Downtown Naperville’s Classic Car Show 2019

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Bringing History to Life

The cloudy skies couldn’t keep spectators and car owners away from the Classic Car Show in Downtown Naperville.

About 90 owners showed off their vintage vehicles at the show, taking Napervillians on a ride back in history for the fifth year. Bringing that history to life is what’s important for some car owners like Ray Brownfield.

“Because the little kids don’t have an idea, they see all the newer cars so their mom or dad will say ‘look at this,’ and they know a little history and if they don’t they’ll ask me about it, and I just love to tell them about the car,” said Brownfield, owner of a 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible. “And there’s a bag on the inside that’s where the washer fluid is, nobody knew what that is because they don’t have that anymore in cars like that, it’s plastic. So it’s just things like that and I just love the people, that’s what it’s all about.”

Finding the Right Fit

But for Steven Meitz it was all about finding a car that was just the right fit.

“I fit in it, truly. I found a couple other cars that I really liked and tried to get in and being 6 foot, 5 inches and weight unknown, but yeah it’s a comfortable car. Actually my first job back when I was 16 years old was shuffling Cadillacs around for a car dealer and I fell in love with the old Cadillacs. And here I am, unknown years later, and I was finally able to afford to buy one,” said Meitz, owner of a 1973 Cadillac Eldorado.

Keeping the Water Away

Nerves run high if too much rain falls because the paint can come off and the water causes rust. When some drizzle did start to dampen the day, owners ran to wipe it off, but Tom Kuhn’s beloved tractor Bob, soaked it all in.

“Bob loves a good shower just like the rest of us once in a while. We put a can on the muffler if it rains a lot so the water doesn’t get in and, geez it’s a wonderful thing just to collect these old buggies,” said Kuhn, who owns a 1953 John Deere 40.

Naperville News 17’s Aysha Ashley Househ reports.