Annual car show revs up downtown Saco

SACO — The Saco Main Street 12th annual Classic Car Show brought more 150 cars and trucks to the city’s downtown.

Crowds poured in from all over to walk up and down the Saco Main Street and side streets where cars were parked on display from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Local organizations helped line the way as well, handing out free snacks, water, and beach balls. Community members and mechanic Ben Thompson shared the opinion of many and said he was “excited for the show’s reopening” after missing last year's show due to covid. The vehicles, dating back to the early 1900s, appeared to make up for last year's absence.

Car owners proudly displayed their turbos, V8 engines, and pristine interiors to the adoring public. Although this was a Maine car show, vehicles held license plates from New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Quebec, and even Florida.

Out of the 150 cars on display there were a number that seemed to catch the eye of enthusiasts. One of these being a 1951 Willys Jeep fire truck. The truck featured a 50-gallon water tank and an additional 50 feet of booster line. The truck was used for many years until it was then retired, driven as a daily driver, and eventually made its way to the Biddeford Fire Department Museum.

Photo courtesy of Ben Thompson

Another popular vehicle was the Gunrunner Willys Jeep M38 army vehicle. This vehicle sported an unloaded, but fully functional machine gun.

 

The car show is one of many annual events hosted by local downtown community group Saco Main Street. For more information on Saco Main Street, go to www.sacomainstreet.org.

Emily Hedegard is a first year student at the University of New England. She is an English major with a minor in journalism.