Some assembly is required.

1966 Dodge Polara convertible, no price listed.

Chrysler didn't keep detailed production figures in that era. So exact numbers for specific body styles aren't available. A total of 107,832 Polaras were produced for 1966 in all body styles. Using the general rule of thumb of convertible production being around 10% of the total, that would make this car one of around 11k . It looked to be in pretty nice shape. I'd own it and drive it to work !

Behind the Polara convertible was a 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS that runs and drives, and comes with extra parts. But it had no price listed because it was already sold.

Just like Chrysler, GM wasn't very good at keeping specific production numbers in that era, although GM was better in it's efforts. According to NovaResource.org, a total of 20,986 Super Sports were produced in 1966. Given the strong following the Nova has, and the fact that this one runs and drives, it's no wonder it was already sold.

Seeing that rain was in the forecast for today, I actually remembered to bring my small umbrella with me, just in case. And I'm glad I did. I had been feeling raindrops during my walk around the Green Field. Those drops turned into a steady rain as I was heading back inside the speedway. I headed to the tents across from the food trucks to let the rain pass.

The steady rain was then joined by several large claps of thunder and a few flashes of lightning. The downpour arrived a few minutes later.

After about 10 minutes, the rain began to dwindle, and a few peaks of blue sky could be seen in the distance.

The name "Altoona Mirror" seen on the umbrella in the photo above refers to the newspaper in my hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania. I don't know how long I've had this umbrella. But I moved away from Pennsylvania in 2003, which would make it at least 20 years old.

So now, I find myself wandering around the Charlotte Auto Fair with my Altoona Mirror umbrella in hand. After the downpour passed, I headed to one of the food trucks for an early lunch. As I walked up to the window, the lady taking my order smiles at me and says, "Oh wow, you've got an Altoona Mirror umbrella !" Of all the thousands of people at the speedway, I find someone from my hometown. Like me, this lady was from that area, but moved away many years ago.

The rain slowed down a little bit while I was having lunch, but never completely stopped. This seemed like a good time to check out the exhibits inside the Showcase Pavilions. I headed toward the first pavilion located behind the food trucks and passed by Winner's Circle where two "winners" were on display.

2018 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5.

Besides being my initials, RTR also stands for "Ready to Rock" Vehicles. This is the creation of Formula Drift driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. Gittin pilots a Mustang in Formula D drift racing where he has won 13 drift events and two drift championships. His line of RTR Mustangs was introduced in 2009. The RTR edition package is available on both the GT and EcoBoost Premium from Ford and carries the full factory warranty.

This RTR Mustang was the Best of Show 2nd Runner Up at the September 2022 show.

Next to the RTR Mustang is an extremely rare 1969 Ford Torino Talladega.

Looking to rebound from being defeated by the Chrysler Hemi cars on the NASCAR tracks during the 1967 season, Ford went to work preparing its new Torino Sportsroof for the 1968 season. Its superior aerodynamics helped Ford to win 27 out of 49 races that year. David Pearson won the Grand National Championship in a Ford.

For 1969, Ford refined the front end of the Torino with a more aerodynamic shape that featured a flush-mounted grill and headlamps. The Ford Torino Talladega, (named after the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama that opened that same year), and its Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II twin won 30 races in 1969.

In order to make the Talladega legal for NASCAR competition, a minimum of 500 cars had to be built for sale to the general public to qualify it as a production vehicle. Depending on which source you examine, Ford produced either 750 or 754 Torino Talladegas for 1969.

This car won the Walt Hollifield Best of Show trophy at the Fall 2022 Auto Fair. As a mechanic, I can appreciate the work that went into the design of that trophy.