Scores of awe inspiring twentieth century collector vehicles from across the state will motor into historic downtown New Bern Saturday, May 11, for the 31st Annual Spring Antique Automobile Show.
Sponsored by the First Capital Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), the event is expected to attract upwards of 150 autos ranging from the horseless carriages of the earlier 1900s to the muscle cars of the late 90s.
“Expected entries will span the ages from a 1919 Dodge Model 30 and a 1931 Pontiac four-door sedan to a 1971 Mustang Mach I and a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice Classic station wagon,” according to Zach Simons, president of First Capital. Classic Ford Thunderbirds, Chevrolet Corvettes, Pontiac GTOs, Studebaker Golden Hawks, and various other American and foreign marques also will be on display.
Open and free to the public, the show will be staged on Middle Street from South Front Street to Broad Street and on sections of Pollock and Craven streets. The show opens to the public at 10 a.m. and concludes with the awarding of trophies at 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Pollock and Middle streets. Besides a “Best in Show” trophy, trophies will be awarded to the first and second place designees in each of the numerous AACA judging classes.
The cars will be arranged back bumper to curb along the tree shaded streets flanked by boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants housed in classically preserved structures reflective of the city’s 300-plus-year-old past. Attendees will be within walking distance of such attractions as the North Carolina History Center, Tryon Palace, The Fireman’s Museum, The Pepsi Store, the Farmer’s Market, Mitchell’s back-in-time hardware store, Civil War sites, and homes dating from the mid-1700s, including the Stanly House where George Washington slept during his Southern Tour.
It is not too late to enter an auto in the show. Michael Wilson, the event chairperson, said any vehicle at least 25 years old may be entered regardless of make, model or condition, and an owner does not have to be an AACA member. The show is not limited to cars. Motorcycles, fire engines, jeeps, trucks, mopeds and other vehicles that were manufactured no later than 1999 and were produced to be driven on public roads and to carry passengers also are entry eligible.
The registration fee is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. Registration forms are available on the internet at www.ncregionaaca/firstcapital.com, by email at zacsim@aol.com, or by calling 252-626-0286. Dash plaques will be given to the first 150 registrants.
Founded in New Bern in 1991, First Capital has sponsored a show each year since 1992 except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemic. Six of the shows were AACA national meets, including Grand National meets in 2002 and 2010, each of which attracted over 500 vintage vehicles from throughout the country.