Classic cars on display in Moline

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By Tamara Fudge | Saturday, August 25, 2007 10:12 PM CDT | () comments

Seven decades of antique cars headed for the streets of Moline this weekend for the Antique Automobile Club of America Central Division National Fall Meet.

Parts of River Drive by John Deere Commons were blocked on Saturday as 172 cars were judged and another 20 stood on display.

There were Chryslers, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Studebakers, Austin-Healey, Packards and Jaguars.

On the other hand, there was also an Oakland Toy Tonneau, Flanders Roadster, Maxwell Runabout, Mitchell Roadster and a 1903 St. Louis Runabout on which a passenger sits in front of the driver.

A nice local touch was found with the inclusion of a Moline-manufactured 1925 Velie.

Marvin Smith of Newburgh, Ind., enjoyed returning to the Quad-Cities for the meet.

The Davenport native brought his Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special (Series 6029). It sports a 390 V8 engine and big fins, and still has the original 1959 Iowa license plate on the front.

Smith is the car’s third owner. “It was sold from the dealership in Davenport, the Langwith Motor Company, to the McGinness Funeral Home,” said Smith.

“It was Mrs. McGinness’ personal car. I purchased it in 1992 in Davenport from Vera Sohnsen, the neighbor of my oldest brother.”

Restoration took 13 years. “Every bolt was taken off, every weld was inspected, every speck of dust was eliminated,” said Smith, who has pictures of the process. Even the original bolts and hinges were replated.

Besides the obvious amount of physical labor on his part, some work such as the leather and silk interior was done by specialists.

It has an original dashboard, whitewall tires, factory air and all-power windows. The only equipment the car was missing was cruise control, Smith said, “but it was only an option in 1959.”

“It’s been a good hobby for his retirement,” said Smith’s wife, Joan. At times the car was in boxes and baskets, she said, “and all I recognized was the steering wheel.”

The meet had plenty of variety. A 1935 Blick Oil Company Mobil Gas truck was brought in from Aledo, still owned by the Blick family.

The huge 1940 Futurliner by General Motors drew attention with its educational exhibit from the “Parade of Progress” that was taken on the road in the 1940s and 50s.

In contrast, the tiny 1958 Isetta Sliding Window Coupe is so small it has just one door: directly in front.

John and Helen Heist of Mundelein, Ill., brought their unusual all-aluminum 1952 Delo trials car, made in England for all-terrain activity. As many owners did, the Heists brought their car in a trailer instead of driving in traffic.

Not so for Larry and Alice Benson of Blue Grass, who proudly drove their 1931 Ford Victoria into town for the occasion.

“The event brings together enthusiasm from all over the country,” said meet chairman Jack Kirik. “It’s a sharing experience. People just love to talk about their cars.”

He cited a 1926 Studebaker Funeral Coach from Moses Lake, Wash., as possibly the vehicle that came the farthest for the event.

“People love this downtown setting,” said Kirik, “and the hospitality of our people.”

Paul and Judy Vianey of Perry, Ga., showed their 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe sedan with its original Live Oak Green Metallic paint.

“We came to show our car and get a little history of the area,” said Paul Vianey, who enjoys “talking to folks about cars or towns or anything.”

The city desk can be contacted at

(563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.