Salvia, 70, showed off his Limelight green muscle car Sunday afternoon during the Villa Capri Cruisers’ 10th Annual Charity Auto Show at Nay Aug Park.
The Pocono Mountain Street Rods member bought the car about eight years ago, fulfilling his teenage dream.
“I’ve loved the body shape since I was 17 when I saw it in the showroom,” Salvia said. “It took a long time for me to get it.”
Salvia’s Road Runner was among about 250 vehicles on the Nay Aug grounds — from a 1932 Chevy to a brand-new Corvette, and everything in between, said Dave Thomas, secretary of the Villa Capri Cruiser Company.
“We expand a little bit every year and people enjoy it,” Thomas said.
Two helicopters even took part in the celebrations.
“We had guys on motorcycles come and check everything,” Thomas said. “People were looking at their bikes while they were looking at people’s cars.”
Thomas enjoys seeing many familiar faces around the park each year.
“I probably know more than half the people here, they are very loyal fans of the show,” he said.
The 22-year-old member of the Villa Capri Cruisers Car Club gained an appreciation for vehicles many years ago.
“When I was young — 14 or 15 — my cousins would say, ‘Dave, get me a half-inch wrench and hand it to me,’” said Thomas, 68. “It hooked me right away.”
John Michaeli showed off the pace car used in the 70th Indianapolis 500 in 1986 during the show. The car holds special meaning for Scranton residents.
“My brother-in-law bought it in Illinois,” said Michaeli, 80. “He died and I was taking him to cancer treatment, and we would go to car shows together.”
Clarks Summit resident Charles Martin showed off his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, which the 81-year-old is trying to sell.
Martin has fond memories of the car he bought 18 years ago.
“If you look at it and imagine a hot summer day, it’s nice,” Martin said. “That’s why I bought it.”
In addition to bringing car enthusiasts together, the event also raised money for mothers in need.
A donation of $5 from each display car will benefit the St. Joseph’s Baby & Toddler Pantry in Dunmore, representing a much-needed boost to the facility, said Tamara Hall, director of maternity and family services at St. Joseph’s Center.
The pantry serves about 350 families each month throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Wyoming counties, Hall said.
“We take orders to Carbondale and various other locations because transportation is a barrier for our families and we are low on supplies, especially larger diapers,” she said. “Anything (we receive) will be a huge help to families in our local communities.”
Contact the writer: rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.