Superbird is big draw at Asbury Community Car Show
MADISON- Motorists on Hughes Rd. weren’t quite sure what to make of some of the vehicles on display at the 4th Annual Asbury Community Car Show Saturday.
There were classics, hot heaps, funny cars, antiques, and vehicles from 1950’s all the way up to today restored to their original glory. One of the big draws was the 1970 Plymouth Superbird driven in by Jimmy Williams of Madison.
“I bought this car in 1987 and it was in a bunch a pieces. It was on a trailer and took me 20 years to restore it,” WIlliams said. “Only 1,920 were ever built. There are only about 300 of them left. This one is a 440 cid engine with automatic on the column with 31,000 original miles.”
The 1970 Plymouth Superbird was the high point of the American muscle car industry. Based on the Road Runner production vehicle it featured a 3 foot high rear spoiler and aerodynamic extended nose. Street legal versions came with a basic 440 Commando 375 hp. A V-8 Hemi with 425 hp was also available. Restored versions of the car sell for over $150,000.
The racing version won races at Daytona and Talladega in 1969 and 1970 but by 1971 NASCAR had changed the rules and drivers parked the winged warriors.
“On superspeedways they were so fast you couldn’t catch them. It was built to bring Richard Petty back to Plymouth. This is the first time I have brought it to this show. It was a good show,” Williams said.
He won The Peoples Choice award.
You may see the car around Madison because Williams has a regular tag on it and drives it occasionally but it is not his everyday driver.
A team of Asbury members look forward to the show every year and volunteer their time.
“We had a great time today. We have a lot of people who love cars that go to church here and just tie it together with a great community event,” said Pheaton Guinn who heads up the volunteers. “We had some rain early today that held down the number of cars. We were expecting about 150 cars on display and we got about 80. Turned out to be a great day and the cars that are here are awesome cars.”
Guinn worked in marketing for Dale Earnhardt Sr. and also knows Richard Petty. The Superbird interested him in particular because Petty made it famous.
“The show raises money for what we call our oil change ministry. We do maintenance for widows or ladies whose husbands are deployed at no charge.”
