Antique Auto Show

Prized automobiles ranging from century-old “Tin Lizzies” to supercharged muscle cars of the 1990s will be featured in the 30^th Annual Antique Automobile Show on May 14th.

Sponsored by the First Capital Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), the show is expected to attract scores of vintage vehicles including not only cars but also trucks, jeeps, motorcycles and fire engines, according to Zach Simons, First Capital president.

“This is a celebration of automotive history that will evoke memories of hand-cranked engines, rumble seats, continental kits , fender skirts, stick shifts, and 17-cent-a-gallon gasoline,” he said, adding that ”for three decades the show has been a crowd-pleaser annually attracting thousands of car enthusiasts from throughout the state.”

Expected entries will span the ages from a 1915 Ford Model T to a 1995 Mustang SVT Cobra and from a 1934 Terraplane to a 1947 Lincoln Continental convertible that was the eighth off the assembly line and one of only 24 believed to be in existence. 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 S. Front St. to Broad St. and on sections of Pollock and Craven streets. The meet begins at 8am with vehicles entering the show area from S. Front St., and concludes with the awarding of trophies at 3pm at the intersection of Pollock and Middle streets.

The cars will be parked back bumper to curb along the tree-shaded streets flanked by boutiques, specialty shops, and restaurants housed in classically preserved structures rich in reminders of the city’s 300-plus-year-old past.  Show attendees will be within walking distance of such attractions as the North Carolina History Center, Tryon Palace, the Firemen’s Museum, The Pepsi Store, Mitchell’s back-in-time hardware emporium, Civil War sites, and homes dating from the mid-1700s. 

For judging purposes, show vehicles will be grouped in two broad categories: Historic Preservation of Original Features (HPOF) and Driver Participation Class (DCP), each of which has numerous subdivisions or classes to which vehicles of similar vintage will be assigned. A HPOF vehicle is in “as manufactured” condition while a DPC vehicle reflects minor changes such as a repaint or altered exhaust but still has the appearance of when it came off the assembly line. Besides a “Best in Show” trophy, trophies will be awarded to the first and second place finishers in each of the numerous classes.

Founded in New Bern in 1991, First Capital has staged a show each year since 1992 except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the Coronavirus epidemic.  Of the 30 shows, two were North Carolina AACA regional meets and six were AACA national meets, including Grand National meets in 2002 and 2010 and an AACA Southeastern Fall Meet in 2016. First Capital is one of 14 AACA chapters in North Carolina. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., the AACA is an international organization with members in 41 countries.

Membership in First Capital is open to individuals interested in the preservation, restoration and maintenance of automobiles and automotive history. Ownership of an antique vehicle is not a membership requirement. The club meets at 7pm the fourth Tuesday of each month at Moore’s Olde Tyme Barbeque, 3621 MLK Jr. Blvd.. 

It is not too late to enter a car in the show. Any 25-year-old motor vehicle may be entered regardless of make, model or condition, and an owner does not have to be an AACA club member. Registration: $20 per vehicle in advance and $25 the day of the show. Registration forms available at www.ncregionaaca/first capital.com, zacsim@aol.com, or 252.626.0286.