[September 27, 2011] Antique cars draw enthusiasts to Mystic Seaport Tweet MYSTIC, Sep 26, 2011 (The Day - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A couple inched closer to the hood of a 1927 Cadillac Model 314-A Dual Cowl Phaeton and Marlis Jacobowitz sprang from her seat. She quickly grabbed the attention of her new audience. She explained how the shutters worked on the Cadillac's grille. Then she divulged the back story behind the eight-cylinder, 87-horsepower automobile. Asked what the now-pristine car looked like when she and her late husband, Edward, first got it, Jacobowitz, of Uncasville, laughed and gave an honest response. "Decrepit. A total wreck," she said. "You have to have a vision. My husband said, 'This could be a good car.'" That's how the restoration of her jewel began. Jacobowitz spent Sunday sharing this story and others with those passing by at the 14th annual Antique Vehicle Show at Mystic Seaport. While the threat of inclement weather kept some of the registered automobile owners from attending, organizers said more than 100 pre-1930s cars and trucks packed the grounds. And every few paces, there was a story waiting behind another vintage car. John D. Parker III and his wife, Kim Parker, of North Stonington, stayed close to their 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Tourer Sunday. A picture of the car's original, beaten-down chassis rested nearby with a clever caption: "I still can't believe it myself." Kim Parker said that her husband managed to obtain the chassis in 1970 after winning an improbable bet. The previous owner bet Parker that his wife at the time -- who was blind -- could not drive the car around a parking lot. When she did so successfully, the chassis was his free of charge. That started years of restoration and obtaining various parts. The radiator came from Kenya, Kim Parker said. On Sunday, the Rolls-Royce also emitted the distinct smell of motor oil. No surprise there. The Parkers must keep up on maintenance. The Rolls has close to 136,000 miles on it. "People who live in the area see us driving up and down River Road," Kim Parker said. "We love that drive. If it's a nice day, we take it to the Stop & Shop. We do the grocery shopping." Organizers of the show said Sunday that some antique automobile owners traveled from as far as Maryland. Others came from throughout New England and the Northeast. Volunteer and organizer Len Parker said there is no judging at the show. Rather, the focus is on sharing stories and a fun weekend. As is customary, the event was punctuated Sunday afternoon by the Grand Parade of Vehicles, an informal parade in which all the automobiles made their way through the Seaport's grounds. Prior to the parade, Don Setters, of Somerset, Mass., said he was stunned by the number of high-quality antique cars. A first-time participant, Setters traveled to the show with his 1919 Ford Model T Depot Hack on a trailer. He said he plans to travel again to the Mystic show. "You have the backdrop of the Seaport, with the water and the antique buildings," Setters said. "For me, it excites all my senses." [email protected] ___ (c)2011 The Day (New London, Conn.) Visit The Day (New London, Conn.) at www.theday.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]