Submitted by Deborah Shapiro
(September 10, 2024) — All eyes at the Middlesex County Historical Society’s 38th Annual Antique Car Show and Flea Market will gravitate to this year’s featured car, a Ford Motors 1959 Mercury Monterey. It will motor to the show, located at Palmer Field adjacent to Washington Street, Route 66 in Middletown, on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Car registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and judging starts at 11:30 a.m. with trophies awarded to the top vehicles at 1:30 p.m. General admission is $3.00 and children 12 and under are free. Car registration is $10.00. Although cars registered for judging must be dated 1999 or older, there is no cut-off date for cars being placed in the car corral. In case of rain, the show will be held Sunday, October 13, 2024.
The 1959 Mercury Monterey was coined “Everything you want on Wheels” and “Built to Lead-Built to Last.” It was one of the fourth generation of Montereys with a wheelbase of 126”, a length of 217.8”, a width of 81.5” and height of 55.8”. The Monterey had a shipping weight of 3975 lbs. and could reach top speeds of 107 mph. About 43,570 were made in the United States. The featured car originally had a two-barrel 383 engine, but has been updated to a 351 Windsor with a C6 transmission that has run 57,000 miles. The latest owner, Rhonda Zawadzki, reports that this vehicle originally cost $4,247.60 including its configuration of accessories. It has been shown all over the country and Zawadzki plans to keep it in top shape for years to come.
Trophies, hand-made by the committee, will be awarded to the top vehicles. Flea market spaces are $15.00 and the market opens at 7:00 a.m. For more information, call Deborah Shapiro at 860-344-0033. Rain cancellation information will be available at 860-346-0746.
Photo provided by Middlesex County Historical Society
