Classic Cars

When purchasing a car or truck, regardless of whether it’s new, used or classic, the transaction is usually fairly brief. Spot it, make an offer, strike a deal and bring it home. End of story. For Glenn Nielsen of Newtown, however, acquiring his Bolero red 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS was …

TORRINGTON, CT – It was a memorable slogan that suggested exclusivity and owner passion back in the early days of automobiles: “Ask the Man Who Owns One.” It was applied to the Packard brand, which began in 1899 in Warren, Ohio and lasted until 1958. “They were extremely well made …

PLEASANT VALLEY, CT – Styling-wise, Chevrolet cars designed and built for the 1953 and 1954 model years were evolutionary rather than revolutionary. They were decidedly less flashy than the memorable “Tri-Five” offerings of the 1955, ’56 and ’57 model years that followed, providing Jim Fenn of Pleasant Valley with incentive …

WATERTOWN, CT – It’s not farfetched to think that Ed Montambault of Watertown was perhaps born with motor oil in his veins. His full name is Edward Montambault III and he’s the third generation owner of Montambault’s Auto Supply and Service Center in Waterbury.  Montambault’s grandfather, Edward Montambault Sr., opened …

UNIONVILLE, CT – Good deeds sometimes get rewarded. So does patience. Ken Griffin of Unionville wasn’t expecting any gratuity some years ago when he noticed a shaggy lawn behind the house of his elderly next-door neighbor and offered to help out. “I asked him what was wrong and he said …

(From the RIDE-CT archives…) LITCHFIELD, CT – Debbie Deziel and Guy Livolsi of Litchfield went from saying “I do” while getting married at the Hopkins Inn in Warren, CT back in September 2021 to adopting an enthusiastic “Let’s do it” attitude the next day by loading up their 1929 Ford …

CHESHIRE, CT – Like so many other classic car owners, Bill Borriello of Meriden, CT gained his love of a specific make and style as a child, and that explains why he has owned his vibrant white 1959 Chevrolet Impala sport coupe since 1981.  In fact, it’s the second ’59 …

WATERBURY, CT – It has the heft and profile of a hippopotamus and a gait to match when in motion, despite having a V12 engine. “It’s not a hot rod. It goes, but it’s smooth, nice and easy. Stopping it is harder than going,” said Jarrett Smith of Waterbury last …

(Editor’s note: This story was updated on Aug. 13, 2024. It originally identified the Daimler SP250 as a 1960 model. While it was manufactured in June 1960, the car was recorded as a 1961 model when it was dispatched to Canada in February 1961 and eventually registered.) BLOOMFIELD, CT – …

GOSHEN, CT – Bob Wachtel of Goshen has owned his 1999 Dodge Viper GTS for nearly as long as the sports car model was built. The Viper debuted in 1991 and the first generation went on sale in 1992. It lasted through a fifth variant until 2017, although there were …