There Was A Foreign Invasion At the Pumpkin Run

I have nothing against the popular American classics that are seen at just about every old car hobby event. Mustangs and Vettes and Chargers are all well and good and are amazing machines to admire. But I love seeing vehicles that you don't normally spot at such events. I like the car marques that haven't been made for decades. And, I like foreigners. While the Pumpkin Run Nationals is mostly made up of American metal it is open to any car made in 1974 or before, and that includes those from across the waters. There were quite a nice collection of imported vehicles on hand for the 46th annual event. Among them was a very sharp looking MG TD, an Allard kit car, a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34, a MG B, a 1951 MG TD, an Opal GT, and a 1960 totally unrestored Saab 93.

Pontiac Paraded At the Pumpkin Run

When General Motors ceased production of the Pontiac in 2010 I felt a pang of sadness. As a kid our family always had a Pontiac in the driveway. They ranged from a Tempest up through a Catalina Safari station wagon. Then the old man got a promotion and moved up to a Cadillac. But I grew up riding around in a Pontiac. We went on vacations with my brother and I in the back of a station wagon. So it always gladdens my heart a little to see Pontiac automobiles at various car shows. There were plenty on hand for the 46th Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Among them was this beautiful LeMans, a 1941 Pontiac coup, a 1938 coup, a 1973 Firebird Trans Am (which sports one of my all time favorite front ends), a LeMans Sport convertible, and a GTO convertible.

Ford Was On Hand At the Pumpkin Run Nationals

Since it's inception in June, 1903, the Ford Motor Company has been one of the best selling car lines not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Ford turned the industry on its head in 1914 when it introduced the moving assembly line. Other companies such as Dodge had used an assembly line concept where the cars remained stationary and workers brought the various parts to the frame and built the vehicle piece by piece. But Ford's moving assembly line allowed for a much more efficient construction process which, in turn, allowed the cars to be built more economically. This allowed more people to be able to afford one of Ford's automobiles. (Henry Ford was also partially responsible for the development and popularity of the charcoal industry, but that's another story.) This assembly process is why, over the years, Ford has become so popular. As a result, there were a number of Ford vehicles at the 46thAnnual Pumpkin Run Nationals. Among them was a beautiful Fairlane convertible, a 1958 Lincoln, a Mercury Medalist, a Mercury Eight convertible, a 1957 Cougar, a first generation Thunderbird, a 1967 Cougar, and a 1929 Model A Cabin Speedster.

Oldsmobile Was On Hand For the Pumpkin Run Nationals

 Ransom E. Olds founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897 but a dispute with a sales manager in 1904 saw him leave the company bearing his name. That company went on to become Oldsmobile and, until parent company General Motors shuttered the doors in 2004, it was the oldest surviving automotive company in the United States. Slotted in the middle of the GM brand hierarchy between Buick and Pontiac, Olds offered up everything from luxury, such as the Ninety-Eight seen here, to entry level cars. It's biggest sales success was in the 1980s but that waned drastically by the following decade and was a major factor in why GM decided to shut down the marque. There were plenty of Olds automobiles on hand for the 46th Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals sponsored by the Fastiques. Here are just some that were on hand, including a 1941 coupe, a 1955 Holiday, and a couple of very muscular 442 convertibles.

 

Cars From Chrysler Corporation Were On Hand For the Pumpkin Run

The Maxwell Motor Company was founded in 1904, making it one of the earliest "successful" car manufacturers in America. But in trying to compete with the low cost offerings from companies such as Ford and Oldsmobile, Maxwell found itself overextended and under funded by the end of World War I. That's when industrialist Walter P. Chrysler stepped in and bought them up. Since Maxwell was in the midst of a merger with Chalmers Automobile Company, it meant the Chrysler owned two struggling car companies. In 1925 the Chrysler Corporation was formed and has since gone on to be one of the "Big Three" US automakers. With its rich history there were a lot of Chrysler vehicles on hand for the 46th Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals including this beautiful 1948 Windsor. Also at the Clermont County Fair Grounds that day was a 1936 Plymouth, a Dodge Charger RT, a 1956 Plymouth Fury, a 1949 Windsor, and a Dodge Challenger RT.

There Were Bowties At the Pumpkin Run

In 1911 Louis Chevrolet, a Swiss race car driver, was a found of the company that bares his name. There are a number of different stories about how the car company got it's famous "bowtie" logo ranging from a pattern seen on wall paper in France to a variation of the Swiss cross. What is known is that the logo first appeared in 1913 and has become one of the most famous icons in the automobile industry. It is so well known that the Pumpkin Run Nationals calls the section set aside for all General Motors cars Bowtie Country. That area, as well as a lot of other portions of the Clermont County Fairgrounds was filled with Chevrolet automobiles. Among them was this El Camino. Look closely and you will see the Malibu name on the side. Yes, the El Camino was first based on the Biscayne, the second generation used the basics of the Chevelle, of which the Malibu was a top of the line trim. Other cars included a rare 1961 Corvair station wagon, a Chevy II, a 1931 sedan, a 1967 Impala, and a couple of Novas.

Customs Rolled To the Pumpkin Run Nationals

 The Pumpkin Run Nationals is presented by the Fastiques, a long time car club that began and still has its roots in customs and rods. So it's little wonder that the 46th Annual event saw a fair number of customs show up to participate. Here are some that were at the Clermont County Fair Grounds that weekend.

Mustangs Made Their Way To the Pumpkin Run Nationals

The Ford Mustang is one of the most successful automobiles in American history. When it was introduced it greatly exceeded all expectations and has continued to sell well throughout the years. Perhaps that is why there were so many on hand for the 46th Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals. Here are some that were at the Clermont County Fairgrounds that day, including the 1970 model seen here.