Wheels: Classic Cars

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Shows/events • Weekly Cruise Nights

BY BRIAN BEAULIEU
Journal Staff Writer

In the 1950s, there were so many Chevy sedans on the road that hardly anyone noticed, even if it had one of those flashy two-tone paint jobs. Now the sedans are rather rare, although the two-doors, convertibles and Nomad wagons are drawing top prices.

When John and Vivian Maxson of Westerly, looking for a daily driver for her, found this '56 Bel Air on a Westerly car lot eight years ago, it was love at first sight. "It was flawless," John says.

But though the price was reasonable, John had to have some fun. So after talking to the salesman, he told Vivian the car would cost more than three times the real asking price, and she thought that was it. But he went back, bought it, and put it in the garage as a surprise.

And, no surprise, it's not her daily driver. "It's a dream," she says, and that's what the vanity plate says, also.

The turquoise and white beauty is a typical family car of its time. No power steering or brakes, just an AM radio and a clock (that doesn't work). Power comes from the Chevy Blue Flame six, making 140 hp, and the transmission is a two-speed Powerglide.

A frame-off restoration by Jim Moon of North Kingstown 24 years ago is now starting to show its age, so the Maxsons keep restoring and replacing as needed. They have had some chrome work done, and some suspension work, and are considering a new paint job down the line. This is a big-ticket item because it's a lacquer finish.

The '56 is the rarest of the "Tri-Five" Chevys, the 1955-57s that share the same underpinnings. "It's a nice, slow cruiser," says Vivian. "It motors along, and everyone smiles and waves."

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: Blue Flame 235-cubic-inch 6; Powerglide automatic.

COLOR: Twilight Turquoise and India Ivory.

MILEAGE: 86,000.

PLATE: ADREAM

CAN BE SEEN: Paddy's Bayside, Misquamicut, on Thursdays.

CONDITION: Older 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

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Two festivals, two Ford shows and a Corvette show are the highlights on the classic car calendar this weekend.

On Sunday at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, the show at the Charlestown Seafood Festival will feature cars of all makes and is sponsored by the Heaven on Wheels club. Also Sunday is the Cumberland Festival at Diamond Hill State Park, on Route 114.

Ford fans can go on Saturday to Tasca Ford in Cranston or, to see Falcons, to the 10th annual Falcon Club show at the Quality Inn in Vernon, Conn. The Corvette Club of Rhode Island puts on its 35th annual show and shine at Marina Park, off Route 1, Wakefield, on Sunday.

The Bristol County Street Rod Association will hold its 11th annual fundraiser to benefit the Share Foundation on the campus of UMass-Dartmouth in Dartmouth, also on Sunday.

Cruise nights that are not held weekly are listed by date just below.

AUGUST

Wednesday, Aug. 3 -- American Legion post, Route 79, south of Route 140, Berkley, Mass., 5-dusk.

Aug. 4 -- Regional High School, Route 106, South Easton, Mass., 6-9.

Aug. 5 -- Mattapoisett wharf, Mattapoisett, Mass., 5-9.

Aug. 6 -- Ford show, Tasca Ford, Route 37 at Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, 9-3.

Aug. 6 -- Market Place Plaza, 1160 Stafford Rd., Tiverton, 4-dusk.

Aug. 6 -- Cruise night, Seekonk Wal-Mart, Route 6, Seekonk, 5-8.

Aug. 6 -- Ford Falcon show, Quality Inn, Route 83, Vernon, Conn., 8-3.

Aug. 7 -- Charlestown Seafood Festival, Ninigret Park, off Route 1, 11-3.

Aug. 7 -- Cumberland Festival, Diamond Hill State Park, Route 114, Cumberland, 9-3.

Aug. 7 -- Corvette show, Marina Park, Salt Pond Road, off Route 1, South Kingstown, 8:30-3. Rain date Aug. 14.

Aug. 7 -- UMass. campus, Dartmouth, Mass., 8-3.

Aug. 7 -- Mazda Miata day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Aug. 9 -- Brooks Pharmacy plaza, Washington Street, Canton, Mass., 5-dusk.

Aug, 11 -- Inside Scoop, 1105 Scituate Ave., Cranston, 5:30-dusk.

Aug. 12 -- St. Mary's Church, Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, Mass., 5-9.

Aug. 14 -- Cars, trucks, motorcycles, Berkley Commons, Berkley, Mass., 9-3.

Aug. 16 -- West Greenwich Plaza, 780 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, 6-dusk.

Aug. 18 -- Cruise night, South County Commons, Route 1, South Kingstown, 6-8.

Aug. 19 -- Shawmut Diner, Hathaway Road, Exit 3 off Route 140, New Bedford, 5-9.

Aug. 20 -- R.I. Air National Guard show, Schoolhouse Road, Coventry, 10-3.

Aug. 21 -- Medway VFW, 126 Holliston Rd., Medway, Mass. 8-3.

Aug. 21 -- MG/Rover day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Aug. 27, 28 -- Military vehicle show, Quonset Air Museum, North Kingstown, 10-4.

Aug. 28 -- Show and flea market, Somerset Middle School, 1141 Brayton Ave., Somerset, 10-5.

Aug. 28 -- Plainfield School, Route 14A, Plainfield, Conn., 8-4.

Aug. 28 -- Vintage Ford day, includes Lincolns and Mercurys, pre-1970, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 4 -- All-makes show, St. Angelo Buick-Pontiac-GMC, 500 Taunton Ave., East Providence, 8-4. Postponed from May 15.

Sept. 4 -- Fort Getty, Jamestown, 9-3.

Sept. 5 -- Labor Day show, Lodge of Elks, Attleboro, 9:30-3.

Sept. 10 -- Porsche day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 11 -- Mercedes-Benz day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 11 -- Invitation only, Prowse Farm, off Routes 128 and 138, Canton, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 17 -- Middletown Rotary show, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, 10-3.

Sept. 17 -- Heritage Invitational, Heritage Museum, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass., 10-2.

Sept. 24 -- Glen Park, Route 138, Portsmouth, 9-3.

Sept. 24 -- Briarcliff Manor, 49 Old Pocasset Rd., Johnston, 11-3.

Sept. 24 -- Pontiac GTO day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

Sept. 25 -- Corvette show, Heritage Museum, 67 Grove St., Sandwich, Mass., 10-2.

Sept. 25 -- Volkswagen Van day, Museum of Transportation, Newton Street, Brookline, Mass., 10-3.

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

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

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

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

Middle of Nowhere diner, 223 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Route 3, Exeter, cars and motorcycles, 5-8:30.

Appetites Restaurant, 473 Tiogue Ave., Coventry, 5-8.

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

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

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

Oakland Beach, Warwick, 5-9.

Jukebox Diner, Route 6, Somerset, 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.

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 St., North Providence, 5-9.

Downtown Attleboro, 5-8:30.

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

Mohegan Sun, roof of Riverview garage, Uncasville, Conn., 6-9. Begins tonight.

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

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

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

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

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, 5:30-7:30.

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 [at] projo.com, phone (401) 277-7179, fax (401) 277-8175 or write to Brian Beaulieu, Journal Features Department, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.