On Saturday, Feb. 19, Plant City’s Historic Downtown was consumed with cars and trucks, both vintage and modern.
It was a part of the AAA annual car show, which brought large crowds to gaze at the automobiles parked on the south depot parking lot across from the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum. AAA flew in their event team from Detroit for the first time in two years, bringing additional fun for patrons that giveaways and raffles.
The event was also an opportunity for car owners to trade or sell their vehicles.
Down on Evers Street, a live band amplified downtown as attendees examined one vehicle after the next.
Kam Dempsey had on display two vintage cars that were actually passed down to him from his grandparents.
One was a 1950 Oldsmobile and the other a 1935 Chevrolet Standard.
Although he’s keeping the classic look on the outside, he plans to re-model the interior.
For years, he’s been putting his vehicles on display, not only in Plant City, but Sarasota, Citrus Park, and Brooksville.
He said that of all the vehicles present, he had his eyes only set on the hot rods.
The sun glistened on the jet-black exterior of a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, owned by Gene Rodriguez.
“This is my little car I take to the car shows,” he said. “I love coming to Plant City.”
Rodriguez said that he’s nostalgic for the 1950s and that, along with the design, is what inspired him to purchase that vehicle. The interior has been refurbished with an orange steering wheel and leather seats.
He doesn’t really see many of these on the road and says that other drivers are always waving at him and giving compliments.
Although he has an interest in cars from the 1950s, he saw another car outside that decade that he could see himself driving.
“A little while ago I saw a 60’ Impala and just fell in love with it,” Rodriguez said.
Ken Jones’ GMC Caballero was another vehicle that drew a sizable crowd.
Before coming to the car show in Plant City, he made a pit stop at another one that took place in Wesley Chapel.
“They had over 600 cars outside,” Jones said. “They had almost 300 cars inside. I get here and they’ve got 400 cars, so this is about a 1,500 car day for me.”
Mike Young was one of the AAA representatives who came out in support of the event. He is a life agency development specialist who oversees the company in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
He’s heard the comments that the classic cars are nostalgic, bringing back simpler times.
“We also have newer cars and older cars so it brings younger people with older people,” Young said.
To promote these annual events, AAA will use social media as well as the chamber of commerce.
He was interested in a Ford 100 pickup truck at the back of the parking lot. With his birthday around the corner, he hinted that it may be a gift for himself.