Cumberland Cruise In
5/17/24
Car show season is back! The Impala made its 2024 debut at the Cumberland Cruise In Show on May 17, 2024. The show was well attended, with many classic American cars, of course with some Japanese sports cars trickled in. We photographed our favorite highlights.
Above: 1969 Plymouth Fury III Convertible
Ready for the warm weather was this '69 Fury III convertible. This one was an original, unrestored survivor. Aside from a few small spots of rust, the car was in great shape. I actually caught up and talked with the owner a few weeks later at another show. He's got quite the Mopar collection, and that particular night, he was showing off an unrestored survivor '67 Belvedere II with factory AC and radio delete. Hmm... I'm beginning to see a theme here.
Above and Left: 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442
Further down the line was the beautifully-restored Oldsmobiel 442. The moniker "442" stood for a number of things over the course of the car's lifespan, but it originally signified the 4-barrel carb, 4-speed transmission, and dual exhaust that the cars were fitted with.
Above and Left: 1946 Chevy AK-Series Truck "Carol"
Next was this mild custom '46 Chevy, which, like most classic cars, had been given its own name. I think Carol was also the name of the owner's wife, as I overheard a few people talking to her as the show was wrapping up. Surprisingly, Carol drove off in the SSR next to "Carol," and her husband drove the yellow '46. Maybe the SSR is named after him?
Above: Ford Model A Pickup Hot Rod
Here's a nice little Model A pickup, done over in the classic hot rod style of the '50s and '60s. I didn't get too good a look at it as it was driving off when David photographed it.
Above: 1957 Chevy Bel Air
Here we have a gem of a car: a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door hardtop. This was the highest up on the Chevrolet lineup you could get in '57 (the Impala wouldn't come out until the following year as a trim lever for the Bel Air). This car has most of the bling, including spinner hubcaps, wheel skirts, and dual antennas. You can't see it in the photos, but it was also wearing a continental kit. Quite a beauty.
Above: 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe
Who doesn't love a good Mustang, especially one painted in Highland Green? Sure, it's not a fastback driven by Steve McQueen, but it's still just as cool. One day, I'll get my hands on one of these and fix it up. After the Impala is finished, of course.
Above: 1956 Chevy 210 Sedan
Looks like somebody's rockin' their original 265-cubic-inch V8! Introduced in late 1954 for the 1955 models, the 265 was the first iteration of the iconic Chevy small block. This particular example was only in its second year of production when its host car rolled off the assembly line in '56 (or possibly late '55). Its success would be short-lived, as the 265 was replaced by the improved 283 the following year, which would remain in production for a decade. This particular car is in great, unrestored condition, and it's made an appearance at several of the A&W shows we've photographed over the past few years.
1966 Chevy Chevelle SS 396 and 1969 Pontiac GTO
Here's a nice duo of muscle for you! The maroon GTO drop top on the left is an A&W regular that has been photographed by us many times before. This is the first we've seen of the Chevelle, so we're unsure of its cruise night status.
Above: 1995 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
Here's one you don't see very often: an OG Ford Lightning. Before the Lightning was an EV, it was a supercharged beast with a 5.8L Windsor. This particular example is one of 2,280 produced in 1995 and one of 824 Lightnings painted black. Lightning production would cease in 1996, only to resume in 1999 on the tenth generation F150 and continue till 2004. Since 2022, the name has adorned all the electric F-150s produced by Ford. I think I prefer the OG.
Above: 1955 Chevy 210 Coupe
This was a really cool sight: a stock 1955 Chevy 21o two-door sedan. I always enjoy finding restored cars that aren't the highest trim level or loaded with a million factory options. Don't get me wrong, those cars are just as cool, but it's equally as appealing to me to see regular "everyday" cars getting preserved and restored.
1973 Chevy Monte Carlo
From the days of brown and beige was this 1973 Chevy Monte Carlo, complete with a full vinyl top. Brown and beige were basically the '70s equivalent of today's grey and black, but with a lot more character. This car has way more character than a new Elantra (no offense, Hyundai).
1964 Ford Thunderbird
Here is a nice example of a fourth-generation Thunderbird, this one being from the first year of the new body style. 1965 wasn't much different, aside from the taillights, but in 1966, the bird lost its beak, and the giant chrome grille was replaced with a smaller, wire mesh unit. I prefer the older grille, like on this example, but the "refreshed" '66 is still a good-looking car.
Above: 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 396
I'm not sure if this is a real SS 396 car or a clone, but it looked to be an unrestored survivor. It also made for a good shot with the sun setting behind it.
Above: 1966 Chevy Corvette Stingray (C2)
Who doesn't love an old Corvette, especially a C2 Stingray convertible? This car was in immaculate shape, and it certainly looked like a blast to drive.
Above: 1953 Willys Overland Jeep Station Wagon S/R
Here we have an old Willys Overland, slightly modified, of course. I'm not sure what powerplant was under the hood, but judging by the chunky steering wheel and all-in-one turn signal lever, '90s GM likely isn't too far out of the question. Regardless of the mill, this Jeep looked sick (especially the stance), and I wouldn't hesitate to take it cross-country on a roadtrip (pending a thorough mechanical inspection, of course!).
Above: Beetlemania
Here we have a nice pair of Volkswagen Beetles. The green is a 1960s Beetle 1200, and the yellow is a 1970s Super Beetle. My grandfather was fond of Beetles, having owned five throughout his life, but he couldn't stand the Super Beetle. Once the original Beetle was discontinued in the US, he switched to a Volvo 240 and never looked back. I do agree with him stylistically. The older design has cleaner lines, while the Super Beetle has a chubbier nose and larger windshield. I can't comment on the performance differences between the two, as I've never driven either, but I hope to change that some day.
Above: B-Body Block
Left to Right: Sam's 1965 Chevy Impala, 1962 Impala SS, 1959 El Camino. I'd met the owner of the '62 back in 2021 at Slater Park. When I told him I was the kid with the '65 that ran after him at the end of the show two years ago, he was pretty impressed to see the car in person and back on the road. I have to give him credit for the floor pans, since he was the one who convinced me that cutting and welding pieces of metal together was within the scope of my abilities. In just one year, I went from never having touched a welder to buzzing in the floor on my Impala. Never underestimate your ability to pick up a new skill, especially when you have someone cheering you on from the sidelines. Wow, that got oddly motivational.
Above: An Assortment of Classics from Various Generations
Left to Right: 1962 Chevy Impala, 1959 El Camino (both from the previous photo), 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham, 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible. We almost had an All-GM row, but the Mustang had to show up and ruin everything. Just kidding! First-generation Mustangs are great cars, and I'm glad this one snuck into the shot, even if it wasn't made by the General.
Above: Back to Back Impalas
There's not much to be said here (other than how my car seems to dwarf the '62), so I'll let the pictures do the talking.
