The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
’66 Mustang to highlight annual antique car show on Oct. 6
MIDDLETOWN — All eyes at the Middlesex County Historical Society’s 34th annual antique car show and flea market will gravitate to this year’s featured car, a 1966 Ford Mustang retractable hardtop designed and built by chief Ford engineer Ben J. Smith.
It will motor to the show at Palmer Field, adjacent to Washington Street/Route 66 in Middletown Oct. 6. Car registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and judging starts at 11:30, with trophies awarded to the top vehicles at 2:30, according to a press release. General admission is $3 and children 12 and under are free.
Car registration is $10. Although cars registered for judging must be dated 1994 or older, there is no cutoff date for vehicles in the car corral.
Smith was the inventor of the world’s first steeltop retractable hardtop and designed and built the 1957 to 1959 Ford Skyliner series, according to the society. In 1966, the Ford Motor Co. allotted $250,000 for Smith to design and produce a retractable hardtop for the Mustang line. He accomplished this task, but due to his refusal to power the top, Ford canceled the start of production in 1967, the release said.
Smith never gave up his idea of the retractable Mustang top, and, in his retirement, made prototypes for his son and grandchildren. The current owner, John Duley, a friend of Smith’s son David, was fortunate to be offered the first production retractable hardtop Mustang Smith made after retirement.
It has won many awards, including two at Concours d’Elegance shows, the society said. It is equipped with a 289 engine with a fourbarrel carburetor and C4 automatic transmission.
Trophies, handmade by the committee, will be awarded to the top vehicles. Flea market spaces are $15, and the market opens at 7 a.m. For information, call Deborah Shapiro at 8603440033.
In case of rain, the show will be held Oct. 13, and details will be available by calling 8603460746.