Words: Terry Troy
The Cleveland Auto Show has crowned the winners of its 19th Annual Classic Car Competition, awarding cash prizes for Best of Show as well as five Runners-Up. The competition also awarded a cash prize for People’s Choice, a vehicle that received the most votes on Facebook.
The Competition is one of the perennial favorite attractions at the Cleveland Auto Show, considered one of the top five New Vehicle Shows in the nation.
“We had a lot of very exciting vehicles in the Competition this year, which represent the very best of Northeast Ohio,” said Karen Ford, manager of the Classic Car Competition. “I’d like to congratulate Terry Clark of Brunswick, Ohio and his 1970 Chevy Nova on winning of Best of Show, as well as our five Runners-Up, but I’d also like to thank all of our participants this year for making our Classic Car Competition a success.”
Each participant in the Competition received a commemorative dash plaque. Each vehicle in the Competition was 25 years old or older.
As winner of Best of Show, Clark took home a $500 cash prize. Clark, who traded a rebuilt 1963 Impala for the winning 1970 Nova three years ago, was understandably happy.
“I never thought I’d win the whole thing; I was just trying to win the People’s Choice award,” said Clark, after being crowned. “My ‘63 Impala was as clean as this car, but not as sharp.”
The winning Chevy wears a Candy Apple Red coat over a gold base, giving its body a deeper luster. It rides on Draglite Aluminum wheels. Upfront a 377 blower and 850 Holley Carb helps feed the 454 Big Block bored .030 over to create just over 461 CID.
“I’m estimating it gets 550 horsepower, but I have never had it on a dyno,” added Clark, who says that he has approximately $40,000 invested in the ride. “It has a 350 tranny and the rear end is a 10-bolt built to 12 bolt specs.”
Runners-Up in the Cleveland Auto Show’s 19th Annual Classic Car Competition, all from Northern Ohio, included: Patricia Goff and her 1970 Ford Mustang Fastback; Dick Wilk and his 1958 Ford Thunderbird; Gregory Mick and his 1937 Oldsmobile F37; Pete Randel and his 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible; and Chris Gurnick and his 1974 FJ40 Land Cruiser. Jim Makowski’s 1970 Chevelle took home People’s Choice Award.
The 2019 Cleveland Auto Show is scheduled for February 22 through March 3. If you’re local to the Cleveland area and own a vehicle that is 25 years old or older, you can compete for a chance at one of seven cash prizes next year. Simply send an email and a photo of your vehicle to [email protected].