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Back to the North Branford Potato & Corn Festival classic car cruise again, which took place Friday evening, 8/2/2013, in North Branford, CT--this time with a fantastic pair of mid-'60s Buick hardtops: an Electra 225 and a Skylark. These are overall-type shots, and I took a few more closer detail-type shots that I'll try to follow up with, next chance I get...

I'm sorry, MrEarl, I don't know anything about the car. Looking back at my pictures, it appears that it might be a dark green body color, but that's about the only thing I can add. Sounds like a call to the phone number noted on the card may be in order...

JohnD, your photo coverage is fantastic! Nice work! Wish I'd been able to be there!

One more quick one for now from the North Branford Potato & Corn Festival classic car cruise, Friday evening 8/2/2013, in North Branford, CT. This is a gorgeous white with red interior late '60s Skylark Convertible that I am pretty sure I've seen and photographed previously (I believe at the Main Street Middletown classic car cruise, earlier this summer, up in Middletown, CT). I've found that the auto-exposure setting on my camera likes to darken the shots a bit when you have a very light or white subject such as this Skylark (and/or a bright white MG or a bright yellow Corvette), so I did a slight bit of electronic tweaking of these shots, to try to make them look a bit more natural. Anyway, this was a positively gorgeous Skylark, and I'm definitely *not* getting tired of seeing it show up at the local car shows!

Starting off Buick-oriented coverage of the North Branford Potato & Corn Festival classic car cruise (Friday evening 8/2/2013, North Branford, CT) with a couple of overall views, in which, by the third one, you'll see a bit of a super-kool & somewhat modified black '87 Grand National in the scene (it's slightly visible in the second shot also, if you look really hard). After these, the Buick photos will be more individualized (most certainly including that particular outstanding '87 Grand National). Just wanted to provide a bit of an overview of this wonderful gathering, which was on a nicely manicured ball field (the overall Festival took place in a more natural farm pasture-type field just to the north of the ball park). The car show field was filled up even more by the time I had to roll out of there to get to another family obligation. Great job by the North Branford parks & Rec Department, who I believe are the overall organizers of the Festival. More info about the North Branford Potato & Corn Festival car show is online at: Car Show

I'm pretty sure this is the last Buick that I found/photographed at the 35th Annual "Time Machines" antique car show, Sunday, July 28th, 2013, Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT. It's a cool '68 GS Convertible, and it was parked over in the Car Corral area, where cars for sale were specifically grouped. I photographed the info from the window card also for your info. Looked like a really nice car. "Fast and Fun"--works for me! Next installment, we'll move on to the Friday evening, August 2, 2013 North Branford Potato & Corn Festival's classic car cruise, in North Branford, CT, to check out a few of the beautiful Buicks that were on display there...

Good sighting, Marrs! I don't know Porsches that well, but I am pretty sure that double-grille engine lid is something more special than your "garden variety" 356...

Cool shots! That's a very handsome era for Cadillacs. Good quick-on-the-draw with your camera, Pomeroy! The real question, though, is whether you are driving something nearly as cool as my hi-miles '92 Ford Taurus while you're taking the pictures! Ha! I actually saw another '70s Eldo convertible get onto the highway ahead of me more recently (this one was black with a black convertible top--it looked SWEET--looked to have Connecticut antique plates on it also...), but I knew that the Taurus would either shake itself apart, or explode, if I attempted speeding up to try to catch the Eldo, so I had to keep my appreciation of it to myself!

Here are a couple more views of that speck-tack-you-lar '53 Skylark, as seen at the 35th Annual "Time Machines" antique car show, Sunday, July 28th, 2013, Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT:

Hoo boy, this smokin'-hot '53 Skylark Convertible was on display at the 35th Annual "Time Machines" antique car show, Sunday, July 28th, 2013, Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT. A few more detail-type shots are also yet to come of this super-magnificent, super-flashy Buick...

Pomeroy, your shots of the slick red Ford pickup made me remember that I also saw a funky & cool red Ford pickup parked at a local supermarket in Branford, CT, back on Tuesday evening, June 18th, 2013: I'm not good on the model years of these--what would you say--late '40s or early '50s???

I have been driving our family’s super-high-miles, super-rickety ’92 Taurus wagon lately—mainly because I don’t trust it with my teenage daughter driving it (it already broke down on her once and I definitely don’t need her getting stranded somewhere), and have let her drive the ’03 LeSabre for the most part (now at a little over 28k original miles—a VERY nice car--I'll report back with the actual current odometer miles later today). I try to drive one of the old VWs around whenever possible, but I have to admit that most of my work commuting this summer has been with the Taurus. I figure I might as well “use it up,” as I feel it is probably not long for this world. </SPAN> Not sure if I can get out to the Wallingford (CT) Buick event this coming Sunday (8/18/2013, ref: http://forums.aaca.org/f115/yankee-chapter-show-wallingford-buick-sunday-356796.html)--sure would like to, but I also have a lot of other non-car-related "sh*t" going on in my life that has been taking precedence over car stuff lately! Ah well, we have to do what we have to do! Don't forget to check the "I Love The Picture Of This Buick" thread (http://forums.aaca.org/f115/i-just-love-picture-buick-339973.html) where I've been posting various Buick pictures from some of the recent car events that I have been able to make it out to, including the big "Time Machines 2013" event in late July (Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT), and also will eventually be adding a couple more from the recent "North Branford Potato & Corn Festival" classic car cruise that was held on Friday evening, August 2, 2013, in North Branford, CT--there were a couple of beautiful Buicks there too! EDIT: Exact current odometer as of today = 28,228 - which means between me and my daughter, we've put on 7,435 miles, over the past 5 or so months--which appears to compute out to a rate of about 17,844 miles per year. I guess that's what daily driving will get you... Onward and upward...

I've had a couple of similar "bargain price" repairs like that in my life, but it usually takes me a LOT longer to figure them out, and sometimes there are also wrenches thrown, colorful language, etc., accompanying the experience. Glad to hear of the very happy ending!!! That sure is a great looking Olds!!!

Back to the 35th Annual "Time Machines" antique car show, Sunday, July 28th, 2013, Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT, once again. This was a super-nice '84 Riviera sunroof that I had previously enjoyed checking out at the AACA Central CT Region car show up in Glastonbury, back on June 9th (believe I even posted a photo or two of it from that event--and the owner displayed his dash plaque from that very event, placed on the top of his dashboard--along with a dash plaque from last year's Yankee Chapter All-Buick Car Show in Wallingford). It was also interesting to note that the owner listed his address as "Burlingame, CA" on the window card, but a local CT address on his judging sheet--guessing he might perhaps be a recent transplant? Last time (from the Glastonbury event photos) I believe I also made note of the Burlingame dealership license plate frame and CA plate displayed on the front of the car. Anyway, here are two overall shots of this very beautiful Buick, and I think that's one of the car show directors checking it out closely in the third shot, possibly as part of his evaluations of possible "Best Original Car" candidates for the overall show. Couple more Buicks still to go from Time Machines 2013 (maybe you can see a bit of a spectacular bright red '53 Skylark Convertible in the background of the 2nd shot...), so please stay tuned... Oh, and finally, though it's not looking great for my being able to get up there (due to various family obligations), wanted to note that this year's Yankee Chapter Buick Show in Wallingford, CT is upcoming THIS WEEKEND! Ref: http://forums.aaca.org/f115/yankee-chapter-show-wallingford-buick-sunday-356796.html

That's awesome! Congratulations and best wishes for many more happy miles yet to come!

A nice end of a Sunday that was mostly mundane chores, when Mrs. Stock Steve wanted to go for a little pleasure drive in her '63 VW Karmann Ghia along the local Connecticut shoreline. First to stop for some fresh native corn at the local farm stand in Stony Creek: Next to gas up a bit in Guilford: A beautiful salt marsh photo op spot at the western end of Madison: One more photo op spot by a salt marsh and tidal river in Westbrook, where the low-angle setting sun made for even richer colors: Summer afternoons don't get much nicer!

Sensational vinyl-roofed Riviera Pair, '65 & '68 models, on display at the 35th Annual "Time Machines" antique car show, Sunday, July 28th, 2013, Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT:

Phantastic Phifty Buick wagon at the 35th Annual "Time Machines" antique car show, Sunday, July 28th, 2013, Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford, CT:

...Looks like the '90 Reatta ended up between a couple of vintage Pontiacs. Sorry about the sun glare-y front view shot, but the right rear three quarter view of this beautiful & sporty Buick I think makes up for it... Yes, sharp-eyed viewers, that is a magnificent green '50 Buick woodie wagon in the background of the second shot! And it will be the next photo subject, as I meander my way around the Time Machines 2013 car show field, so do stay tuned... And if you were wondering about that low-slung sports car in the right background of the first shot, it is, of course, "The Rakish Leaf," ref: http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/2011/07/01/hmn_feature3.html

One more from "Time Machines 2013" (7/28/2013, Guilford, CT) for now... Right after taking my pictures of the '70 GS and the '87 GN, I saw a really beautiful Reatta Convertible entering the show field, following the car show staffer who was directing them to their appropriate class parking spot. I later ran across this car again when it was parked, and found out that it was a '90 model, so I guess it might've been entered in the "Display Only, Non-Judged" class for cars & trucks '89 to '13 (the "Time Machines" show has always adhered to the AACA definition of "antique" as being any vehicle 25 years old or older). I have a couple more shots of this very beautiful Reatta, as-parked, that I'll follow up with...

"Time Machines 2013," 7/28/2013, Guilford, CT again--this time an outstanding '87 Grand National, that happened to have its window sticker also displayed--really enjoy studying these documents, for details like: The "Grand National" package, that included Tubo V6 engine, 4-speed auto trans, performance suspension, sport mirrors, air conditioning, 15" chrome wheels and Eagle GT tires (looks like BFGs eventually replaced those), specific interior and exterior color black, bucket seats in gray cloth, all for a total option price of $3,574. The base price of the '87 Regal 2-door coupe was shown as $11,562, to which was added the "Grand National" package, plus several other options (a total of $5,113 in options), and $430 destination charge, bringing the total bottom line to $17,105. City MPGs were estimated as 17, and highway MPGs as 25, for the 3.8 liter turbocharged fuel injected engine with auto lock-up 4-speed trans. It was listed as having been delivered to Gallagher Buick in New Britain, CT, all the way from its final assembly point in Pontiac, MI. I also like his CT vanity plate: "QUICK-6"!

I was extremely fortunate to be able to attend the recent "Time Machines 2013" antique auto show & flea market that was held Sunday, July 28th, 2013, at the Guilford Fairgrounds in Guilford, CT, reference: TimeMach I'm very happy to have had my camera with me that day, and took some pictures of some of the Buicks that were on display at the show. I will upload them as I am able to, in no particular order. First is this fantastic '70 GS model Skylark:

Here's a cool '70s Eldorado Convertible from New Jersey that was spotted in traffic on Interstate 95 northbound, this past Friday afternoon, August 2, 2013. My photo series starts around West Haven, and finishes at Long Wharf in New Haven, CT, where you can see some of the ongoing work scene with revising the intersection of Interstates 95 and 91, which is also associated with work on the new I-95 bridge crossing the Quinnipiac River, known as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge.

Wow, that's one heckuva cool photo! Keep on cruisin'!!!

Technically not "parked," but rather, rolling along on the roadways, surrounded by "mundane" modern traffic... I had a couple of interesting sightings lately (& had my compact "travel camera" handy), including a '60s Impala Convertible (with CT antique plate) getting onto the Merritt Parkway northbound in Stratford, CT, eventually crossing the Housatonic River Bridge, and exiting onto the "Milford Connector." The date was Monday, July 29th, and it was early evening, as I think is evidenced by some headlights on in one of the views: Then the following morning (Tuesday 7/30/2013) in commuter traffic on I-95 southbound in East Haven, CT, an Acura NSX with, I think, RI plates (my flash was unintentionally on and tendted to wash out the reflective plate):