Vintage cars get better with age
Staff reporter
When it comes to car care, no one cares for their cars more than vintage car owners.
It's a hobby. It can be an obsession. It's an appreciation of by-gone eras.
Whatever the reason, men and women in Marion County and across the nation are crazy about vintage cars.
A person's motivation may be to own the car he always wanted but didn't buy. Often a person buys a car that reminds them of a happier, more carefree time.
Whatever the reason, owning old cars is popular.
Kim Abrahams of Hillsboro is one of the founders and an active member of Route 56 Classic Cruisers car club.
Abrahams, Mike Duerksen, and Rick Moss, all of Hillsboro, started the car club in 1998. The group hosted its first car show in Hillsboro in 1998.
"We had 28 members the first year," Abrahams said. Currently, the club boasts a steady membership of 20 to 24.
A $20 per year membership gives members the opportunity to network with other car enthusiasts on a regular basis.
"Putting 20 heads together is better than one or two," Abrahams said. "We help each other out."
He also enjoys meeting all kinds of people at car shows and events.
"When you go to the car shows, you see the same people," Abrahams said.
Club members generally attend six or seven shows a year. Registration fees vary from $10 to $25 per show.
"You definitely don't do it for the money," Abrahams said. A trophy or plaque is usually the award top cars receive.
Competition is tough at the shows because of the varying degrees of workmanship.
Abrahams and other club members do the majority of the body work themselves.
"It's tough to compete with cars professionally redone," said Abrahams. "We go for the fun of it and not necessarily to win."
Abrahams said his first car was a 1956 Chevrolet that he purchased for $175.
"My dad worked on cars when I was a kid," Abrahams said. He recalled his father rebuilding Model A cars. Since then, Abrahams has been interested in cars.
Currently, he and friend Dave Unruh are rebuilding a 1929 Ford Model A. The car has its original steel frame body but other parts are either obsolete or too expensive to purchase.
The two men will rebuild the remaining body themselves. It's going to take time because of the cost involved.
"The radiator alone costs $1,000," Abrahams said.
Customizing a car, even doing most of the work at home, can cost a person $10,000 or more.
Magazines, catalogs, swap meets, and salvage yards are common places to find parts. The Internet also has become popular.
One aspect of the hobby is the car is cheap to keep.
For Abrahams' 1966 Chevrolet Caprice and 1935 Ford coupe, insurance costs him $75-$80 per car per year.
"Insurance isn't very high," Abrahams said, "but you are somewhat limited in the amount of miles you can drive."
Abrahams also purchases antique license tags which are less than $20 each per year.
For those wanting to get started, Abrahams suggested letting other car enthusiasts know.
"Word of mouth is the best way to find a car or parts," Abrahams said. He also recommended looking in various car collector magazines.
In addition to the car club, for the past 11 years Abrahams has been involved in an annual toy collection for Marion County children.
Abrahams, Ron Funk, and Mike Sechler, all of Hillsboro, began the annual Marion County Toy Run as Sons of the American Legion Squad #366.
Sechler belonged to ABATE, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, of Kansas District #9. Now the three groups co-sponsor the event.
"When the car club made money from its first car show, we decided to put the money to good use," Abrahams said. This will be the seventh year the car club has participated in the event.
"Over the past five years, we've donated $4,200 toward the toy run," Abrahams said. "This year already we've collected $2,000 in donations."
The donations are distributed to the ministerial alliances in the county. The alliances then distribute the funds and items to the families.
New members always are welcomed to the car club, Abrahams said.
"The car club is open for anyone interested in vintage cars," Abrahams said. Members live throughout Marion County.
Anyone interested in joining the car club or participating in the toy run may contact Abrahams at (620) 947-2484.
