The major classic car auctions have been in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area all week, and today happens to be the tail-end Saturday, which is the biggest day of the year in Arizona for vintage car and hot rod aficionados. As usual, the Scottsdale Pavilions is holding its weekly cruise-in. But today’s cruise-in is different from the others because it starts at sunup and doesn’t quit until well after sundown.

Classic car owners, collector car enthusiasts, snowbirds, tourists, winter visitors and others alike wanting to sell a vintage car but who are not attending one of the major auctions typically cruise on down to the Scottsdale Pavilions "Rock 'n' Roll McDonalds” show and make a day of it. A thousand or so cars is a reasonable “guestimate” for the number of rods showing up, but since the event is fluid and cars are constantly coming and going, the actual number could easily surpass 1500. Formally, selling a car at the weekly cruise-in is strictly forbidden; however, informally, leaving a subtle for sale sign on the seat is clearly acceptable. I’d say, half or more of the classic cars were for sale.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, sunny and blue skies, with temps topping off at about 75° F. I wish I could have bottled the day’s magnificent weather and saved it in a time capsule because in six months or so, it’ll be pushing 110-115° F in the lower Sonoran and I’ll be relishing such a beautiful day. As the axiom goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” With no magic time capsule in my pocket, the best I could do was digitally capture some of the goings-on and present it here.

And for anyone chomping at the bit to break their hard-saved piggy bank to buy their fave rad rod, I’ve included some “asking” prices found laying on the various vintage car seats so you’ll know exactly how many pennies, USD, you’ll need to pony up to cruise on home in your very own classic hot rod. Of course, some prices were set sky-high, with the seller hoping to strike gold by selling to some well-heeled out-of-towner. But that’s the inbred horse-trading nature of many collector car addicts.

As for me, I’m counting up my pennies as we speak, especially considering that I sold my bitchin’ ’37 Chevy 5-window street rod a few years back and am itchin’ for another rad rod or tri-five era classic. And my only regrets for Saturday’s cruise-in is that I did not arrive earlier and start the day at sunup with a hearty breakfast of pancakes while being serenaded by the sounds of some big-block V-8 muscle and 50s tunes blaring out from the speakers atop the Rock 'n' Roll McDonalds roofline.

All photos were taken hand-held, ambient light, Canon EF 24-105/4L IS USM lens.

This gallery is currently in progress (more photos and captions to come), so please check back for updates.

And before scampering off, don’t forget to checkout my other hot rod and related galleries.

Thanks for stoppin’ by.

Denny_D


– From somewhere out there in the lower Sonoran.......