Stars and Stripes

Hurricane-damaged Mustang joins big turnout of Detroit iron

With sweltering heat, the occasional rumble of small block V8s and motorcycles tackling a Wall of Death show to the soundtrack of Buddy Holly, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this one-day show really was in the good ol’ US of A.

But this was definitely Tatton Park in deepest Cheshire – and the first time this long-running celebration of American classics has been held under new ownership.

Fins, chrome, and muscle stretched out to the horizon as Chevrolets, Cadillacs and Mustangs lined up alongside hot rods and pick-ups to transport visitors across the Pond, with the American Auto Club North West putting on a particularly big showing of classics.

Chairman, Hugh Lewis, who had driven his 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix the 50 miles from Denbigh in North Wales, said: ‘It’s an important show. We have a big tradition here and they look after us.

‘It’s always good for us as a locallybased club, we get a lot of new members and it’s been here at Tatton for 30 years.’

The club’s cars were joined by organisations such as the Cheshire Classic Car Club and the Mopar Muscle Association, and there was a big turnout of individually-entered cars, too.

Michael Orton brought his 1968 Mustang Fastback the short distance from Hartford – a car he’s nearly finished restoring after it was wrecked in Hurricane Sandy six years ago.

‘ We bought the salvage and started the job in the States,’ he explained, adding that he had the car running again within just nine months of commencing its restoration.

American Auto Club North West chairman, Hugh Lewis, and his 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix, which he brought to the event from Denbigh in North Wales. Michael Orton’s 1968 Mustang Fastback was destroyed – but he bought the salvage and has nearly finished restoring it. It wasn’t allUS classics atTatton Park – Brit entries included this customised 1959 Ford Popular. Wayne Carder with his 1959 Cadillac Eldorado. Melanie Starkey with her 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. It’s up for sale – yours for £18k. Paul Clarkson from Congleton, brought along his 1970 Plymouth Superbird. ’Fins, chrome and muscle stretched all the way to the horizon this year’