The Berkshire Charity Auto Show (Part 2)

"Auto show crowds acclaim the new 1935 Plymouth", read the placard on one of the vintage vehicles at the 24th annual Berkshire Charity Auto Show. "America needs this high-speed safety car", explained the framed article from the January 19, 1935 edition of the Saturday Evening Post. Equipped with directional cooling and hydraulic brakes, the 1935 Plymouth was designed to give rivals Ford and Chevrolet a run for their money.

As visitors to the recent Berkshire Charity Auto Show learned, the Plymouth's six-cylinder engine was redesigned in 1935 to include water jackets that covered the entire length of the cylinders. A water distribution tube was inserted into the block directly behind the water pump to provide directional cooling and help protect the valve seats and rear cylinders. As for safety, the 1935 Plymouth boasted four-wheel hydraulic brakes and a stronger chassis.

Here's a picture of this vintage vehicle on the grounds of Hillcrest Hospital in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

These two Chevelle convertibles also used placards to educate automobile aficionados, but not about their safety features. The first car, a blue 1968 Chevelle, is equipped with a 396-cubic-inch engine with four bolt main bearing caps. The second, an orange 1972 Chevelle, boasts a big-block 454.

This 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 was also worthy of a placard of its own. Modified by Carroll Shelby's company and factory-sponsored by Ford, this series of Mustangs was designed to compete with the Corvette. In 1967, the GT500 came equipped with the aptly-named "police interceptor engine".

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This 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria was a fan favorite at the Berkshire Charity Auto Show. The waitress on roller skates added a nice touch. Not shown is the tray attached to the front passenger's window. If this part of memory lane makes you especially nostalgic (and hungry), be sure to pay a visit to a Sonic restaurant. Unfortunately, there aren't any in Berkshire County.

The 1963 Studebaker Avanti may not have been the most attractive automobile at the car show, but beauty is in the eye of beholder. Here are photos of two different vehicles, with and without the hood up.

We all have our own favorite vehicles, of course. Mine are Mustangs. How about you?