Classic cruisers: Vintage cars roar onto McAllen streets for chamber event

McALLEN — Taking a walk through the parking great deal of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Christie Cantu reminisced on her time in large university as she stared at a blue 1979 Chevy Camaro.

She recalled strolling via the parking good deal of her higher faculty in 1981 and viewing rows of Camaros in numerous shades filling the empty areas.

Cantu was not the only a person getting a trip down memory lane Saturday.

Folks from different parts of the Rio Grande Valley attended the chamber’s 2nd annual McAllen Classic Automobile Cruise Night on Saturday in which enthusiasts gathered together to show off some of their classic autos.

Cantu, the community engagement liaison for the Valley Initiative for Enhancement and Progression, or VIDA, attended the celebration as a judge.

“We are wanting at how original the automobile is, the paint occupation, the lights, if all the things works, and how significantly was invested in restoring the car or protecting it,” Cantu stated.

Ronald Winchell, 89, who attended the earlier party, was fired up to go to this year’s cruise and existing his 1956 Ford Victoria. It’s pink and white, or potentially a lot more product-coloured. In actuality it looked not contrary to ice cream.

“It’s all primary, it has white sidewall tires and all the first inside. It is just like it arrived out of the manufacturing facility,” Winchell explained, plainly happy of his Ford Vic.

The motor vehicle is just one of 4 classics owned by Winchell. Up until previous 7 days, he experienced nine autos in his collection but decided it was time to commence providing a number of of them.

Winchell has been a traditional automobile collector considering that he was 14-several years-previous. He recalled loved ones road visits in Ohio in which they would drive to a auto show “sometimes five moments a week” and then go try to eat at Dairy Queen just after the exhibit.

All through Saturday’s event, he wore a Dairy Queen shirt as a tribute to his household journeys.

People with young children operating about, using in the sights and seems of these traditional and classic automobiles, liked on their own as images ended up taken in entrance of some of the cars and trucks, which include 1 woman who experienced her image snapped up coming to Winchell’s delight and pleasure.

Then, engines began to roar as the owners turned the ignition and began to cruise down Primary avenue.

People recorded and stared in awe as one by just one the autos paraded down the avenue. Children waved and pointed at their beloved cars and trucks as they drove by.

Jerald Lewis, a native of Harlingen, attended the function with his 1966 Chevrolet Nova that he restored with his cousin.

They experienced bought the vehicle in 2010, due to the fact then they have restored different areas of the car this kind of as the engine.

“It’s been carried out from the front finish all the way to the back again conclude. The only factor first is the entire body and the interior.”

Lewis approximated the repairs to have price about $100,000.

David Montague, a indigenous of Minnesota, is a wintertime customer to the Valley who was also in attendance at Saturday’s cruise. He boasted a 1928 Ford Pickup Model A

Montague has constantly needed a car like that, and when he came down this wintertime he was able to invest in it from Winchell, who’s essentially his neighbor and clearly a fellow classic auto fanatic.

“They are just neat. It is a component of background,” Montague explained.

To see much more, see Keep an eye on photojournalist Joel Martinez’s whole photograph gallery here:

Image Gallery: Vintage vehicles roar onto McAllen streets for chamber celebration