Owners of restored and unrestored classic automobiles are washing, waxing, buffing, vacuuming and sprucing up their rides for the 7th annual Magnolia Village Auto Show.
"All these amazing cars are owned by people currently living in Magnolia or former residents of Magnolia," according to organizer Eric Berge of Werner’s Crash Shop on lower Queen Anne. "I am a native of Magnolia, and I got the bug when I was a little kid seeing all these amazing cars people would bring out in nice weather."
Berge says attendance is free, but the participants are donating $20 per car, with all proceeds going to Northwest Harvest.
The Magnolia Village Auto Show is Saturday, August 20, 9am-3pm. The cars move in at 8am. West McGraw will be blocked off from 32nd to 34th with cars parked side by side. "They don’t have to be completely restored. In fact we have people displaying their cars in what they describe as the ‘before’ stage. This is for everybody who loves cars."
According to the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce many merchants see a 20% increase in business from all the foot traffic in The Village generated by the Auto Show. Last year more than 5,000 people attended.
Berge also hopes owners take the opportunity to show off what they’ve been hoarding in their garages for far too long. "There’s a dentist here in Magnolia who has one of the most amazing 1934 hot rods ever built, but he’s reluctant to show it because he doesn’t consider it ‘done.’ I hope he reconsiders because everybody would love to see his car parked on McGraw this Saturday."
Last year 81 cars squeezed onto the main street in the Village. Berge thinks even more cars will participate this year. Berge will be showing his ’63 Plymouth Fury Sport and his ’23 bucket "T" which he says "is finally running this year."