A 1967 GT Shelby owned by Hamilton and Marilyn Walker is on display at the 11th annual Acushnet Car Cruise on Thursday, 8/26/21, which also featured oldies music by the Klassics. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
It was a bit smaller than in previous years, but the 11th annual Acushnet Car Cruise still filled the Parting Ways Green with music, the aroma of grilled food, dancing, and good conversation. Classic cars lined Main Street on Thursday, 8/26/21, while music by the Klassics filled the green.
Hamilton and Marilyn Walker showed their 1967 GT Shelby. Mr. Hamilton bought it in 1971 for $900. It’s worth close to $200k now.
The Shelby, explained Mr. Walker, is in a Mustang body, but has no Ford parts. It was built for racing. All parts are high performance.
“Just don’t call it a Mustang,” said Mr. Walker.
They said they had it put away for years and just finished up the “last touches” on it, so, it was time to show it off.
Ms. Walker said she was surprised at how loud it was.’
“I couldn’t hear my damn phone ringing,” she said.
“It’s a deep V8 sound,” said Mr. Walker.
A 1963 Comet S22 convertible is on display at the 11th annual Acushnet Car Cruise on Thursday, 8/26/21, which also featured oldies music by the Klassics. Photo by Beth David.
Amando Pereira was showing his 1969 Chevy Camaro, a clone, he said, but that was very difficult to know.
Still, it’s worth about $30-$40,000, he said. He bought it in 2012 and started working on it. It needed a lot of body work, motor work, transmission.
“Everything,” he said.
Mike Neider was showing a 1963 Comet S22 convertible that his parents bought. He said his mother wanted Mike’s daughter to have it. So he fixed it up. His daughter doesn’t drive yet, though, so dad is taking good care of it.
“She’s 15 and owns a convertible,” said Mr. Neider.
He said it’s a rare model, with six tail lights, not four.
“We try to keep it up,” he said.
In Mustang row, by the town hall, Gene and Debbie Sylvia showed their white 1967 Mustang that they’ve owned for more than 10 years. Mr. Sylvia said they had it shipped from Alberta in 2010. He said he wanted one for a long time.
“I waited 40 years to get this,” said Mr. Sylvia, adding that he started his family at a young age, which kind of messed up the car plan.
“So, I said, when this came along, I was getting it,” he said. “At 63, I said it’s about time I do it. I got it for my birthday.”
A 1967 GT Shelby owned by Hamilton and Marilyn Walker is on display at the 11th annual Acushnet Car Cruise on Thursday, 8/26/21, which also featured oldies music by the Klassics. Photo by Beth David.
They both love the car shows, they said, attending as many as they can.
“We have a good time,” said Mr. Sylvia. “We just love them.”
“Five days a week, sometimes two shows in a day,” said Ms. Sylvia. “We’re diehards. We show up everywhere. I love it. I love the shows, the people, the music.”
She said she especially liked the Acushnet show because it had live music instead of a DJ.
The annual event is sponsored by the town of Acushnet and the Acushnet Celebration Committee.
The food crew from the Acushnet Fire Association poses for the local free sheet during the 11th annual Acushnet Car Cruise on Thursday, 8/26/21, which also featured oldies music by the Klassics. Photo by Beth David.
Friends give big smiles for the local free sheet during the 11th annual Acushnet Car Cruise on Thursday, 8/26/21, which also featured oldies music by the Klassics. Photo by Beth David.
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