First Shots from Charlotte

The 2009 edition of the Spring Charlotte Auto Fair has quickly come and gone. Aside from a damp Thursday, the weather during the rest of the event was simply stunning; sunny skies and mid seventy temperatures, which were far nicer than the inch or two of snow our Bennington, Vermont, office received during our absence.

Unlike the previous two ventures to the show site – Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord – we had four cameras in town to cover every aspect of the event; from the Tom Mack Auction to the AACA Car Show. And because we drove down rather than flew, it took some time to get back into the office, regroup and properly sift through hundreds of images; not including the car features we photographed in and around the Concord area.

As is always the case, not every image we capture will make the event coverage pages in an upcoming issue of Hemmings Motor News (and Hemmings Classic Car and Hemmings Muscle Machines).

Such as this General Lee-themed 1977 (or ‘78) Dodge pickup.

Or this 1955 Mercury Montclair Camper. According to the sign plastered across the front windshield, this vendor was offering a package deal for his “Going out of business sale.” Equipped with a 351 Windsor V-8, four-speed manual, air and a 100-amp alternator, the asking price for the camper alone was $15,900. The “mostly” 1955 Ford parts collectively had a $1,000 price tag. But, as mentioned, the camper, trailer and parts could have been had for $17,000. More fun stuff as we uncover it.