It’s become increasingly apparent that Americans enjoy not only owning collector cars but showing them off as well. Some grassroots events— like Cars and Coffee and the Sunday Morning Car Show—have grown so large they’ve had to move to more accommodating quarters. That’s all the more reason for owners and fans to support the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD), which is taking place this year on July 14.
“As we prepare for the eighth celebration of our nation’s automotive heritage, enthusiasts and related businesses are already planning open houses, car cruises, club gatherings, and educational events to commemorate the day,” Steve McDonald, SEMA vice president of government affairs, told eBay Motors.
Dogs get to join the fun at today’s collector car events. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)
The SEMA Action Network is urging owners to get out and drive their old vehicles to make them more visible. “To car enthusiasts, specialty vehicles embody the American dream,” said Colby Martin, SEMA’s director. “The well-known phrase from the Declaration of Independence says it all: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We carve out precious resources and time to enjoy freedom on four wheels.”
On July 14, Martin added, “Thousands will be taking over the streets to share their passion in honor of the occasion. I hope you will get your special ride out of the garage and head to an official event near you or even host your own.”
Kids enjoy a Chevy Nova ragtop. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)
Roger Garbow is the Ridgefield, Conn.-based owner of a Honda S2000 and co-producer of the Sunday Morning Car Show in New York. “These old vehicles have a growing importance,” he said. “There are a lot of businesses depending on the collector car world, selling new old stock (NOS) and reproduction parts, as well as the cars themselves.” Garbow stresses the need to get more young people involved in the hobby, which today attracts an older demographic.
According to Garbow, eBay Motors is vital to keeping old cars on the road. “Now it isn’t necessary to travel to 100 swap meets. You can now find anything you need—for even obscure cars—just by searching for it. eBay Motors changed the world for the collector car enthusiast.”
Canadian enthusiasts out in force with their collector cars in Winnipeg. (Photo: George Drazic)
Another event heightening awareness about collector cars is the Rutledge Wood ’67 Mustang Fastback restoration, which is unfolding on the road and being completed solely with parts (including replacement front fenders) sourced through eBay. The work in progress will be at the Goodguys 20th PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio from July 7 to 9. The final rebuilt car will be revealed—and auctioned for charity—at the annual SEMA convention in Las Vegas, Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.
SEMA’s Collector Car Appreciation Day acknowledges the central role the automobile has played in American society, both economically and culturally. Not only do old cars provide well-paying jobs in all 50 states, but they also serve as the “inspiration for music, photography, cinema, fashion, and other artistic pursuits that have become part of the popular culture of the United States.” That sentiment was enshrined in Senate Resolution 154, which established CCAD in 2011.
