Annual Harwood Motors Open House Car Show Photos

[Matt Harwood]

We  had our annual open house and car show today and it was a huge success. No cost, no judging beyond a people's choice award (more on that in a moment), plus music, food, and other stuff. We had about 150 cars in our parking lot and hundreds of spectators visiting us. A lot of work but also a lot of fun--big thanks to Melanie's brother and his friends from Toronto coming down to give us a hand and help park cars. Everyone seemed to have a good time and everything went off without incident. Thanks to everyone who came to enjoy the day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

People's Choice winning 1930 Cadillac V16 owned by a friend of mine, Mike Pinchot. Some of you might remember me asking about this car a few months ago on his behalf. He obviously bought it and it has required some sorting, as expected. It is a lovely car, even though the colors are a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Seemed to run well and he's spent quite a bit getting it into tour-ready condition.

 

Another important note is that this Cadillac won the popular vote of the attendees--we don't pick the winners. Add that to last year's winner, my friend Phil Tobin's 1941 Buick 91 Limited touring sedan (below, at the show this afternoon), and the 1932 Pierce-Arrow that won two years ago, and it indicates that the average show goer loves to see pre-war cars at shows. There were some amazing cars at this show, some impressive hot rods, and some cool muscle cars, but when given a choice, people seem to consistently pick these as their favorites. That seems to suggest that getting them out where people can see them is the single best thing we can do to find new hobbyists. It really makes a difference!

 

Phil Tobin's 1941 Buick 91 Touring Sedan.

 

 

My friend Tony Gulatta brought this wonderful 1941 Dodge panel van dressed in vintage washing machine repair livery. His commitment to the illusion is pretty impressive, right down to the vintage washing machines in the back. Tony has more fun in this inexpensive panel truck than anyone else I know. It's stock except for a late-model Dodge Dakota rear end, which allows it to cruise at 60 MPH pretty easily. I love the crazy thing and it proves that you don't need to spend a lot to have something unique, attention-grabbing, and fun. What a neat little truck!

 

Other stuff:

 

I loved this 1990 Nissan PAO. Japanese-market only, but so cool looking!

 

You could own this one-owner MG Midget with 35,000 original miles

for $5000 (I know the owner, contact me if you're interested).

 

This 1942 Cadillac should look familiar to folks on this board. One

of my very favorite cars in recent memory--just as nice as it appears!

 

All-original 1932 Packard that we sold a few months ago with its

happy new owner.

 

Our friend Gerard "Bart" Bartasavich owns what is probably the

nicest 1957 Thunderbird I've ever seen.

 

 

Mike Herchick brought two of his incredible muscle cars. All-original triple black 1970 Chevelle
LS6 4-speed with 54,000 original miles, and an ultra rare 1969 Camaro Z10 "pace car coupe" 
with an L78 396/375 and a 4-speed. He's always got something new and amazing.

 

Look for this gorgeous 1956 DeSoto Sportsman in our showroom

in the next few weeks. Just as nice as the last pink one we sold

in April and possibly even prettier.

 

Laser-straight Buick Wildcat from California.

 

Very straight and clean 1960 Cadillac Coupe DeVille.

 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

A few more photos:

 

Pretty 1966 Mustang convertible with a 289.

 

You could probably own this 1967 Impala convertible for $15,000

(I know this guy, too, if you're interested).

 

Great-looking 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

 

Our friend Ted Gottfried brought his Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.

 

Handsome Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible.

 

 

 

[Lebowski]

Nice facility you've got there with plenty of great classics in the parking lot. It looks like the weatherman cooperated too. Was there a Studebaker in there somewhere?

Edited July 28, 2019 by Lebowski (see edit history)

[edinmass]

My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail...............

Edited July 28, 2019 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

44 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Nice facility you've got there with plenty of great classics in the parking lot. It looks like the weatherman cooperated too. Was there a Studebaker in there somewhere?

 

Even better!

 

[Matt Harwood]

39 minutes ago, edinmass said:

My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail...............

 

Everybody was invited. Open to the public! Next year, last Saturday in July. See you there!

[edinmass]

I’ll try and piggyback on the way to St Johns...........

[JamesR]

Great car show! Great idea to recognize your previous customers this way...and to allow the public to come and bring their rides, as well.

Quote

 

You could own this one-owner MG Midget with 35,000 original miles

for $5000 (I know the owner, contact me if you're interested).

 

I would love to have one of those, but my one experience with Midgets taught me that 6'-3" people don't really fit in them.

 

 

Quote

 



[TerryB]

My favorite kind of show, lots of variety and everyone there to have a good time.  I like that DeSoto you said was coming, must be my father’s influence as he was quite a fan of Chrysler products.

[TexRiv_63]

Nice show, love that Cadillac. People love to see prewar cars at car shows because the average person NEVER sees any prewar cars being driven anywhere.

[1939_Buick]

8 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

Everybody was invited. Open to the public! Next year, last Saturday in July. See you there!

The weekend after the BCA annual meet in Strongesville, Cleveland OH.  So you may get a few stragglers from that. Maybe even me, depending on flights

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/303008-2020-buick-club-national-meet-strongsville-ohio-july-15-19/

 

[J3Studio]

I gather Matt has no strictures against For Sale signs … looks like a fun show.

[Matt Harwood]

51 minutes ago, J3Studio said:

I gather Matt has no strictures against For Sale signs … looks like a fun show.

 

Nah. Too many rules take the fun out of it. Behave yourself, don't rev your engine like an idiot, don't crash into other people or their cars, and, well, that's about it. I do kind of wish people would honor the hours we post (the actual show was 11-3 but there were cars parked and saving spaces before I arrived at 8 AM, which is kind of a jerk move) but whatever. Otherwise just relax and have fun. Life's too short to make a hobby too strict.

[tomcarnut]

Matt,

 

Looks like a great show. A lot of work.  I enjoyed the tour of your facility a few weeks ago. The AACA Ohio Region Tour we are hosting is the weekend of 10/18-10/20 in Cincinnati. We will be touring a nice car collection of a local well known Car Dealer late Friday afternoon, with Dinner on your own in Old MIlford. Saturday Tour will be about 100 miles with stops at Tristate Warbird Musuem, Lunch at the Horsepower Farm, afternoon stops at Caesars Creek Dam Overlook and Vistor Center, Waynesville for antiques shops and Irons Fruit Farm. Dinner and Halloween Costume Party  featuring Eli's BBQ (#3 BBQ in the Country.) will be at the host hotel near Milford. We hope to have the final details for registration done later this week. 

 

Tom Muth

[1935Packard]

Looks like a lot of fun!  And my impression matches your experience about people really appreciating pre-war cars at shows.

[hidden_hunter]

I don’t know if it’s a thing over there but when there are similar events here they make them fundraisers for the local community - e.g. gold coin donation for local wildfire fighters (gold coins = $1 or $2)

[Matt Harwood]

3 hours ago, hidden_hunter said:

I don’t know if it’s a thing over there but when there are similar events here they make them fundraisers for the local community - e.g. gold coin donation for local wildfire fighters (gold coins = $1 or $2)

 

We actually raised almost $600 for Paws on Hunger, which is a program through our local city schools to help lower income kids get food on weekends and evenings. Lots of low income kids get breakfast and lunch at school but they may not have any food on weekends, either due to working parents or economics. This program gets food into their backpacks before they go home so they have healthy meals that don't require any prep so they can eat at home when there may not be anything to eat. Kind of a shame that the richest country on earth and an affluent community still has kids actually going hungry, so this program is designed to help at the most local level. Credit Melanie, who is very involved with our local schools, for making this a priority. There are a lot of causes that need help, but this actually helps kids in our community who might otherwise go unnoticed.

[John S.]

Matt, God Bless you and Melanie, for your hard work and dedication in helping  children in need. John

[hidden_hunter]

7 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

 

We actually raised almost $600 for Paws on Hunger, which is a program through our local city schools to help lower income kids get food on weekends and evenings. Lots of low income kids get breakfast and lunch at school but they may not have any food on weekends, either due to working parents or economics. This program gets food into their backpacks before they go home so they have healthy meals that don't require any prep so they can eat at home when there may not be anything to eat. Kind of a shame that the richest country on earth and an affluent community still has kids actually going hungry, so this program is designed to help at the most local level. Credit Melanie, who is very involved with our local schools, for making this a priority. There are a lot of causes that need help, but this actually helps kids in our community who might otherwise go unnoticed.

 

Good work and sounds like a great cause!

[John_Mereness]

Glad your friend bought the 1931 Cadillac V-16 Club Sedan !

[Stude Light]

Looks like a great venue and a good time for those attending.  A lot of really nice cars too! Thanks for sharing.

[Paul Dobbin]

The pictures look like the Cars & Coffee event at the Dupont Registry facility in Clearwater FL, minus the

Farraris, Porsches and Lamborgienis.  (Although they still attract some antique cars)  Sorry about the spelling, but Ford, Chevy, Dodge & VW are more my thing.