2007 3rd Annual Ground Up Car Show - 1 2007 3rd Annual Ground Up Car Show - Trophies 2007 3rd Annual Ground Up Car Show - Check Presentation

2007 3rd Annual Ground Up Car Show - 2 2007 3rd Annual Ground Up Car Show - GROUND UP CARS 2007 3rd Annual Ground Up Car Show - LMMC

While each year we think the car show couldn't have turned out any better, we are always proved wrong!

This year's show had an awesome turnout with almost 200 cars lining the street and surrounding parking lots. It was a Chevy lover's dream with tons of Chevelles, Camaros, and Novas. And of course there were plenty of Mustangs, street rods, Mopars, classics, trucks, and just about everything in between. We even had a 1939 vintage circle track car and a Morgan, not to mention a 10 second 72' Gremlin. Ground Up also revealed our new Cortez Silver 1969 L89 Camaro. There truly was something for everyone!

To everyone who was able to make it to the show, either with a car or on foot, you made it possible! We want to extend our most sincere thanks to all of the people who have restored a car, are currently restoring a car, or are even interested in bringing an old car back to life. This is obviously the reason we are here and you are the reason the show is even possible. 100 percent of your generous donations will go to an excellent cause!

Ground up and the Meriden Police Union were able to raise a little over $2000, $400 more than last year, to donate to charity. Ground Up will also be donating $500 for a grand total of $2500. We actually raised more money than there were cars, so this means some spectators that didn't have cars were also donating to the cause. We would like to extend an extra thanks to them!

Special thanks go out to Terry McGean from Hemmings Muscle Machines and his wife Jennifer. They were nice enough to make the trip to CT and were walking around doing some scouting and photographing. He agreed that we got some awesome cars and perhaps we will see some of them in future issues of HMM! We appreciate it!

Team Baurtwell also graced us with their presence again this year, making the drive up from New York with their bright orange 1969 Chevelle. Thanks guys!

Also helping us exceed our donation goal was the Late Model Mustang Club of CT with about 15 ponies in the stable. (Sorry for the bad joke!) From GT's to Saleens, we got a taste of the future of muscle cars. While nothing can replace the classics, these guys proved that the future of hot rodding is still looking good! Thanks LMMC!

And of course we extend our thanks to the Meriden Police Union and the mayor for their continued support of this event! They did all of the true work at our show by volunteering to close down the street, direct traffic, arrange for the commodities, and also craft some of the most delicious pulled pork sandwiches known to man!

While I tried to talk to as many people as I could and photograph as many cars as I could, there were just so many awesome machines that I could not possibly get to everyone. As always, if you see your picture here and would like credit, or if you would like to get an original high resolution copy of a photo for printing, or if you have a car that you would like to send a story and pictures on, email paul@ss396.com.