The monthly Tucker Cruise-In keeps rolling along. For well over a decade, this downtown car show has consistently drawn car enthusiasts from around the Metro Atlanta area.
Recently they changed the event hours to start at 11 a.m. and run to 2 p.m. With the change from a Saturday night show to a Saturday morning event, we wondered if it would affect turnout.
The answer? Not a bit that we could tell. The switch hasn’t dampened the fun this long-standing block party brings to Main Street in downtown Tucker.
For only a $5.00 contribution, you can park along Main Street. They also place your car into the judging for potential plaques and trophies.
This has to be one of the best car show values in the Atlanta area by a country mile.
Don’t worry about lunch plans either. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from along the shady, tree-lined Main Street.
Thanks Walt for taking great care of it all these years!
St. Louis Finest
Just as luck would have it, this turned out to be an early third-generation Corvette-heavy show. Of course, we weren’t complaining.
1968, 69, and 1970 model year examples made in St. Louis, Missouri seemed to be everywhere we turned. Just as a matter of trivia, the 1953 model was made in Flint, Michigan, 1954 to 1980, in St. Louis, Missouri, and 1981 to present in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
As you recall, the third generation debuted with the 1968 model year. It closely resembled the second-run Mako II concept car shown to the general public in 1965.
We can still remember the new Corvette being referred to by car magazines as a “Coke Bottle” design. True, there is the sharp front end, upward-angled front fenders, slim mid-section, and large swept rear fenders.
The two-speed Powerglide transmission from the second-generation Vette was no longer offered. In its place was a more advanced three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.
The three-speed manual transmission was replaced with a standard four-speed manual for the 1972 model year.
One more bit of 1968 trivia for you. As was often the case, General Motors tried their best to keep the new third-generation car hidden from the public eye until the official unveiling.
Unfortunately, their best-laid plans fell through when Mattel released a new Hot Wheels line before the big unveiling.
Just so happens, a GM-authorized die-cast model called the “Custom Corvette” with the brand new 1968 body style was among the new Hot Wheels.
Once owned by famed Corvette collector, Rick Hendrick
Thanks again Cindy!
Vintage Cars Abound
The future looks bright for the show and the downtown area as well. The Tucker Downtown Master Plan adopted in December 2020 should bolster economic development and enhance the downtown with a mixture of retail, restaurants, and mixed-use developments.
At its core, this show is a vintage car enthusiast’s delight. There were all eras and styles on display up and down Main Street and the side avenues.
Of particular note, were the masterfully restored classic cars fromThe Peach State Cadillac and LaSalle Club.
David Riser, GSRA Northeast Regional Director, and a few of the Georgia Street Rod Association members made the trek to Tucker. That should tell you all you need to know about the impressive quality of the vintage automobiles on display.
The Tucker Cruise-Ins happen on the 2nd Saturday of every month beginning in May and ending in October. The upcoming event dates are July 10th, August 14th, September 11th, and October 9th, 2021.
Keep in mind the new hours from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. If you have questions about the show or potential sponsorship, you should visit tuckercruisein.com for information.
One thing is for certain, if you’re looking for a vintage car show, you’ll have a terrific time in Tucker.
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