2024 Festival of Wheels crowns a 1954 Sunbeam Alpine
But what's your dream car?
By Paula Pyzik Scott
Does it require an educated eye to enjoy a car show? An impromptu, casual survey of visitors to the 56th Bluffton Festival of Wheels, hosted by the Bluffton Lions Club, suggests that almost everyone has a soft spot for a particular car. In alphabetical order, respondents said:
|
|
Show judges picked the following 25 cars they deemed to be top quality among the 207 entries. View photos on Facebook HERE.
|
David Barry-‘65 Chevy Corvair Bob Blank-‘75 Diamond REO Pickup John Burky-‘70 Olds Rallye 350 Mark Coburn-‘65 Ford Mustang Andy Deboze-Radio Flyer Wagon Denny Desalve-‘69 Chevy Corvette Dan Groman-‘35 Chevy Standard Phaeton Mike Harmon-‘66 Ford Mustang Val John Harris-‘57 Ford Thunderbird Guy Hartman-‘70 Chevy Chevelle 454 Kevin Hole-‘69 Ford Mustang Mach I Richard Margraf-‘66 Ford Fairlane Jed Marquart-‘51 MG TD |
Mike/Amy Mitchell-‘69 Olds Cutlass Supreme Wally Munz-‘70 Chevelle SS 454 D Nemire-‘69 Chevy Camaro Mark Obenour-‘70 Dodge Super Bee Nathan Parker-‘42 Dodge WC-51 Tom Reese-‘58 Chevy Impala Larry Reichenbach, ‘57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop Jeff Ruhlen-‘55 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe Phil Steiner-‘59 Chevy Corvette Bryan Troyer-‘70 Dodge Coronet R/T Jeff Webb-‘52 Chevy 3100 Pickup Paul Whittington-‘66 Chevy Corvair |
Special honors went to:
- Lions' Choice - Stratton Auto Group, 1957 Chevy Corvette
- Mayor’s Choice - Brad/Glenna Cox, 1955 Chevy Convertible
- Sponsor’s Choice - Bill Ellerbrock, ‘63 Chevy Impala Convertible
- Best Tractor - Greg Schroeder, ‘57 Oliver Super 77
- Best Motorcycle - Del/JoAnn Henry, ‘59 Cushman Scooter
Best of Show was Tom Bishop’s 1954 Sunbeam Alpine. The two-seat roadster was made by British manufacturer Rootes Motors Limited, which was later taken over by Chrysler. A blue Alpine was featured in the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief in driving scenes with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.
Stories Posted This Week
Thursday, June 4, 2026
- Eileen Ruth Garmatter was a homemaker
- Elnore Ruth (Rosenberger) Yost taught at Marimor
- WGTE and WBGU create broadcasting partnership
- ICYMI: May 2026 Bluffton Icon Highlights
- Shoppers' journey with Bluffton Small Business Passport has begun
- Middle and high school student activities at BPL
- Local artist Crumrine to teach Watercolor Workshop at Library
- Lacrosse or La Crosse: Game versus virus
- 2027 Senior Center trip planning, June 11
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
- Cory-Rawson High School honor roll for fourth quarter, 2025-2026
- Bluffton High School 4th Qtr. Honor Roll for 2025-2026
- June 4 Business Collective speed networking event
- K-2 students invited to weekly dinosaur adventures
- Library program explores indigenous agriculture and heirloom seeds
- May 2026 land transfers in the Bluffton school district
- Register June 18-19-20 garage sales with Bluffton Chamber
- Create a Bike & Flowers painting at BPL
Monday, June 1, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, June 1
- Geraldine "Gerry" Fett was a homemaker
- UPDATED Bluffton gas station employee threatened, suspect arrested May 30
- Maurice “Bill” William Croft, Jr. was a coach and high school teacher
- UPDATE Bluffton pool opening June 1
- What brings you to Bluffton, Ohio in June 2026?
- About free and paid Icon classified ads
- Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster to perform June 12