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:
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Show judges picked the following 25 cars they deemed to be top quality among the 207 entries. View photos on Facebook HERE.
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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
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Friday, October 30, 2026
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- What Kind of Paradise author joins book club by Zoom, Nov. 4
- Check out November 2026 events at Bluffton Public Library
- Scarecrow voting ends at midnight, Oct. 31
- Annual meeting and dinner for Senior Center members, November 9
- November 2026 Community Meals at the Senior Center
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Thursday, October 29, 2026
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- Bluffton chamber welcomes six new members in October 2026
- Scam talk with Chief Ryan Burkholder
- Apollo Career Center honored as Gold Star Institution
- Peanut brittle time at the Senior Center begins Nov. 9
- Bluffton University Forum explores faith, hope and care for creation
- Business Collective networking night, Nov. 5
- Radio play staging of It's a Wonderful Life on Nov. 29
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- If only we could put these fall days on pause