking lot heading south on Bellevue Ave. crossing the railroad tracks turning west and the crossing over the tracks again and returning to town as they passed by the Central Café.  Parents knew that we would often get a ride from these older guys and I never remember being warned about the dangers of this practice.  I remember T-birds, Rivieras, Barracudas, Corvettes, Javelins, Chargers, GTO's, Mustangs, Cougars, Pintos, Falcons, Camaros and Chevelles.

 

 

Hammonton has had several car events but this one was the first that I attended and I took photos of those parked along Bellevue Ave and those that were cruisin' by.  I made a video using low resolution photos but I wanted these higher resolution photos posted here.  I did not walk along Egg Harbor Road, so I heard later that I missed quite a few that were parked there.  Next time! Here is the link for the club that hosted the event:

 

http://www.cruisinclassics.org/

 

 

 

 

This was not a part of the show but how can you resist.  These commercial trucks are flashy enough for any parade.  Companies are proud of their vehicles so they do not mind going for the added expense to "chromed-up" these powerful vehicles:

 

 

 The parade featured shops and restaurants with special promotions. Paul Morris' dance troupe performed as well:

 

 

 

I know the Salvatores.  I will find out the year and the model and re-post with the info:

 

 

Another special vehicle that is worthy of a spot in the parade:

 

 

My son has one like this in bright blue:

 

 

 

 The Italian Vespa is a fitting attraction in front of Annatto's bar and restaurant:

 

I think she said the dog was afraid of all the cars and people:

 

 

The owner of this vehicle was so agreeable and willing to answer the questions that I had.  He displayed this Texaco scene in his trunk.  Everything was made from scratch.  No toy models here.  Even the people were modeled from wood and hand-painted: