MIDDLEBORO — Over 30 classic cars shined in the sun at the Middleboro Council on Aging during a Classic Car Cruise on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The event’s second edition benefited the Council on Aging and included live music, a ventriloquist act, face painting, food, and local vendors in addition to the cars on display. The event gave car enthusiasts an opportunity to trade tips with each other and mingle with friends and neighbors.

“We did [last year’s event] on a Thursday evening and we thought it went over pretty well,” said Activity and Volunteer Coordinator Kathy Medeiros. “We decided to bump it to a weekend and involve the entire community.”

Vehicles ranged from brand-new Corvettes to nearly century-old Fords, plus a Jeep and a couple of Chevrolet Super Sports. Some of the cars have been in the same family - or owned by the same person - for 50 years.

Caesar Montrond bought his Corvette, nicknamed Caesar’s Ghost, in 1962.

“Since I was 12 or 13 years old, I always wanted a Corvette,” Montrond said. “In Middleboro, there were only three Corvettes. When I was 17, I saw this at O’Hara Chevrolet, and I fell in love with it.”

Through his friend’s father who worked as a car dealer, Montrond bought the car at a wholesale price of $1,800 and has owned it ever since.

Others, like Michael Miranda’s 1941 Chevrolet coupe, were bought much more recently. Miranda went to Illinois last week to pick up the vehicle, which has Jerry of “Tom & Jerry’’ fame painted on the side under the words “Hustlin’ Houser” in block lettering.

“I wanted something different,” Miranda said. “Everything inside is brand spankin’ new, but I just had a wiring issue. I just got the car out of the shop on Thursday.”

Doug Vantran displayed his son’s 1936 Ford, which Vantran’s son gives to Vantran to drive during the summer. Vantran, who works with the Middleboro Historical Association, handed out copies of The Middleborough Antiquarian, which is devoted to preserving Middleboro’s history.

“It’s a lot of fun to drive,” Vantran said. “I don’t know how fast it goes because I baby it. My son does, so you’ll have to ask him. Here’s how I think: Henry [Ford]’s an old man. We have to take care of old men.”

Sal Litchman’s quest to buy a Corvette also relates to his family. He had an orange Corvette convertible on display.

Litchman’s younger brother raced a Corvette in Connecticut and was killed by a drunk driver. Litchman was the executor of his estate, bought the Corvette and kept it for 30 years.

“When I moved to Middleboro, I said ‘you know, it’s not air-conditioned and I’m getting older,” Litchman said. “I traded it in and got a yellow ‘05 Corvette from Corvette Mike in Carver. Then, I went on his website, I saw this one, I said, ‘I love that color, I’m gonna own that car.” 

Other highlights of the day included music by cover band Too Much Fun and a ventriloquist act by Kevin Driscoll. Too Much Fun covered musicians like the Beatles and Van Morrison, while Driscoll invited volunteers to aid his act and kept the audience laughing.

“The weather is on our side and we got a load of cars,” said Medeiros. “It’s great.”