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American Cars and Father’s Day Thoughts

6/28/2018

Dodge Coronet Super Bee

On Sunday 17th June, I went to Billing Aquadrome to enjoy another event hosted by the American Automobile Club International (AACI). This outing was the sixth such event (previous reviews below) in two years and once again, I had a fine time - the sun was shining, the cars were gleaming and I was smiling.

As usual, and regardless of the day’s label, I was on my own. The rest of my side of the Baldwin family stayed at home – expressing their love by allowing me to do my own thing without interference/hassle. My dad, though without my company, was surrounded by others that love him, so he was okay too.

I wandered around with my camera and spent a few happy hours enjoying the motors. As seems to happen every time, I saw some cool cars, like the Pontiac Catalina or Plymouth Scamp for example, that I had never come across before.

This post’s primary purpose is to share some of the photos (just scroll down if you’d prefer to get to them without delay) but, as is typical of me, I’ll share some other observations/reflections too.

I am becoming more and more convinced that vintage American cars are bigger, bolder, brasher and just better than their British counterparts. From a purely gratuitous viewing perspective anyway (I am discounting fuel economy, environmental pollution, handling etc.), the Yanks beat the Brits hands down. To illustrate, compare the Ford Zephyr Zodiac MKII below to the Chevy Bel Air. Enough said!

A few cars at the show were people magnets; for example, the spotless black Dodge Charger Daytona pictured below had people around it all the time. He had so many folks wanting to speak to him that the owner must have had a sore throat by the end of the day.

On the subject of owners, one thing that I noticed was that many of the vehicles’ primary carers were in their sixties or seventies. That doesn’t surprise me really and here’s why. I am a child of the seventies and the cars I like the most, and would want to own, are from the tail end of the sixties or the seventies. If for a moment, I/we/you accept that I am representative of other classic car folk, it could be anticipated that someone born in the fifties would like vehicles from that decade and the tail end of the forties. It’s a nostalgia thing!

That age observation led my train of thought down another route (route 66 if you like, that’s American and old too) – I hope that the exhibitors in their retirement years have made provisions to ensure that their vehicles continue to be loved by their families when they can’t take care of them themselves anymore. Though a number of vehicles had “for sale” signs in the windows, so I might be touching a nerve here.

Maybe it was just because it was Father’s Day that I reflected on this sensitive subject. My lad for example looked at my photos with a “so what” attitude. He is 15 and couldn’t be less interested in 70s motors. There was me feeling renewed excitement when I flicked through my post event shots, my son, only enduring the experience because it was Father’s Day, was bored after five photos.

If I actually owned one of the vehicles (like the gorgeous Ford Torino below), I know that I couldn’t rely on Mrs B. or the kids to care for it once I needed care myself.

But that’s a depressing thought, so I am going to stop and park it.

What I am not going to stop though is going to this club’s get togethers. The next one is in my diary, it’s at Billing again on the 9th September. Maybe I’ll see you there. Thanks to all those at the AACI for putting on another great show.

Click on any image below to enlarge. High resolution images available, if you'd like one, just get in touch.