AACA Newsletter - January 2000
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ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION Gainesville, Florida Volume 18, Issue 01 |
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Club meets on the 3rd Monday of the month Next Meeting: January 17, 2000 7:00 PM at Semolina's Pasta, Oaks Mall Plaza, 6795 Newberry Road (Next to old Mill Rest.) Come early if you want to eat. Program starts promptly at 7:30 PM | |
President: Larry Galyean (352) 372-8661 Vice-Pres: Mike Whyte (352) 377-0390 Sec/Treas: Stuart Cullen (352) 375-8999 Editor: David L. Johnson (352) 378-7573 |
| Inside this Newsletter | |
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It's 2000 !!!!!!!!!! PERSPECTIVES WILL CHANGE!!!! |
A 1899 Packard used to sound old, now it really sounds old. Even a 1970 Chevy seems older. After all, these were manufactured in the centuries gone by. There is something about a change in century that adds extra age and mystic to collector items. It's kind of a stamp of legitimacy that says 'we made it, we are survivors.' |
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Perceptions are always a problem where collecting is concerned. If you collect ancient Roman
coins or medieval armor, then there will be no discernable change. Items made 100's or 1000's
of years ago are already so old that a year or century makes little difference.
But, with car collecting we are dealing simultaneously with a static as well as an expanding and dynamic universe from which to choose. Every year AACA adds another model year to the 'acceptable' range of collectible vehicles. We invariably lose some old ones, but add a lot of 'new' ones. I suppose for most 15, 20, 25 or even 30 year old persons, every AACA qualified car seems quite ancient. But, for us few...shall we say more 'mature' collectors...it's hard to view a 1975 car as an antique. After all, these were our everyday cars 'just a little while ago'...and if a 1975 model is an antique...what does that say about us? Nevertheless, time rolls on and a change in the century should offer us some relief...perhaps a perception that a 1975 is really old...after all it was made a 'very long time ago' ...in a prior century. Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better or younger. Back to Top 50+ SEMINARS, A TRADE SHOW, AUCTION & MORE The 64th annual meeting of AACA in Philadelphia on February 11th and 12th expects to have an attendance of about 1000 at the Wyndham-Franklin Plaza Hotel. Two days of concurrent seminars (over 25 each day) will be conducted. Topics will include metal shaping, bodywork, painting, wiring, waxing tips, engine rebuilding, tires & wheels, upholstery, insurance, toy collecting, and other specialty areas for car collectors. Coker Tires, Universal Tires, the Franklin Mint, Nu-Chrome and about 20 other vendors will provide a mini-trade show at the site. There will also be an auction to benefit the AACA Museum, and plenty of other activities to round out the schedule. Back to Top |
| From a Floridian's point of view, Philly in February is not our first choice, but if we try perhaps we can find some 'long johns' in the bottom drawer and a forgotten scarf to help with the winter shock. As northern cities go, Philly can be somewhat temperate in the winter, BUT having spent much time there, I can also assure you that it can be challenging. |  |
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Think of it as a 'vacation' away from all this 'monotonous' sun and warm breezes. |
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High Performance cars of the 60'S & 70'S Get Their Own AACA Class Special For Steve, Gerald, Don, Wayne and Others: |
| Five new classes have been established for high performance cars. Mustangs will remain in their own class. The new classes are: |
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Class 36A: Buick/Pontiac 70-72 Buick GSX/GS455 62-63 Pontiac Super Duty Catalina 64-72 GTO/GTO Judge 70 Pontiac Hurst Grand Prix SSJ 70-72 Pontiac Firebird TA455HO 73-74 Pontiac Firebird SD455 Back to Top |
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Class 36B: Chevrolet/Oldsmobile All factory 409 Chevrolets 65 Chevelle 216 Option (396 ci) 67-69 Yenco Chevrolet 427 Camaro 69 Yenco "SYC" 427 Nova 69 Chevelle and Camaro COPO 67-69 Impala SS427 only 68-69 Olds 442 and Hurst Olds 70 Olds 442 (W30) 71 Olds 442 70-72 Chevelle SS454 including El Camino |
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Class 36C: Mopar 55-65 Chrysler 300 Letter Series 70 Chrysler 300 Hurst 66-71 Dodge & Plymouths, all models with factory 426 Hemi engines 69 Dodge Charger Daytona 70 Plymouth Superbird 70 Challenger TA/AAR Cuda 62-66 Plymouth Super Stocks, Max wedges, vehicles with factory race Hemi engines. |
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Class 36D: Ford 63 Galaxie "Lightweight" 64 Fairlane Thunderbolt 66-67 Fairlane 427 "Street Machine" 69 Torino Talledaga 70-71 Torino Cobra 69 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler 11 |
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Class 36E: AMC 68-70 AMX 343 CI and larger 68-70 Javelin SST 343 ci and larger, including TransAm and Mark Doncloe editions. 69 SC/Rambler (Scrambler) 70 Rebel "Machine" 71-72 Javelin AMX/JavelinSST 360 ci and larger 71 Hornet SC 360 |
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If you think others belong, write to David Berg, AACA VP Class Judging, 120 David Lane, Rt. 19,
Harmony, PA 16037, and tell him why. These changes should make the young fire breathing studs...plus a few of the older guys that still have a hint of testosterone ...take notice. |
| CARRIAGES, WAGONS, BUGGIES AND SLEIGHS |
Hidden away near Weirsdale, FL (sort of southeast of Ocala) is a private museum dedicated to
locomotion and travel using real horse power. The Austin Carriage Museum is a 36,000 square
foot building that features about 80 horse drawn vehicles from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Back to Top |
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These are not just carriages, these are fully restored, gorgeous pieces of history in a first
class setting. For us car buffs, this is were it all began ...with the carriage maker's art and
craft. Most of the early cars were direct descendants of carriages, sometimes with not much
more than a motor attached. The wood spoked wagon wheels were prevalent. The early suspensions
and steering were all wagon technology. The auto bodies were carriage inspired for sure...with
the wood framing concept being carried even into the 1930's.
We are all pretty knowledgeable about the lineage of Studebaker, which was a mass producer of wagons fifty years before it's automobile empire. But what you see in this museum are a lot of Brewster carriages...'eye candy' for connoisseurs, but also appreciated by some of us 'regular' folks. The Austin Museum features a beautiful stage coach and several sleighs (which may lack some practicality in Florida.) There is even a recognition of the automobile here ...they have an unrestored Black Motor vehicle with 2 cylinders and 14 horsepower. Although it is listed as a 1902 (which looks about right), I haven't been able to reconcile that with the "Standard Catalog of American Cars" which has several early Black listings, but no 1902. Located at the Continental Acres Equine Resort at 3000 Marion County Road, this museum is normally open by appointment only on weekdays. The $10 a head admission charge is reasonable for the quality and scope. The museum may also open during special events. Call (352) 750-5500. |
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BREWSTER ...the Gentlemen's Carriage ...and automobile.
Brewster had been the 'carriage builder to American gentlemen' since 1810. Their creations
were aimed at the moneyed class. By 1915, Brewster also began building autos to the same
standards and for the same clientele. Brewster also built bodies for Rolls-Royce and was
ultimately absorbed into Rolls-Royce America in 1926, ending independent operations after
125 years. Ultimately, Rolls closed it's doors in the U.S., and the Brewster resurfaced in
1934, once again making custom built cars using a Ford, Buick, Lincoln or Cadillac chassis.
Some models retained the Ford radiator, which makes them Brewster bodied Fords, but not Brewsters.
In June 1936, after only a little over 100 second generation cars were produced, the company went broke. Amazingly, Brewster made carriages and autos longer than Studebaker which began in 1852. |
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STUMP THE
CAR BUFF: |
1. What was the first make to offer a 12 cylinder car? In what year? 2. What famous college football coach had a car named after him? Answers |
| CRUISE-INS & SHOWS: |
| ACTIVITIES NEAR-BY: |
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Jan 15: Ellisville, FL 3rd annual Columbia Car show & Flea Mkt., I-75, Exit 80. $15 reg.
1-904-755-9302. Feb 12: Gainesville, FL Florida State Museum Annual Collector's Day Show. Held at the Museum on the University of Florida Campus. Contact Mike Whyte for registration info at (352) 377-0390. Feb 11-13: Branford, FL Heaven Hill Farm 2nd Sat each month: Gainesville Street Rods Cruise in of custom and antique cars at Butler Plaza West, by the Gainesville Ale House and the Texas Road House. The 2nd Sat. of the month from 6-9 PM. Call Sherwin at (352) 473-2268. |
| SPECIAL AACA EVENTS: |
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Jan 30: Sarasota, FL 30th Annual Devereaux-Kaiser Show, Sarasota Square Mall, US41 & Beneva
(941)474-9092. Feb 11-12: Philadelphia, PA Annual Meeting, Seminars, Auction. Mar 2-4: Ft. Lauderdale, FL AACA Winter Nationals, (561) 272-7705. Apr 6-9: Charlotte, NC Autofair 2000 May 19-20: Winchester, VA Eastern National Spring Meet. Jun 3: Hershey, PA 5th annual AACA Museum Exposition. Jul 14-15: Mountoursville, PA Grand National Meet. Jul 20-22: Charlotte, NC Special Southeastern Division Fall Meet. Aug 4-6: Macungie, PA 37th Das Awkscht Fescht Show Aug 17-19: Waukesha, WI Central Division National Fall Meet. Oct 4-7: Hershey, PA Eastern Div. National Fall Meet (THE SHOW!) Nov 16-18: Cape Canaveral, FL Southeastern Div. National Fall Meet. |
| Other U.S. Events for 2000 |
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Jan 13-16: Kruse-Scottsdale, AZ Jan 19-23: Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Jan 29-30: Kruse-Orlando/Polk City Feb 4-6: Moultrie, GA Swap & Corral Feb 12-13: Kruse-Palm Beach, FL Feb 18-20: Webster, FL 7th Winter Feb 24-27: Zephyrhills, FL 26th Winter Feb 25-27: Kruse-Atlantic City, NJ Mar 10-12: Kruse-Tampa, FL Mar 24-26: Daytona, FL 11th Spring Mar 25-26: Kruse-Ft Myers, FL May 5-7: Kruse-Volo, IL May 12-14: Kruse-Auburn, IN Spring Aug 30-Sep 5: Kruse-Auburn, IN Fall Back to Top |
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A Peach Looks Good With Lots of Fuzz But Man's No Peach And Never Was |
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| "Stump" answers: |
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1. The famous 'Twin Six' was first offered as the 1916 Packard. It was discontinued in 1923.
2. Knute Rockne the legendary coach of Notre Dame. The Rockne auto was debuted by Studebaker in February 1932, a year after the coach died in a plane crash. It lasted only two years. |
Note: Dues Time
Pay your $26 National dues directly,
see form with your Antique Automobile Magazine.
Pay Stuart $26 for your local dues.
See You Monday!
Super 88 with J2 Option
Shown at The Turkey Rod Run
Photo by Editor
ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION
[ APRIL 2000 ] [ MAY 2000 ] [ JUNE 2000 ] [ JULY 2000 ]
c/o David L. Johnson
3752 NW 21st Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
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