Some Really Old Cars were at the Pumpkin Run

The Pumpkin Run Nationals has a rule that any entry must be at least 50 years old. That isn't a problem for this group which includes a 1928 Whippet Six, a 1951 Ford Victoria, a 1937 Plymouth, a Ford Model T, a post war Ford Deluxe sedan, a custom Model T, and a Ford Deluxe V8.

 

Beetles Crawled to the Pumpkin Run

 

The story of the Volkswagen is fairly well known. It was designed to be "the people's car" in Germany during the Great Depression, a vehicle that could move up to four people and be quite affordable. There were some rather famous people involved in the ultimate development of the VW, including Dr. Ferdinand Porsche whose son would go on to create a rather famous car of his own. During World War II the VW factory was bombed out and, after the conflict, was going to be completely trashed. It had ended up in the British controlled section of West Germany and Army major Ivan Hirst saw the potential to help re-build the country through manufacturing. The rest, as they say, is history. The Type 1, better known as the Beetle, became the largest selling car in the world. A good number of those ended up at the Pumpkin Run Nationals sponsored by the Fastiques Rod and Custom Car Club and held at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Here are some of the "Bugs" that were on display.

Charities Benefit from the Pumpkin Run

 

Decades ago the Fastiques Rod and Custom Car Club created the Pumpkin Run Nationals car show to help raise money for the Shrine Hospital. Since then the event had grown to a full weekend and includes a swap meet, auctions, dozens of booths, music, food, and more. It regularly draws over 2000 enthusiasts and their cars and trucks. They've expanded their philanthropy to numerous other charities including the local school district as well as other local groups. Among the many vehicles that filled the Clermont County Fairgrounds was a rare Henry J, a Metropolitan, a 1953 Packard Clipper, a 1963 Plymouth Valiant Signet, another Henry J, a 1948 Willys Jeep, and a Packard boattail racer car. 

MoPar Slid into the Pumpkin Run

 

Walter Chrysler decided to get into the automobile business in 1925. Prior to that he had worked in the railroad industry but seemed to have a strong sense of the automotive industry. In 1928 he purchased the foundering Dodge Brothers Company and established two new lines, Plymouth and DeSoto. While the Chrysler automobile was the halo model line, he used the other brands to slot in for different demographics. The lower models, Dodge, Plymouth and DeSoto, adopted the nickname MoPar which was the actual internal name of the motor parts division. Today most people associate MoPar with Dodge and Plymouth and there were plenty on hand for the Pumpkin Run Nationals at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Among them was a beautiful Plymouth Fury, a 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda, a Plymouth Road Runner, a 1966 Dodge Charger, a Plymouth Sport Fury, a Buick GTS, a Plymouth Satellite station wagon, and a rare Super Bee station wagon.

Cadillac Came to the Pumpkin Run

 

The fourth automotive company to be formed in the United States was named after the French explorer who founded Detroit, Michigan, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Cadillac was formed from the remains of the failed Henry Ford Company. Yes, that Henry Ford. When Ford's financial backers called in engineer Henry Leland to assess the value of what remained of the company after Ford himself left, in hopes of selling everything, they were persuaded not to sell. Leland insisted that he could make a go of the company and in 1902 the Cadillac Automobile Company was formed. It eventually became part of General Motors and has always sat at the top as the premium automobile line. The Pumpkin Run Nationals, sponsored by the Fastiques Rod and Custom Car Club and held at the Clermont County Fairgrounds saw a good number of Cadillacs on hand for the three day event. Here are some of them.

Buick at the Pumpkin Run

Formed in 1899 by David Dunbar Buick, his self-named automobile company was one of the very first to manufacture cars in the USA. In fact, it is the oldest such company still active today. Buick's original financing partner sold his share in 1903 to James H. Whiting who, after running low on capital, brought in William C. Durant to help prop up the company. Durant would, through a series of events worthy of a soap opera, eventually create General Motors and lead Buick to become the largest automobile maker in America. Buick still thrives today and is seen as a premium brand in the GM family. There were quite a few Buicks on hand for the Pumpkin Run Nationals. Here are some of them, including a 1969 Skylark convertible, a 1967 GS 340, an Electra sedan, a 1966 Skylark, a 1962 LeSabre, a Gran Sport convertible, an Eight coupe, and a Cutlass.