Although typically built for utilitarian purposes, vehicles can earn special meaning over the years until they become some people’s most-cherished items.
Nostalgia ran deep during Saturday’s Sudbury CARes motorsports event in Copper Cliff, where hundreds of vehicles were on display for people to look at and ask the owners questions about.
Behind many of the vehicles was an interesting story.
For the local Chezzi family, a 1970 Ford Mustang has long been a source of pride and joy. As its licence plate, BAC4GOOD, indicates, it will never leave the family again.
Gary Chezzi purchased the vehicle new in 1970, the year he got married, and later sold it.
When he and wife Linda found themselves missing the car, they purchased what they thought was another one in the late 1970s, not realizing until afterward that it was the exact same vehicle.
The car was sold again in the ’80s, and purchased again by Gary in 2014.
The vehicle has since traded hands to Gary’s son, Mike, who had it on display during Sunday’s show in Copper Cliff.
“I’m not allowed to sell it,” he said, pointing to its licence plate as a pledge to pass it on to one of his two children, of whom the other will receive a 1970 Chevy pickup truck.
Keeping up a classic vehicle isn’t easy, Mike said, noting it’s “a way to spend money.” The Mustang has been in drag races throughout its life, which requires regular upkeep.
Parked close to where the Mustang was situated during the Sudbury CARes event was Errol Dawdy’s 1927 Ford Model T, souped up as a street car.
At 85 years of age, he said he has been through various classic vehicles over the years, but finally found “the car of his dreams” a couple years ago, when he found the Model T.
Ever since he was 12 years of age he wanted one, inspired by the “Jalopy” in Archie comics.
Although he finally found his dream car, Dawdy noted that he’d be willing to trade it in ... for a small Caribbean island of equal value.
Classic vehicle enthusiast Bob Johnston’s 1957 four-door Chevrolet Bel Air also caught a lot of eyes during Sunday’s show, thanks in part to the various Tweety Bird stuffies adorning its bright yellow original paint job.
Like various other people at Sunday’s show, Johnston has a story to tell when it comes to his vehicle of choice.
It was 28 years ago when he left the hospital and decided to quit drinking and smoking.
“A week later, I bought this,” he said. “I figured I’d reward myself.”
He restored the vehicle with his father, who was also named Bob (a family tradition has made Johnston the 8th Bob).
Visiting car shows was a favourite pastime between him, his father and uncle, who all owned classic vehicles, for many years.
“It’s a bonding and building experience,” Johnston said of restoring classic vehicles, adding that it’s always given his family something to talk about other than the typical topics of family life.
Picking up on the nostalgia theme, Sunday’s show also featured musical performances by bands playing classic songs from decades past.
All events were free of charge to spectators, though cash donations were accepted for Health Sciences North's NEO Kids Children's Treatment Centre, and non-perishable goods will be accepted for the Sudbury Food Bank. The goal was to raise $50,000.
Thanks to help from Pass it On Undercoating, this was the longstanding annual event’s biggest showing yet.
The event was hosted by Sudbury Classic Cruisers Car Club. For more information on the club, and future events, visit their website at sudburyclassiccruisers.com.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
