- December 15, 2025
Cars on exhibit had to be built before 1988. Photo by Wayne Grant
Mary Ann Echelberry, of Ormond Beach, poses with the 1973 Dodge Dart she restored. Photo by Wayne Grant
The hood ornament on a 1931 Ford Model A. Photo by Wayne Grant
Linda Brendlinger, Bill Brendlinger and Scott Laur view a 1957 T-Bird. Photo by Wayne Grant
George and Jean Lavatelli were from New Jersey. They have an antique car themselves and have participated in the Gaslight Parade. Photo by Wayne Grant
Katie and Albert Musgrove show off their 1957 Thunderbird. Photo by Wayne Grant
Michael Nichols attended the show with his grandparents, Nancy and Clark Mead. Photo by Wayne Grant
Jennifer Traul takes a photo of her dad, Bob, in front of a 1953 Oldsmobile just like the one his parents owned. Photo by Wayne Grant
A Ford truck from the early 1950s. Photo by Wayne Grant
A Yellowstone Park tour bus was in the show brought by the Walkup family. Photo by Wayne Grant
It was a day for memories as lovingly restored cars were on display Nov. 26 at Fortunato Park for the 59th Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Produced by the Volusia Region Antique Automobile Club of America, no modified or custom cars were allowed.
Bob Traul came across a 1953 Olds convertible, the same model his dad owned when he was a boy.
“I can picture it sitting in the driveway,” he said.
He pointed out a feature that has faded with history, the headlights automatically dimmed from the bright setting when another car approached.
Mary Ann Echelberry, of Ormond Beach, was showing her 1973 Dodge Dart, which she restored. She said she enjoyed seeing people come up to her car and get a sparkle in their eye.
“That’s the reward of owning an old car,” she said.
But the show was more than just adults getting nostalgic. Michael Nichols, known as the Nascar Whiz Kid, was enjoying seeing how cars were made in the old days, along with his grandparents, Nancy and Clark Mead.
Nichols’ twitter and other social media accounts, NascarWhizKid, show photos of him with NASCAR drivers; and there are youtube videos of him interviewing drivers.
“I know everything about NASCAR,” he said. “It’s my life.”
