Local antique auto club drives up, chows down at event marking four decades

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Two antique models face each other in front of the banner at the 40th anniversary of the Antique Automobile Club of America, Coastal Carolina chapter Nov. 15.

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The Charleston Police Department's restored 1948 Chevrolet made an appearance at the anniversary celebration for the AACA, Coastal Carolina region at Mel's Filling Station.

A car museum was an apt spot for the Antique Automobile Club of America, Coastal Carolina region, to celebrate its 40th year earlier this month.

Mel’s Filling Station, a private facility on Dorchester Road made to look like an old garage, hosted the Nov. 15 get-together, which was changed at the last minute from a Goose Creek car show due to inclement weather.

A moderate group of restored cars from various time frames parked alongside the station, and patrons dined on buffet food inside.

Ann H. Mays, president of the Coastal Carolina chapter, was one of the participants. The Charleston car enthusiast is known for her 1924 open touring Buick, who has appeared in a few movies, soap opera episodes and ads filmed in the Lowcountry.

In organizing the event, she tried to reach as many of the members as she could, dating to the chapter’s launch in 1968. “There are a lot we are not able to find,” she said. At the same time, she searched via the Internet and was able to locate “quite a few.”

The Coastal Carolina group is one of more then 400 chapters, including 10 in South Carolina, of the Antique Automobile of America. The AACA, which is 75 years old this year, is one of the most senior, established car clubs in the U.S.

The national club has another local group, the Summerville-based Charleston-Lowcountry club. It was chartered in 1992 and hosts a monthly car show during most of the year.

A list of clubs is available online at www.aaca.org.>

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com