The weekend forecast is for scattered rain and thunderstorms, but it won’t disrupt the antique auto show scheduled for Saturday on the streets of downtown New Bern.
Zach Simmons, president of First Capital Chapter at Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), said he’s been in shows for 20 years and hasn’t canceled the show yet due to rain. He does not plan to start this year.
Parts of Middle, Pollock and Craven Streets will be closed to motorists starting at 10 a.m., as the streets line up with precious cars ranging from century-old “Tin Lizzies” to supercharged ’90s muscle cars.
“There will be cruisers, foreign cars, hot rods, pickup trucks and military motorcycles,” Simmons said. “We also have a Morris, which is a rare car today.”
Anticipated entries will span the ages from the 1915 Ford Model T to the 1995 Mustang SVT Cupra, from the 1934 Terrible to the 1947 Lincoln Continental convertible that was the eighth off the assembly line and one of only 24 believed to exist. Classic Ford Thunderbirds, Chevrolet Corvettes, Pontiac GTOs, Studebaker Golden Hawks, and many other American and foreign marquis will also be on display.
Simmons said there are 72 cars registered for the event and another 50 are expected to enter on the morning of the show.
Entries are still accepted in the show. Any 25-year-old vehicle can be entered regardless of make, model or condition, and the owner does not have to be an AACA club member.
The registration fee is $20 per vehicle in advance and $25 on the day of the show. Registration forms are available by visiting ncregionaaca/firstcapital.com, by email at [email protected], or by calling 252-626-0286. Dash boards will be awarded to the first 100 registrants.
“There is something for everyone,” he said. “We have antiques for those who like classics and something for people who like newer cars.”
The exhibition opens to the public at 10 a.m. and ends with the awarding of prizes at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Pollock and Middle Streets.
Cars will be parked on the rear bumper to rein in the tree-shaded streets flanked by boutiques, specialty stores and restaurants housed in classically preserved structures rich with reminders of the city’s 300-plus year past.
Attendees will be within walking distance of attractions such as the North Carolina History Center, Tryon Palace, the Firefighters Museum, a Pepsi Store, the Mitchell Vintage Hardware Store, Civil War sites, and homes dating back to the mid-18th century, including the Stanley House where George Washington fell asleep during his southern tour.
Celebrating the history of cars
Attendees will be introduced to a selection of 2022 cars by Chevrolet New Bern, the show’s main supporter. Several body styles for the current Chevy model year will be displayed at the intersection of Middle and Pollock Streets and in a lot at the corner of Broad and Middle Streets.
The special People’s Choice Award will be presented in honor of Marshall Van Winkle, who founded the local AACA chapter in 1991. Marshall was an avid auto enthusiast who participated in nearly 500 shows, and his Model T spent a year on display in Hershey, Pennsylvania and passed away early the year Present.
There will be a 50/50 fee and a silent auction for prizes donated by local auto parts stores, restaurants, and the golf club. Proceeds from sales will benefit local charities and sponsors of the First Capital Scholarship Program at Craven Community College.
The club has held an annual show since 1992, except in 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 30 performances, two were North Carolina AACA Regional Meetings and six AACA National Meetings, including the Grand National Meetings in 2002 and 2010 and the AACA Southeastern Fall Meet in 2016.
First Capital is one of 14 AACA branches in North Carolina. Headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, AACA is an international organization with members in 41 countries.
Membership is open to anyone interested in car preservation, history, restoration, and maintenance. Owning an antique car is not a requirement for membership. The club meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Moore’s Olde Tyme Barbeque, 3621 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. , New Bern.
“This is a celebration of automotive history that will evoke memories of hand-operated engines, vibrating seats, Continental kits, fender skirts, shift sticks, and 17 cents a gallon of gasoline,” Simmons said, adding that for “three decades” the show was exhilarating. to the public annually attracting thousands of car enthusiasts from across the state.”