Wyoming Valley Antique Car Club holds 47th annual antique car and truck display
By Gary Towner | Posted: Thursday, August 21, two thousand fourteen Ten:30 am
Car buffs and “gearheads” viewed antique and classic cars and trucks, hot rods, customs, and motorcycles at the Wyoming Valley Antique Car Club’s 47th annual antique car and truck display Saturday, Aug. Ten the Warsaw Village Park.
“ It was a very nice day, tremendous weather,” Club President Steve Weber said.
Vehicles on the showcase field had to be one thousand nine hundred eighty nine and older, and there were twenty seven classes with very first, 2nd and third place trophies for each class. There were also two special trophies for Best of Showcase and Oldest Vehicle. Those needing that special automotive part, contraption or automobile collectible were able to check out the many vendors present. In fact, according to Weber, there were so many vendors that two extra spaces had to be found. Also, those looking to buy a vehicle could visit the car corral for vehicles circa one thousand nine hundred eighty nine or older.
Model T and Model A Fords greeted visitors as they entered the park, along with the Fords was a one thousand nine hundred twenty three Maxwell was wielded by Allen Pranie from Grand Island. The Maxwell sported a wooden bod and wheel spokes, and all restoration work was done by Pranie. Warsaw’s Mark Milcarek displayed a one thousand nine hundred twenty six Chrysler 50, and a blue one thousand nine hundred thirty seven Packard roadster possessed by Bruce Adams from West Seneca caught everyone’s eye.
Truck fans appreciated Barry and Gigi Chester’s “Half Pete,” a truck sporting a full-size Peterbilt cab and a cut-down Peterbilt front end mounted on an1987 GMC Three/Four ton pickup truck chassis. The truck was powered by a Cummins diesel taken from a Dodge truck. Along with “Half Pete” were several modified trucks and a one thousand nine hundred fifty two Willys Jeep in military trim possessed by Donald McKeown from Warsaw.
A unique vehicle was the one thousand nine hundred seventy seven Paggio Ape (ah’-pay) possessed by John and Michelle Chiaverini from Penn Yan. This lil’ Italian vehicle resembles a cross inbetween a motorcycle and an automobile, and is very collectible in the United States.
Finding a Paggio was featured on the reality demonstrate, “American Pickers,” Chiaverini said.
Another unique vehicle was the seventy eight Plymouth Volare, one of two hundred forty seven produced to honor NASCAR driver Richard Petty. According to proprietor Gerry Haskins from Genesee, Pennsylvania, Plymouth stopped regular production for three days to build the cars April 25, May five and July 17.
The Volare sported two-tone blue paint, blue being a Petty color, a high-horsepower motor, “riveted” fender flares, and Petty’s No. Forty three emblazoned on the side. Dodge also produced one hundred fifty two Aspens to honor Petty, Haskins said, which were painted in two-tone crimson.
Sports car buffs were struck with the large number of Ford Thunderbirds on display. Along with the Thunderbirds were several Corvettes and a one thousand nine hundred eighty six Mercedes Benz possessed by Gregory Hiczewski from West Falls.
Hot rods and customs were on display, including a one thousand nine hundred twenty three Ford “T-bucket” wielded by Frank Fleming, a one thousand nine hundred fifty five Chevrolet belonging to Mike and Gina Gueli from West Seneca, and a one thousand nine hundred seventy Chevelle possessed by Don and Roberta Malecki.
Trophies for each class were sponsored by area businesses. The Best of Demonstrate trophy went to Dennis Bauer for his one thousand nine hundred fifty four Pontiac while John Hauslauer’s one thousand nine hundred fourteen Model T Ford took the Oldest Vehicle trophy.