It’s not uncommon to see classic cars around town: an MGB here, a Corvette there. You don't have to travel far to spot an old Thunderbird cruising by, but who’s driving these machines? Who put in the work to restore these classic cars to keep them running well beyond standard mileage?

The inaugural Marion Classic Antique Auto Show had plenty of these gear-heads at Silvershell Beach Saturday. The event was put on thanks in part to Jody Dickerson, director of the Marion Recreation Department. Dickerson said car shows have always been in his blood, and he’s helped put them together multiple times.

“I used to have a 1929 Model A Town Sedan,” he said. “It’s just fun to go to car shows. And it brings back memories. You talk to people and they’ll remember having a car like that when they were younger. It’s great to see all these different cars and hear their stories.”

Marion’s show had cars from as close to Rochester to as far as New York. There were Beetles, Camaros, and even an REO Speedwagon school bus from Sandwich. Standing or sitting in the shade beside every car was the owner (and usually their spouse) beaming proudly.

“All car guys think alike,” said Wayne Mattson, who brought in his Triumph TR6. “And they’re the nicest people in the world. Walk down, stop at anyone’s car, and they’ll strike up a conversation with you. There are guys who work as custodians, accountants and lawyers. But here, they share the same thing: They love their cars. Everyone shares the same enthusiasm.”

That enthusiasm is a result of comradery between owners no matter the make or model. What mattered were the effort put in and the story behind it.

Scott Snider’s VW Campmobile Bus was one of the rarer breeds of cars at the show. He says the previous owner’s daughter had started out on a cross-country road trip in it, which is fully stocked with a pullout bed, sink, and icebox. However, due to a skiing accident, the girl had to cut her trip short. And her father ran an ad for quite awhile until Snider, who grew up driving Volkswagens, saw it and was hooked.

Its cool green color and pop-up top certainly set it apart from the sports cars surrounding it.

“My buddies and I grew up just after the whole muscle car thing,” Snider said. “Plus I grew up camping. I saw these late models and just fell in love. And it’s not really a show car. Anyone is welcome to climb in and out of it.”

Snider’s vehicle is a notable exception to the “Do Not Touch” signs seen on many of the cars, but he holds to the belief that, even though these cars may be for shows, they need to be driven too.

“To me, save a couple and put them in museums, but they were meant to be used. I smile when I see one with 500,000 miles and the exhaust leaking with someone in a tie-dye shirt driving it.”

Among the more interesting cars at the show was Steve Joyce’s 1972 Mini Cooper Clubman Estate. Interestingly enough, when Joyce bought the car it was mostly restored and included a Honda V-Tech engine already. But he says that just gives it more character.

“Modern cars are kind of boring,” he said. “Old cars aren’t like that. They’re not just appliances, in a sense. They just have character. British cars have certain characteristics that are different from an old German or Japanese or American car. They’re all unique.”

Car shows bring out the best in both auto and owner. What’s important to these gear heads, though, is keeping the tradition going.

“I try to take my kids here to see the older guys and try to pass it down,” Mattson said. “It is becoming a lost art form, really. All these hot-rodders grew up doing this stuff. It’s just fun to go and listen to the stories.”

In an area like this, it doesn’t seem likely the old cars and car lovers will be gone anytime soon.