I’ve been attending the AACA car show at Wilson Bank in Mt. Juliet for a few years now, and I liked it so much that I finally decided to enter a car. This is one of those events that always seems to be blessed with nice weather and a great turnout, and this year followed that trend. The Mid-Tenn AACA chapter reports that 156 entries made it to the show field, and there were several of them that really tripped the meter. My only regret was that I underestimated the sunshine and forgot to wear sunscreen. Hanging around at a car show is not for the weak.
There were a couple of very nice Oldsmobiles in this show, including this 1967 4-4-2. Now, in ’67, the 4-4-2 was a sporty trim level based on the Cutlass Supreme. In ’68, the 4-4-2 was considered its own model. So this boxy ’67 was the last of its kind. If you like red, this is your car. It’s bright Spanish Red on the outside, with red vinyl on the inside, and even rolls on redline tires. The inner-fenders are also red, indicating this was equipped with the W30 package. Other than a set of aftermarket gauges, and what appears to be a later-model steering wheel, this 4-4-2 is the perfect alternative to the more common Chevelle or GTO. A big ol’ 400-c.i. V8 with better than 300-hp hauls this stylish intermediate down the road with ease.
And while we’re still on the subject, check out this outstanding ’72 Oldsmobile Cutlass S. This one was never meant to be flashy, and it’s all the better for it. It’s finished in an unassuming Jade Mist paintjob with a green vinyl bench seat. The bias-ply thin whitewall tires even look perfect here. Factory air conditioning keeps things comfortable. And even though it isn’t a 4-4-2, the 350-c.i. lump under the hood has more than enough power to keep things interesting. In a way, I kind of like it better than a 4-4-2. You certainly see less of them around these days.
It’s unlikely that 70-years ago, anyone thought this ’46 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor would ever wear this laser-straight bodywork and mile-deep black paint. But here it is, looking like an inkwell spilled on a glass table. This car is sort of a combination of old and new. The wheels and period-correct tires, along with the flathead V8 make you think old. But the aftermarket air conditioning and gauges, alternator, and large aluminum radiator are decidedly newer. It really has the best of both worlds—not so modified that it’s a resto-mod, but without some of the headaches that come with using an older car. They really did a nice job on this.
Chevrolet has been good about commemorating Corvette anniversaries over the years. 1988 was the 35th year since its introduction, so they offered the Z01 package, consisting of white paint, white seats, white door panels, white steering wheel, white wheels, and a roof band that was painted—you guessed it—black. There was also a numbered plaque in the console and special fender emblems. They didn’t make many of these; only 2,050 total, and they cost a not insignificant $4,795 over a base Corvette coupe. I always thought they were really good looking, especially with all that white inside. The steering wheel had to be murder to keep clean, though. That didn’t seem to be a problem with this one, as every bit of it was perfectly sterile.
Five years later, Chevy celebrated the Corvette’s 40th anniversary with these Ruby Red ‘93s. This is actually my car, and this is the first car show I’ve displayed it at. There were a few more of these built than the ’88 version, 6,749 to be exact, split up among coupes, convertibles, and ZR-1s. For $1,455 you got the Ruby Red paint and matching leather interior, along with fender badges and color-keyed wheel center caps. The gimmick here was that the ruby is the traditional jewelry gift for a 40th anniversary, so that’s why they chose this color. I was surprised at how many people said they loved the color. I even watched several people take their pictures by it! It’s pretty fun to bring something that so many people seemed to like. I also took home a second-place trophy for my class, so that was cool too.
Speaking of cool, there were lots of other great cars at the 2018 AACA Show at the Wilson County Bank. I took 405 pictures, so hopefully that covers everything.
See all the pictures by clicking this link.
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