Fenders On The Farm 2015 Car Show
In towns large and small, the cars and coffee scene has energized automotive enthusiasts young and old. While Cars & Coffee isn’t a traditional car show, it is a place for like-minded enthusiasts to swap stories and admire the craftsmanship put into the array of customized vehicles in attendance. Something we’ve noticed that’s carried over from the family friendly and lax atmosphere of the C&C movement is a transition to a more relaxed, non-competitive car show environment.
A great example of this could be found at the 3rd annual Fenders on the Farm car show, held at Old River Farms in Burgaw, North Carolina. Unlike a traditional parking lot venue, this event invited auto enthusiasts to showcase their vehicles over a well-manicured field. Some car-show aficionados may scoff at the idea of displaying their prized possession in the dirt, but that was the beauty of this show.
The vehicle caliber that was on attendance was no less quality than anything you would find elsewhere. But, something about the tires in the grass made the attitude of the event significantly more enjoyable (and literally cooler) than roaming through another scorching parking lot show. Maybe it was the lack of roped-off cars, the live band playing in barn, or the fact that cows were mooing nearby, but the vibe of the event was fun and inviting-the way it should be.
The parking lot of any car show often holds some incredible gems. We didn’t make it ten feet from our parking spot before we spotted this classic Ford. While vintage iron is common place out west, here in the southeast, they are not nearly as common.
Shannon Curran drove out this 1981 Volkswagen Caddy slammed on Enkei mesh wheels. Powering the VW is the 1.6L diesel engine, while the low ride height was achieved thanks to a custom air-ride suspension.
Jeff Newman had out his extremely rare and clean Datsun pickup. The 1979 model shown here was the last year of the 620 series truck. Clean, simple, and light-we miss the time when mini-trucks were still mini.
There were no barricades to keep you from ogling the rides from a close vantage point. Of course, the cardinal rule of "look, but please don’t touch" was always in play.
This trio offered great insight into the evolution of the muscle car. It’s also a great indicator of the wide-range of ages on attendance at the show.
Tara Arnette is fan of both vintage and modern Volkswagens. The autocross racer had her 1970 VW Fastback on display, as well as her 2016 VW Golf R. Also known as the Type 3, the lightweight Fastback was fit with a 1600cc engine. The Type 3 is historically significant as it was fit with the first electronic fuel-injection system ever placed on a production car. This first was thanks to Bosch, a company that is still one of the leaders in fuel injection components and technology.
Dusty Rhodes had his 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ flexed out at the Low Range 4x4 display at the show. You can find out more about his heavily modified Jeep in this feature article here.
The 1966 to 1977 Ford Broncos are some of the most coveted by collectors and off-road enthusiasts. This cherry V8-powered Early Bronco had a nice balance of upgrades, while preserving the factory lines (and fenders!).
Probably the vehicle most at home on the farm was this WWII-era Willys flatfender. The O.D. green and period-correct accessories were nice touches.
This 1958 Chevrolet Apache 4x4 was one of our favorites from the show. Beyond how clean the truck was, the most fascinating feature was the dealer-equipped four-wheel-drive conversion. Since Chevy never offered the Apache as a 4x4, it was something that dealers took on themselves. Finding one this clean and 4x4 is extremely rare.
We had a blast at this year’s Fenders on the Farm show, and look forward to seeing it, and events like it to continue to grow. Be sure to check out more rides from the farm in our gallery below.
