Penny's First Show
Oct. 11, 2006
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A wet and overcast morning greets Lynn and Penny as they set out for their first car show.
Penny sits in the parking lot of Lynn credit union at about 6:15 am as he makes an ATM
withdrawl.
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Rain was forcast for Saturday morning, the first day of the Goodguys 17th Autumn Get-Together. Lynn rises at about 5:30 am so that he can get to the gate early. His experience with other shows is that the choice parking spots are taken early.
Since the show will also feature lots of vendors and a giant swap meet, Lynn anticipates the need for some extra cash. On the way to the show, Lynn stops at his credit union to put some extra jingle in his pocket.
As it turns out, he didn't need to rush. The wet and cool weather significantly reduces the attendance. Lynn hears some grumbling from the vendors about the light crowds. Hopefully the weather will be more cooperative for the second day of the show which Lynn will not be able to attend because of business travel plans.
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Lynn and Penny on display at the show.
Lynn attaches a sheet with information on the car to the passenger window.
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Lynn finds a great spot along side one of the large event pravilions near to the main entrance. Well maybe it wasn't that great of a spot, as it was right underneath a large tree that was loosing its leaves. With the rain and the wind, Lynn spends most of the morning removing wet leaves from Penny. Still, this location was great for foot traffic and a Lynn had a constant stream of visitors all day long.
Based on his earlier experiences with showing Bugsby, Lynn creates a information display that he attaches to the passenger side window. As he expected, many people who pass the car stop and give at least a cursory review of the information on display. This also gives Lynn an opportunity to say hello, which often leads to an extended discussion about the car.
Jeanne and Andrew (Lynn's wife and son) join him for lunch. The Kissel family spend some time viewing other cars and items for sale at the show. They all seemed to enjoy the gathering and were pleased with the public reaction to Penny.
As might have been expected, the Goodguys show was heavy in rodded and modified cars. Lynn cannot say that he saw many, if any unmodified cars. For now the Goodguys show was perfect for Penny where Lynn could enjoy the day without feeling too much pressure about the car's condition. For the immediate future, Lynn's goal is to work on improving the car's driveability and general condition.
Penny was certainly well received by other people at the show, but this was not the venue at which Lynn eventually hopes to show the car. Once he has more time to undo the non-original modifications and imperfections in fit and finish, Lynn hopes to eventually show Penny at AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) meets where cars are judged for authenticity and quality of workmanship. It's likely that it will be some years before Lynn and Penny are ready for the AACA.
Feeling Better About The Cost
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Lynn spots these 1937 Buick coupes at the show.
The yellow coupe was in great shape and on display by the owner, but it was not
advertised for sale.
The black coupe was in fair shape and offered for sale at a rain reduced price of $16,500.
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After talking with some of the people at the show and seeing what was for sale, Lynn starts to feel better about his the price he paid for Penny.
Lynn spots two 1937 Buick coupes at the show that bore a close resemblance to Penny. The yellow coupe was in great shape and it sported side mount tires which Lynn really fancies. The hood was open later in the day and Lynn was disappointed to see that the car had been extensively modified, sporting a modern V8 engine.
The black coupe was offered for sale. The notice claimed that it was "rare and original," except for a poor paint job by a "blind man with a paint gun in the 80's." The car was sporting a "rain sale" reduced price of $16,500. Comparing what he could see of the car with Penny, Lynn felt that he had the better value.
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Last updated: Jan. 29, 2010