Show for the ages: Car show features classic muscle and sleek new designs
Pattie Rowley of Marion with her 1954 Chevy Belair. Photos by Bobby Grady
Michael Hazelton’s 1967 Chevrolet Blown Nova SS. 
A mini truck sits in front of the engine of its larger version.
Steve of Bourne, left and Mark Holbrook of Wareham take a look under the hood.
Rick Mickunas 1967 Cutlass convertible.
Eric Ellis cleans off his 2000 Mustang Saleen.
Pattie Rowley of Marion with her 1954 Chevy Belair. Photos by Bobby Grady
Michael Hazelton’s 1967 Chevrolet Blown Nova SS.
A mini truck sits in front of the engine of its larger version.
Steve of Bourne, left and Mark Holbrook of Wareham take a look under the hood.
Rick Mickunas 1967 Cutlass convertible.
Eric Ellis cleans off his 2000 Mustang Saleen.
As classic tunes like Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” blared and even more classic cars had their hoods popped revealing restored engines and interiors, dozens of people gathered on Father’s Day to celebrate one dad’s love of cars.
The second annual Onset VFW car show was held Sunday, June 15 in memory of Kenneth Delnuze Sr. by his three daughters who were looking to honor their father through their shared love of cars.
“[Kenneth] was the owner of Delnuze Collision Center for over 64 years in Weymouth,” his daughter and car show organizer Donna Delnuze said. “He started off as a young man in the automotive business and he had always given back to the community.”
She said her father instilled a love of cars in her from a young age and seeing the number of car enthusiasts come out “means the world.”
“He instilled it to the point where my love and happiness is derived from the automotive business and cars,” she said. “Our family owns 20 or 30 cars collectively from different types of muscle cars to exotics to luxury vehicles.”
One of the many car enthusiasts at the show was Rick Mickunas of Middleboro who brought his 1967 Cutlass convertible.
“It was one of 4,300 made,” Mickunas said.
The convertible Mickunas had at the show is just one of the ‘67 Cutlass convertibles he owns, he said and the others are largely used for parts to restore the one at the show.
“I’ve been collecting parts for years and they don’t make replacement parts because it was a one year body style.”
Mickunas’ car was one of many classic cars at the show, which many said have a quality and style to them that today's cars seem to lack.
“In the 50’s and 60’s, everything had style,” said Wareham resident Alain Savary who had his own 1990 Cadillac Atlanta at the show
“These cars are what I grew up with,” Savary said. “My grandfather owned a garage and my dad had a car lot. I think my dad gave me my first learn how to drive car when I was 13 and we lived out in the woods on Greatneck Road where it was easy to ride around and not get caught.”
Savary added one of his favorite parts about car shows is seeing the younger generations take interest in the cars of yesteryears.
“I think it’s cool because as things change and progress, the new cars are different and have no personalities,” he said. “For younger people to look at them is kind of a neat thing.”
Supporting the youth’s interest in the automotive industry is another important aspect of the show Donna Delnuze said and the Onset VFW awarded four Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School seniors in the automotive school a scholarship.
“We wanted the kids to come out and see the love for something that’s old and beautiful,” she said. “A car could be from 1920 or a brand new Ferrari and whatever type of vehicle it is, I want them to say ‘wow one day I want to have something like this.’”
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