I’ve often bored my friends with the declaration that "I’m not much interested in any vehicle that I can’t drive to the grocery store.” Meaning something that is designed to either live the pampered life of a show-only car or the specialist existence of a pure racing machine. Likewise, I've met owners who will drive their car but won't stop anywhere on the trip—just making a big loop out of the garage. I get my joy in having an old car to use just as a car.

That’s not to say I begrudge anyone what they do with their vehicle, just that I get very excited whenever I see something similar—an old car being used as a car. Who among us hasn’t stopped to scope out an interesting old machine in a parking lot?

There’s a compelling argument that not only driving but parking these things is one of the most important ways we can educate the public on the desirability of old cars. We all spend so much time driving, it’s great to imagine doing it in something cool. Getting our cars out and about encourages non-owners to imagine that also, fanning a nascent enthusiasm.

So, special thanks to all the folks at Amelia Island this year who turned every parking lot into a cool-car scavenger hunt.

See what they found.