Wheels: Classic Cars

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer

Don Lachance of Woonsocket wanted something different to take to area cruise nights and car shows, and his Internet search was narrowed to three cars. So he called his son in California for advice and was told, ``take the black one.''

The 1951 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan wasn't very different in its day. Family two-doors aren't favored by a lot of collectors wanting more exotic models, but heads turn when this perfectly restored beauty rolls up. Part of the attraction is that the Chevy remains true to its heritage.

It has every option that was available at the time, including a spotlight, fog lights, blue-dot backup lights, a metal sun visor, fender skirts, chrome wheel trim rings and other chrome trim pieces that make it Deluxe. And faithful to the post-war period, it has plastic seat covers protecting the gray cloth.

It also has a dash-mounted prism, made necessary by the solid sun visor. Because the driver can't see a stop-light through the visor, the prism reflects the overhead light changes.

Almost everything is new in the frame-off restoration that took place five or six years ago. Lachance has had the car for a year and a half, and he has continued to win trophies with it, as did the previous owner. He bought the car from a Westfield, Ind. company.

The drive train, though rebuilt, is original - the famous Chevy Blue Flame six, rated at 92 horsepower, mated to a three-speed manual transmission.

Lachance has owned other classics through the years, but he is really enjoying this one. It's not a sports car, or a muscle car, or even a convertible, but he loves driving and showing it, which is why he is at a cruise event almost every night in season.

It's one benefit Rocchio, a retired insurance man, didn't mind paying out.

Engine/transmission: 216.5 cubic-inch inline 6; three-speed manual.

Color: Maryland Black.

Mileage: 7,500 on rebuild.

Plate: Antique 7374.

Can be seen: Mondays at Krispy Kreme, Cranston; Wednesdays at Main Street, Woonsocket; Thursdays at Scrambler's, Woonsocket.

Condition: Pristine restoration.

If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please e-mail bbeaulie@projo.com with details.

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

The Main Street, Woonsocket, cruise kicks in tonight at 5:30 and will be held every week until Aug. 17. Tomorrow night begins a new cruise night at Inside Scoop on Scituate Avenue, Cranston, an event that will be held every other Thursday. Pontiac fans will gather Sunday at Fiore Pontiac on Route 2, West Warwick, for the 13th annual show sponsored by the Little Rhody Chapter of the Pontiac-Oakland Club of America.

Cruise nights that are not held weekly are listed by date in our shows/events listing.

JUNE

Tomorrow - Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton, Mass., 6-9.

Saturday, June 25 - Orphan car day (Packards, Studebakers, etc.) Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 9-3.

Sunday, June 26 - Forever Ford show, Goddard State Park, 345 Ives Rd., Warwick, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 26 - Smith's Castle, 55 Richard Smith Drive, off Route 1, North Kingstown, 10-3.

Sunday, June 26 - All-Chevy show, Diamond Hill State Park, Route 114, Cumberland, 9-3.

Sunday, June 26 - Oddballs Sports Bar/Hi-Way Bowl, 105 Chases Lane, Middletown, Route 114, Home Depot plaza, noon-dusk.

Sunday, June 26 - British car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 9-3.

June 28 - Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5-dusk.

June 29 - American Legion post, Route 79, south of Route 140, Berkley, Mass., 5-dusk.

June 30 - Inside Scoop, 1105 Scituate Ave., Cranston, 5:30-dusk.

JULY

July 1 - Mattapoisett wharf, Mattapoisett, Mass., 5-9.

July 2 - Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.

July 2,3 - Uncas Ballroom, Convention Center, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn., 10-6 Saturday, 10-5 Sunday. Limited to 250 cars. To register, call (508) 428-8055.

July 7 - Elm Street at Mason Field, North Attleboro, Mass., 6-10.

July 8 - St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.

July 9 - McDonald's, Route 6, Swansea, Mass., 11:30 a.m.-1:30.

July 9 - Drive-in movie, Mendon Drive-in, 16 Milford Rd., Mendon, Mass., 6 p.m.-on.

July 9 - Micro and mini car day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 1 p.m.

July 10 - Rotary Club show and corral, Glen Park, off Route 138, Portsmouth, 10-4.

July 15 - Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New Bedford, Mass., 5-9.

July 16 - Motorcycles and hot rods, Ocean State Harley Davidson, 5 Albany Rd., Warwick, exit 15 off Route 95, 10-5.

July 17 - White's of Westport, 66 State Rd., Westport, Mass., 4-7.

July 17 - Quinsigamond Community College, 670 West Boylston St., Worcester, Mass., 8-4.

July 17 - American muscle cars, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

July 19 - West Greenwich Plaza, 780 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, 6-dusk.

July 23 - Hopkins Field, Route 6, Scituate, 8-3.

July 24 - Hot rods, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

July 29-31 - Autos of the World, show, auction and swap meet, Goddard State Park, 345 Ives Road, Warwick.

July 31 - Triumph day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

WEEKLY CRUISE NIGHTS

Sundays

Sam's Club, Route 6, Seekonk, Mass., 5-dusk.

Big River Inn, 809 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, West Greenwich, 5-8.

Mondays

Burger King-Krispy Kreme lot, Sockanosset Road and Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 6-9.

Seekonk Speedway, Route 6, Seekonk, Mass., 6-dusk.

Towne Pizza, Plum Corner, off Route 105, Rochester, Mass., 5-9.

Motorcycles, Chan's Restaurant, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

Tuesdays

A&W, Route 44, Smithfield, 6-9.

Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9.

Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, Mass., 5-9.

Slater Park, Pawtucket, 5-9.

Patriot's Bar and Grille, Routes 140 and 126, Bellingham, Mass., 6-9.

Motorcycles, Suzy Q's Place, 208 Plainfield Pike, Scituate, 5-9.

Wednesdays

Warwick Mall, food court entrance, Route 2, Warwick, 6-9.

Denny's, Exit 7 off Route 95, Coventry, 6-9.

Main Street, Woonsocket, 5:30-8:30.

Club Raymond, 1084 Charles Street, North Providence, 5-9, begins tonight.

Downtown North Attleboro, Mass., 5-8:30, begins June 29.

Florentina restaurant, Route 140, Franklin, Mass., 6-9.

Mohegan Sun, roof of Riverview garage, 6-9. Begins July 6.

Thursdays

Scrambler's diner, off Route 122, Woonsocket, 5-9.

Star Drive-In, exit 10 off Route 140, Taunton, Mass. 5-9.

TGI Fridays, Routes 117 and 2, Warwick, 5-dusk. .

Appetites Restaurant, 473 Tiogue Ave., Coventry, 5-8, begins June 16.

Paddy's Bayside, 159 Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut Beach, Westerly, 5:30-dusk.

Fridays

McDonald's, Stop & Shop plaza, Route 122, Cumberland, 6-9.

Firestone tire store, Post Road, Route 1, Warwick, 6-9.

Gazebo at the Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, 5-dusk. British cars and others.

Milk Bottle restaurant, Route 138, Raynham, Mass., 5:30-7:30.

Saturdays

Carousel at Crescent Park Drive, Riverside, 5-8.

Cliquot cruise, Route 109, Millis, Mass. 6-9.

To list an event, e-mail information to Bbeaulie@projo.com, phone (401) 277-7179, fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features Department, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.