Amid the sounds of hamburgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill and doo-wap hits of years past, attendees were transported in time at the car show held at the Wareham-New Bedford Lodge of Elks #73 on Sunday, July 30.

If the tune of Neil Sedaka’s “Next Door to an Angel” wasn’t enough, the over 70 antique cars parked in neat rows in the lot served as quite the time machine for attendees.

The show, held by the Downshifters Car Club of New England, raised money to benefit Cleanup Agawam Mill Pond (CAMP). The association is a not-for-profit aimed at annually restoring the state-owned pond. 

Refreshments, raffles and revved engines drew a sizable crowd on the warm summer day.

Mike Lenihan, president of the pond association, said he was grateful for the lodge’s help as well as Steve King, who suggested and organized the event as a pond association member as well as member of the Downshifters Car Club.

King said he has owned his 1969 GTX for approximately four years and after participating in a number of shows and fairs, he thought it would be a way for the association to raise money for the pond cleanup.

Lenihan said with his 25 volunteers and beautiful weather the show “couldn't be better.”

Some cars in the lot were just a small glimpse into a grand collection of antique cars and some were simply the owner’s most prized possession. However, no matter the circumstance, each car had a story to tell.

Lenihan had an antique car himself — a red 1970 Cutlass Supreme Convertible.

Sitting in the lot with its roof down and hood up for maximum visibility, Lenihan said these types of collectable cars are not ones people drive on a regular basis. 

Though they don’t get a lot of miles, he said they make for a unique showpiece at events like his and a nice set of wheels to grab an ice cream in on a sunny day.

He said everyone who entered a vehicle named their top five cars from the show and ten trophies were handed out to the highest scorers.

Eben Bumpus, a Rochester resident, brought two cars to the show, one of which was his red 1967 Chevy Nova. Its popped hood made a welcoming home for a plushie of Grumpy from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

Bumpus said he has been attending car shows his whole life.

“You meet different people,” he said. “You go just sit out in the sun, talk to people, have fun and make the best of it.”

Nick Biello, his wife Lupe and their daughter Dacia visited the show from Milford to support their friend who had cars on display as well as Lenihan whom Nick said he has known for over 20 years.

Nick said, “We're here to support the cause and it's a wonderful, wonderful day.”

Dacia said she loved the show, adding she loved “the purple car, especially.”

The car she was referring to is a bright purple 1964 Dodge Dart GT owned by Brockton resident Clay Mathews.

Lupe said she could not possibly choose a favorite.

“They're gorgeous,” she said. “I mean, it takes such craftsmanship to be able to recreate them and they're beautiful.”

Mark Voner, a resident of Norwell and friend of the Biello family, said he loves antique cars.

His collection consists of 35 cars, including a 1970 Triple Black Coupe DeVille Cadillac he had on display at the show.

Voner said this car is special to him due to not only its rarity with the triple black coloring, but also because of its status as a “survivor.”

Every part of the car is completely original unlike many of the antique vehicles that have needed refurbishment and other touch ups.

He said the car was stored for a long time before it was bought by someone who sold it to his father-in-law who lives in Onset. 

Voner added, “I ended up chasing the car for 10 years, begging him to sell it to me and then he finally did.”

He said he has owned the car for 10 years now and plans to have the car refurbished piece by piece, keeping all of its original parts in order to maintain its “pristine” condition.

“It's very, very nice and it rides beautifully,” Voner added.