Each car at the 12th annual Tisbury car show on Sunday hinted at a backstory. One vintage Ford pickup had the words, "In memory of Lee," painted on it in cursive script.
Hanging from the rearview of a 55 Mercedes 220a was a grandson’s homemade fish ornament. A lime green and black International Scout bore a sticker that read “2nd amendment 1789 — America’s original homeland security.”
The Scout’s owner, John Oliver of Vineyard Haven, said the car was a project he started with his brother, Victor, who died three years ago.
“He had cancer, so he knew but we thought we’d get something out of it,” he said of the car. “I come to the show as an homage to him.”
John Chapman, also of Vineyard Haven, sat in the shade by his 64 Chevy Impala Super Sport as the live band played Mustang Sally. “I get a lot of looks, a lot of thumbs up,” he said of driving the car around the Island.
And his thoughts on modern cars? “Junk,” he said. “They don’t care about style. They don’t care about power.”
Modern models were represented though among the 60 or so cars on display in all their gleaming glory.
“It’s just what you need on the Island, something that goes 150 miles an hour,” Tommy Morrison of Oak Bluffs said of his 2005 Rouche Mustang.
The event benefits the fallen firefighters fund and was hosted by the Tisbury firefighters association in collaboration with other Island fire departments. Town fire engines rounded out the show.
Near the entrance, event organizer Kenneth Maciel, captain of Tisbury’s engine 651, displayed a modern car too, but he lifted up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo of a 68 Camaro on his bicep. “I like to tell everybody I traded it in for a family,” he said.
Awards:
Best in show: John Anderson, 55 Pontiac Star Chief.
First place: Tommy Searle, 65 Mustang.
Second place: Sean and Mackenzie Duart, Jeep Wrangler.
Third place: David Oliviera, Jeep Wrangler.
Kids choice: Trip Barnes, 51 Ford F-100.
Special recognition: Skip Finley, 1987 Buick Grand National.
Daily Driver: Charlie Morano, 64 Landrover.
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