A particularly good local car show

This is quite representative of the car show experience, isn’t it? I rather like this photo.
This is quite representative of the car show experience, isn’t it? I rather like this photo.

**EPIC PHOTO DUMP**

Last summer, I visited my town square for one of its routine arts and music festivals. Unusually, they had dedicated a much larger section to classic cars than usual, and my goodness did some fantastic rides turn out from all over the world. From France to Japan to Europe to America, this smallish show somehow had it all.

Advertisement

I hadn’t joined Oppo at the time, but I figured I could do a writeup in the dead of winter to lighten things up a little.

Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show
Advertisement

Is that a pristine Toyota Liteace? In Georgia? I talked to the owner and found out it is all orginal! Yup, this squeaky clean little (slightly above kei class) Japanese mini truck has never been restored. Let’s take a closer look.

Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show
Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show

How did the rubbers survive this well, even out of the elements? The owner specified it came this way straight from Japan. And now the interior. Oh!

Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show

How the devil. . .

And wait, is that a Citroën 2CV? Why does it look. . . off? I wrote about this in a separate post.

Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show
Advertisement

As for the top picture, there was a Ford Fairlane 500 hardtop convertible there with the top halfway up. I’ve never seen so much wasted space on a car, but it was simply breathtaking.

Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show
Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show

That is a beautiful color on that car, isn’t it? Take note of just how little space in the trunk can be used. That metal box is all you get.

Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show

I have no exterior photo of this classic Rolls, but I did capture the opulent interior. LHD is for chumps who have to drive themselves (actually the opposite is true in Japan. Offside steering wheels are a sign of wealth on high end foreign cars).

Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show

The rear throne actually looks really bouncy and slidey, the opposite of luxury on a curving British country lane on the way to your third summer home.

Advertisement
I wasn’t sure if that was a ‘Lil Red Express in the background. It was painted with a custom mural that imitated the famous truck, but everything else looked right.
I wasn’t sure if that was a ‘Lil Red Express in the background. It was painted with a custom mural that imitated the famous truck, but everything else looked right.

I’ve actually seen this creamy yellow E Type Jaguar around while driving. I can’t imagine a more useless trunk, short of that Fairlane. I briefly talked to the owner and the conversation centered on the shallow useless cargo-hole.

Advertisement
Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show

Interior looks cozy. Maybe a little too cozy for the below average American.

Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show
Advertisement

The owner of this old MG challenged me to sit in it. I could barely get in and getting out was even harder. I would not recommend it if you are above 6 ft or wider than a toothpick.

Illustration for article titled A particularly good local car show
Advertisement

The engine might be cozier than the driver in the MG. I have never seen such a tiny powerplant. Look at that adorable little radiator fan and the minuscule carburetor.

That’s all the photos I have, though there were plenty of other interesting things present. What would your “Best in Show” pick be?