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American Auto Club International Summer Nationals

A quiet Saturday was followed up on Saturday night with excellent live music from Eagles tribute band Motel California, and Sunday saw a lot more activity on the show field, with plenty of vehicles on display.

As in previous years there were plenty for sale (a selection of which are displayed here), ranging from cheap and cheerful to high end. One car in particular caught my attention and that was the 1968 Cadillac Eldorado belonging to Dave Kenworthy, who’d brought it along from Surrey. Sat with a ‘For Sale’ on it, it looked a pretty straight unmolested car that with a little TLC could be turned into a real show stopper… Other cars for sale highlights included a ’96 Impala SS and a ’63 Falcon Woodie.

While there were few auto related traders, there were plenty of people who took the opportunity to empty out their garages and have an ❯ impromptu car boot sale; I saw a mint set of 1963 Cadillac hubcaps for £25… Now I don’t own a 1963 Cadillac (I may do one day though) but this seemed a real bargain – by the time I went back to get them, they’d gone!

Billing is always a great show for the sheer variety of cars on display and there was literally everything you could imagine, from a ‘brass-era’ Buick to brand new Euro-spec Cadillacs. The shiny 1977 Pontiac Trans Am of Ian Stewart from Portadown, Northern Ireland, had made its inaugural trip after a long-term resto’; similarly eye-catching was the 1969 Mustang GT fastback belonging to Barry Craven and Margaret Douglas from Buckinghamshire. Another show-stopper had to be Henry Ayre’s General Lee Charger, fresh out from a long term restoration…

Prize-giving saw quite a few familiar faces, including Steve Taylor who cleaned up with his truly breathtaking 1941 Cadillac, which eagle-eyed readers will recognise from our July 2006 issue (CA183). Pete Tucker was on hand to dish out trophies and his own unique brand of humour; however it was Dolly who stole the show – when was the last time you saw Dolly Parton singing from the bed of a pick-up truck? No, me neither!