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Car buffs take a fabulous ride back to the ’50s
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Kenny and Jeanie Hill stand next to their 1934 Chevy that won best paint job for its “Cotton Candy Pink” at the “Back to the ’50s Weekend” festival in New Castle.
By Sean Barron
NEW CASTLE, PA.
Like many healthy marriages, Kenny and Jeanie Hill’s relationship has many compromises — even when it comes to their 1934 Chevrolet Coupe’s paint color and engine type.
“I threw the pink thing out and he said, ‘I don’t want it pink,’ so I found a way around it,” said Jeanie, referring to the Tamaqua, Pa., couple’s vintage vehicle, which is an eye-catching strawberry-cream color.
The trade-off? For relenting to the color, Kenny was allowed to install a raised, shiny chrome engine, his wife said with laughter.
Their car also was among about 20 that were in an awards ceremony Sunday, which was part of the 26th annual “Back to the ’50s Weekend” car show and music festival at Cascade Park off East Washington Avenue.
An estimated 1,200 vintage vehicles were the big attraction of the family-friendly four-day show, which began Thursday and wrapped up Sunday, noted Chuck Lombardo, event organizer and owner of Huntington Beach, Calif.-based California Street Rods.
For as long as she can remember, Jeanie has had a deep affinity for cars. In 1970, she made $1.50 an hour as a legal secretary but was able to buy for $3,000 her first vehicle: a 1970 Chevelle that she still drives, she recalled.
On Sunday, Jeanie wasn’t shy about wearing her love of cars. That was evident by jewelry such as earrings shaped like spark plugs, a small snap-on pendant resembling a screwdriver and a necklace with pieces that looked like a ballpeen hammer and a wrench.
Their 1934 vehicle, which Kenny called “a labor of love,” features a TH-400 transmission, a raised windshield, a 468 Chevrolet engine, a burlap interior with leather inserts and carpeting that was in a Rolls Royce vehicle. It also has an 18-gallon gas tank, he said.
The park was filled with classic, restored vehicles, including a bright-red 1967 Pontiac GTO, a 1970 Plymouth Duster, a blue-green Chevrolet Coupe DeVille and a Chevelle Super Sport.
Another Super Sport belonged to Frank Sari of New Castle, who completely restored his tiger-paw gold 1967 Chevelle SS, which his father gave him as a birthday gift.
“It took me three years to make it drivable,” said Sari, who came with his girlfriend, Hannah Falconer of Bessemer, Pa., who helped him keep the car clean.
Its features include a 350 small-block engine, a new leather interior with “SS” logos on the seats and chrome under the hood, Sari explained, adding that Brandon’s Auto Body Inc. of New Castle painted the vehicle.
Many old vehicles had noticeable modern touches, such as David Marcella’s black 1940 Ford Deluxe.
Marcella, of Sumter, S.C., wanted a hot rod car and found his on eBay before buying it last November in Virginia and updating the mechanical aspects, he recalled. The body is original, but changes included new gas lines, fuel and water pumps, carburetor and hoses, said Marcella, who served 22 years in the Air Force.
The car also has air conditioning, power windows, steering and brakes, and four seats with a rumble seat in the back, noted Marcella, who was with his wife, Andrea, and both of whom are formerly of New Castle.
Phil Sunseri of New Castle spent about eight months restoring his 1957 Oldsmobile Super 8V Holiday car, which has a J-2 engine with a three-deuces carburetor and a customized interior.
Sunseri also is the promoter of the annual Memories Car Cruise event, set for Aug. 26 in downtown New Castle.
“I’ve had a passion for cars as long as I can remember,” said David Kennedy of New Castle, who proudly stood next to his 1971 Chevelle “Heavy Chevy” vehicle, one of four vintage cars he and his three sons restored.
The old and modern meshed in Kennedy’s car, which has air-conditioning, automatic transmission and bucket seats complemented with an AM-only radio.
Entertaining attendees Sunday were rock ’n’ roll legends Chuck Blasko and the Vogues as well as the Pittsburgh-based doo-wop group Johnny Angel and the Halos.
The groups’ hits include “Lady Soul,” “Oh, What a Night,” “Five O’ Clock World” and “Turn Around, Look at Me.”
Also on hand were vendors who sold auto parts, custom jewelry, clothing, food and canvas prints.