1977 Fleetwod Cadillac limo

The N.C. Transportation Museum will close out the summer car show season with back to back offerings of Fords and GM vehicles. The 13th Annual All Ford Show will be held Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 while the 6th Annual All GM Show will follow one week later, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. These are the only car shows hosted solely by the museum, annually attracting more than 200 antique, classic, and late model vehicles for display.
Registrations are currently underway at www.nctrans.org, and with increasing numbers of vehicle entries each year, awards for these shows have been expanded. Trophies, determined by people's choice, will include 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of three categories: vintage, late model, and trucks.
Dick Goho, N.C. Transportation Museum automotive volunteer and show organizer, feels the museum's car shows have a more relaxed feel than many "judged" competitions. "You come to the museum and listen to music and enjoy the cars and vote for your favorites," he said.
This year's All Ford Show featured vehicle will be the 1913 Model T Speedster. This vehicle spent the majority of its lifetime owned by the family of Bill Reden. After years of hard work, even used occasionally to drag a plow through the family fields, the Speedster was rebuilt by Reden and his father. A second, more recent restoration brought the car to its current, immaculate condition. As a part of the donation of the Speedster last year, the Reden family appeared at the museum, and even drove the 104-year old vehicle around the property.
The All Ford Show typically features more around 125 vehicles, with a great showing of Model A's and T's, along with more recent classics, like Mustangs, Thunderbirds, and more. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 and is available as part of the museum's regular admission price.
The featured vehicle at this year's All GM show, in line with the celebration of the museum's 40th anniversary, will be the 1977 Fleetwood Cadillac Limousine. It was the last gubernatorial limousine in North Carolina, used during the administrations of James Hunt and James Martin. In addition to being the governor's personal travel vehicle, the Cadillac was also used to transport visiting dignitaries.
Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Buicks and more will join the limousine Saturday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This show will also be available as part of the regular admission.
Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and military, and $4 for children 3-12. Admission plus the onsite train ride is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and military, and $8 for children 3-12. Two and under are free. Train rides will be offered at 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are not being sold in advance and can be purchased on the day of the show.
More information about these shows and other museum events can be found online at www.nctrans.org. Those interested in registering their vehicle for either car show can download an entry form from the website. Visitors are also encouraged to follow the museum on social media, via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About the N.C. Transportation Museum
The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway steam locomotive repair facility, is located just five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, N.C., and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. The museum is home to the largest remaining operational roundhouse in North America, and numerous structures that represent what was once Southern Railway's largest steam locomotive repair facility in the southeast. The museum is part of the Division of Historic Sites and the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. Learn more at www.nctrans.org.
Submitted by Mark Brown