August 2005 Street Rods

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Northampton Elks Cruise Night

A new and booming Thursday night cruise is one of the biggest hits introduced to Western Mass crusin’ this 2005 season.

Located on Spring Street in the Florence section of Northampton, the Thursday night program is well organized, well attended with a wide variety of vintage autos, street rods, muscle cars and motorcycles. Oldies music, by DJ Bruce Marshall, fill the air mingling with the aromas from an appetite pleasing grille menu.

The Elk volunteers and their families, attired in yellow t-shirts, are both pleasant and efficient catering appropriately to cruise entrants and cruise attendees. Weather permitting, this program will continue throughout the cruise season.

1950 Ford Convertible Robert J Powers with Kids	1955 Nomad Joe Enright	1931 A Coup Brvee Laberge
1967 Chevy C10 Pick Up - Robert W Govgeon		1933 Ply Coup James Pawloski

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1930 Ford “A” Roadster with Rumble Seat

Dr. William Bontelle derives much pleasure from this 1930 Ford “A” Roadster. Restored 5 years ago, Dr. Bontelle purchased this vintage auto out of New York State. His plans are to just enjoy it. It surely is a show stopper with a rumble seat, some wood trim and a rich blue exterior color.

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1955 Ford Pickup F100

Restoration of this emerald green1955 Ford Pickup F100 has been a 10-year ongoing family project for the Costello family of Florence Massachusetts. It is a frame-off restoration and close to original. The motor is a Chevy Corvette 327, 350 turbo transmission, stock front end, posi rear end and corkers wheels with BF Goodrich tires. The interior is black leather with a tilt steering wheel and VDO gauges.

Larry Costello is third owner of this stately pickup. Originally it came out of South Dakota when a Grandfather drove it to Eastthampton area for his Grandson. Larry purchased it for $2500. Just days after the transaction, the previous owner returned $500. to Larry because he knew the truck needed a master cylinder.

In it’s first life, this 50’s pickup was a burnt orange color, Larry painted it white, then dark blue and finally to the emerald green it is now.

It also has a very special $20.00 1955 LC license plate. There is a definite bond between the Costello family and this 1955 Ford Pickup. Is it memories from the past parades they drove it in, is it the manual of redoing the door panels, is it the buffing and the primping or is it that this family shared the experience and did it together?

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1950 Plymouth Deluxe

A lovely senior couple named Charles and Estelle Elliott (83 years young) own and enjoy this all original light blue 1950 Plymouth Deluxe. It is a regal sight to behold.

The motor is an original 6 cylinder flat head, with standard transmission on the column and original from the factory front and rear ends. There is no customizing just a pure 1950 vintage Plymouth in the raw. One of the long- forgotten apparatuses original to this vintage auto is the original vacuum wipers. The faster you drive the slower they go. It also has a push-button radio, the original gauges and 40lb oil pressure. The interior is original cloth and quite fragile. This auto was manufactured in black, blue or green only and always had wide white wall tires just as this one does.

Charles and Estelle treasure their 50 Plymouth. They drive it everywhere particularly to cruise nights, and when the opportunity arises, parades and weddings. The vehicle is as much from their past as it is in their present. Charles drove this same type of automobile when he was courting the lovely Estelle many years ago.

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1968 Ford Mustang

Winning many trophies and awarded 1st place when judged by the “Model T Ford Club” at an Agawam Mass car show, this 1968 turquoise Ford Mustang is a champion vintage automobile. It is easy to see why owners Ken and Loretta Elkas, from the Florence area, truly enjoy driving and showing this impeccable beauty.

Ken sold it at one time, to buy a street rod, then bought his Mustang back two years later. With a 289 motor, automatic transmission and black leather interior, it is a sure showstopper.

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1976 Chevrolet Pickup Truck

The restoration of this 1976 Chevy pickup was completed at Smith Vocational School, a process that took one school year. Howard Drew is the current owner, showing this street rod at shows and in parades.

There are some novel restorations such as the sprayed truck bed without a bumper. The pickup is lowered 4 inches, painted black with customized flames giving it a definite street rod appearance. The motor is a 350 s-b, standard 4 on the floor transmission with Eagle wheels. Everything under the hood is new, so new and well maintained it sparkles. The interior houses gray cloth bucket seats.

Howard especially enjoys showing his pickup (or is it a street rod) at the Northampton Elks Cruise Night