Classic Cars On Display

Continental Soldiers Park became a meeting place for vintage car enthusiasts this weekend as the Field of Creams Café hosted its first ever Classic Car Cruise.

“These are great because you can find out about what other car collectors do, tell them about what you do,” said Fred Weber, who showed off his 1951 MG TD, and English car.

“Really, the best part of a show like this is the driver here and the drive back in the car,” he said.

At Sunday’s event, Weber met up with other collectors and spectators who stopped by to see the vehicles on display.

“I love coming to look at these old cars,” Sandy Parks, a former MHS secretary who came to the cruise with her husband, Newt, said.

“Today, cars all look the same. You can’t tell the brands apart until you see the logo. It wasn’t like that when I was young,” the retired Mahwah resident said.

Greg Tonin, owner of the Café, said his customers encouraged him to put on the event.

“I have a bunch of regular customers who are car enthusiasts, and they said this would be a great place for a car cruise, which is where people can come show off their cars without judges and trophies. It is just so that people can enjoy one another’s cars,” he said.

The connection between the attendees and their cruisers was evident.

“I didn’t find this car, it found me,” said Chris Vallone of his 1955 VW Beetle with a sunroof. Vallone owns Classic VW Bugs, a restoration company in Congers, NY.

“This one is a keeper for me,” he said of the blue bug he restored. The car is complete with it’s original $1600 bill of sale. Today, Vallone said it would probably run a collector $35K.

“I don’t believe in new cars,” added Art Dryfus, who brought his ’76 Beetle to the show.

“These run better, and they are more fun!”