Wheels & Waves Show
Written by Keith Fudge

About a year ago, Dennis Gage and the crew from My Classic Car traveled to one of the most scenic places in the country for one of the greatest shows around.  The place:  the quaint coastal village of Seaside, Oregon.  The event was Wheels and Waves!  This event began eight years ago and has blossomed into one of the premier shows in the Pacific Northwest.  After he arrived, Dennis spoke with Gary Diebolt, the organizer of the event.  Gary told Dennis that this show truly offers something for everyone.  In fact, it has become a destination site for family vacations!  Gary said that this year’s event featured 374 of the finest rods and customs built before 1962.  When Dennis heard that news, he was ready to pound the pavement to have a look at some of these great classic cars!

First, Dennis ran into Jim Salmon and his ultra-rare 1954 Chevy Bel Air convertible.  Jim told Dennis that there were only 800 of these drop tops built in 1953 and 1954.  At first glance the car appears to be meticulously restored to stock and is painted in the factory correct Light Turquoise, but a closer inspection reveals some high-performance tweaking here and there.  The first give-away was that four-speed shifter that was located in front of the sweet two-toned interior, but the real proof was under the hood in the form of the legendary 409 cubic inch V-8.  Jim said that this 425 horsepower big block works nicely and the power is funneled through a Borg Warner Super T-10 transmission.  Thanks Jim!  Next, Dennis found a real rarity in the form of Bill Blattner’s 1955 Dodge Pony Express Mail Delivery Van!  Built short and tall to accommodate a standing driver, this is one of ten remaining vehicles of the 415 that were originally built!  Powered by a 212 cubic inch Flathead six-cylinder engine, this delivery wagon made a top speed of 45 miles per hour and considering how top heavy it is, Bill said that it is pretty unstable at that speed!  He said that when he received the vehicle that the body was intact but the running gear had to be replaced.  What a cool piece of automotive design and history!  A real custom cutie was the next thing that caught Dennis’s eye as he found Dave Kreg, the owner of a sleek customized 1962 Thunderbird.  This long and lean machine had been stretched, chopped, and tucked here and there.  While he was looking at it Dennis made the sensational observation that this rare bird had also had the top replaced with the roof of another legendary Ford: a 1961 Starliner!  So, perhaps what we really have here is a Ford Thunderliner!  Dave said that he drives the car as often as he can although he does trailer it on occasion. One thing is for sure, with its custom design from front to rear, and with the stunning blue exterior coupled with white and blue leather interior, this car certainly causes heads to turn wherever it goes.  A rare 1940 Packard Darrin was the next car that garnered the spotlight and this one was owned by John Slaughter.  One of 20 ever made, John told Dennis that he found this car in Berkley, California.  Dennis remarked that this was a pretty pricey car back in the day and John told him that the car sold new for $4,700 in 1940.  But today, this Packard has the best of old and new.  Its classic style and elegance is obvious but this one has some major modifications such as a rich leather interior from a 1996 Jaguar and a custom dash to enable John to see what is going on underneath the hood—and trust us, there is a lot going on under the hood because John has installed a Dodge Viper engine in his Packard!  In addition, 20-inch wheels and tires take care of where the rubber meets the road!  John describes this classic as, “real strong.”  We just bet it is.  Finally, one of the coolest cars that Dennis saw was Pat Parsons’ 1935 Plymouth Taxi!  This yellow and black “people hauler” wasn’t really a taxi in the beginning but Pat said he decided to make it that way to have some fun!  He also noted that this car was a “field find” and that he had literally brought it back to life.  As noted, the exterior is the classic taxi color scheme of yellow and black and Pat carried that combination into the interior as well with black leather seats and a yellow headliner. There was even a taxi meter!  Powered by a late model Slant Six engine, this taxi has the reliability to make sure that the driver and his cargo get to where they are going.  And, speaking of cargo, another neat feature that comes with this taxi, or rather follows behind it, is a 1937 Mullins all-steel trailer!  Painted the same yellow and black, and with script that notes that the cost of hauling luggage was not included in the regular fare, this car definitely brings a smile to the faces of all who see it!  Thanks Pat!

Our trip to Seaside, Oregon, and the Wheels and Waves Festival was a load of fun!  As they said, “There is something here for everyone!”  You might just want to consider taking your next family vacation in the Pacific Northwest, especially if Wheels and Waves is on the calendar!  If you would like more information on this event, you can visit the Seaside Visitors Bureau at www.seasideor.com.  That’s it from the Pacific Northwest.  So until our next trip, “Honor the timeless classics.  Happy Motoring!”