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If it’s the fourth of July and you’re at the Greene County Fairgrounds, you’ll be surrounded by cool cars. It’s been that way for 44 years, and this year was no exception.
“We had over 150 cars register, plus the Vintage Iron Motorcycle Club brought about 25 or 30 motorcycles, “ said Dick Hammond, president of the Greene County Antique and Classic Car Club, sponsor of the annual show. “Given the weather forecast, we’re pretty pleased with the turnout,” he added.
Among the hot rods, classics and muscle cars, Linda Butler’s 1948 Chevrolet Canopy Express stood out from the crowd.
Painted a shiny dark green, the truck is outfitted just as it would have been when it was used to sell produce and vegetables after World War II.
“I’ve always liked unique things, and this truck was just something that intrigued me,” Butler said. “We found it in Danbury, Conn., five years ago and we restored it.”
“We” refers to Butler and her husband, Dick, of Fairborn, who was also showing his 1962 Chevrolet BelAir Bubble Top 409.
“We wanted to make it neat, but we also wanted it to be real drivable, so we put a GM 350 crate motor in it and an automatic transmission. Instead of the original straight six, this engine lets me get out on the highway and keep up with everybody,” Butler said.
In addition to taking the truck to car shows and cruise-ins, Butler also puts it to good use. “I pick up all my bedding plants and shrubs with it, so it’s not just for show.”
On the two-wheel side of the spectrum, Keith Wright of Franklin was showing his 1948 Indian Chief motorcycle with the Vintage Iron Motorcycle Club.
“My family has always had Indian motorcycles. My Dad had one just like this,” Wright said. “I got this one three years ago, and last year I restored it so it would look just like the one my Dad rode.”
The paint scheme of Sand Taupe and Snow Cream gave the bike the look Wright was after.
“Those were special colors that you could order from the factory, and I had to do some searching, but I finally found the right colors and then had the gold leaf done by Eric Henn,” Wright said.
“I did the bike in eight weeks last summer. I worked on it nonstop ’cause I don’t like to miss too many days during riding season,” he said. “I ride this bike nearly every day.”
The Indian is powered by a 74-cubic-inch twin, which is connected to a 3-speed transmission that is lever shift, much different than today’s motorcycles
“It also has the unique feature, like all Indians, of having the throttle on the left side, rather than the standard right side,” Wright added.
For more information, visit www.greene countyantiqueandclassiccarclub.com.
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