September 24, 2003
Road trip down memory lane
Oldsmobile owners bring their classic cars to Traverse City
By Carol South
Special to the Herald
With swooping fins, shining chrome or rumbling muscle under the hood, more than a dozen proud Oldsmobile owners gathered in Traverse City Saturday to show off their vintage wheels.
Celebrating the country's oldest car manufacturer - started in Lansing in 1897 but now defunct - the assembled brought Cutlasses, Toronados, 98s, 88s, and a full size Oldsmobile wagon. A 1959 98 convertible and a 1954 Starfire convertible gleamed in the sun, their stately lines and fire-engine red paint drawing stares and evoking memories.
"It's a great head turner," said Ken Kress of Commerce Township about his 1959 98 convertible that has just 50,000 miles on it. "I get a lot of comments, especially from older people who remember the car."
Motoring around Leelanau County Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, they spent five hours Saturday displaying their cars at the Cherry Capital Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Subaru dealer. Curious passerby stopped to look under the hoods, admire the shining finishes and outdated but classic styling. Meanwhile, the owners couldn't help but check out the other guy's goods.
Jack Tokie of Traverse City organized the gathering. A member of the Motor City Rockets, the group talked him into sponsoring a show last year. Despite the light turnout, only two cars from downstate showed, he decided to host one again this year. This time the turnout matched his hopes.
"Last year, just a few members came and we had a really good time, went to the sand dunes and we talked to the park rangers out there because the car I'm driving used to be one of the sand dune cars," said Tokie, who also has a 32 Olds and a 70 Olds. "We have about ten cars coming and some locals, too."
Collecting classic cars is one thing, but why the brand loyalty?
"I guess I was raised with them, my dad and uncle and family all had Olds," said Tokie, an inveterate tinkerer on his car. "They did a good job and were tough and lasted."
Now an orphan car, as discontinued makes are known, Oldsmobile owners remain loyal to their treasures.
"Between my brother and me we've had this car for 37 years," said Kress, a retired Ford engineer who said his brother first spotted the car. "A couple had it and she said she would never sell it because it was for her son, who was killed in Vietnam. After her husband died she sold it."
Ron Plamondon of Lake Leelanau said owning a 71 Oldsmobile is a trip back to his high school days, when he had a 72. He has fully and lovingly restored his car since he bought it four years ago.
"I've got a Rocket 350 with a Hurst dual-gauge shifter, a four-barrel carb and positraction," he proudly said. "The only thing I don't have in it is the 8-track player; I've got it, it's just not in yet but I still have all my tapes."
"This car brings back being 16," said the owner of Integrity Software Systems in Traverse City. "The engine sounds do it to you, they just don't sound like that anymore."
Bill Szelag of Shelby Township has a 1970 Olds Cutlass Supreme he has owned since 1975. He began restoring it in 1991 and, while the car provided his family's only transportation for a while, the car is now designated as 'fun' not functional.
Having a classic car and belonging to the club is a way to meet and socialize with like-minded people, he said.
"The cars are just a basis to meet other people and what's really nice about our club is that the wives get to know each other, too," Szelag said. "Also, anytime you come you see different cars that you haven't seen before."