Mark's Classic Cruise, East Granby, May 17th, 2010

After two attempts that were thwarted by bad weather, the season opener for Mark’s Classic Cruise in East Granby, CT was held on Monday, May 17th (http://www.markscruisenight.com/).

We had been told that it was a well-attended event, but nothing prepared us for around 650 cars. The field was packed! The viewing bleachers, benches, and picnic tables were filled with spectators looking on as a long snake of classic, vintage, muscle and anything else you can name cars arrived.

Wandering the field was an experience. Car after car had features to enjoy and photograph. The only problem that we had was not enough time to see everything and talk to all of the car owners!

Cruisin’s Star Car

At a show with 650 cars in attendance, it was going to take something very special to be chosen as Cruisin’s Star Car. Our choice is, in our opinion, very, very special. Feast your eyes on this superb 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Super D-500 Convertible.

Naif, the lucky owner, has had this beauty since the early 1990s, but decided to have it restored around five years ago. The car was bought from a collector in New Jersey. After finding the car, Naif flew out to see it, bought it there and then and drove it back despite a few problems.

He told Cruisin’ that the Dodge was in a wonderful rust-free condition when he obtained it, but it was not in these colors. When the car was given its frame-off restoration it was returned to the original paint scheme.

The Dodge is a highly optioned car. It has a rare, and new-for-1959, Super D-500 383ci, 345bhp, overhead-valve V8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor. Other extras include TorqueFlite automatic transmission, with push-button drive, power steering, power brakes and swiveling seats. The car is very rare. Naif believes that only four or five remain in the world.

The car has been featured in several magazines and was invited to a prestigious Concours d’Elegance held in Meadow Brook, MI in 2009. It took second place in its class.

While Naif owns several cars he uses the Dodge regularly. He has received several six-figure offers for the D-500 that have all been politely refused! A base-model custom Convertible Royal was sold by dealers for $3,370 in 1959, but only 984 customers opted for this body style. Fewer still added the potent Super D-500 engine, which added another $415 to the base price.

Naif is looking forward to showing the car at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance on June 5th.