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Form, function and fun at the Cruise the Narrows Car Show

Posted on August 8th, 2024 By: Dennis Browne

The love affair between man and machine was on full display on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Uptown Gig Harbor for the the 26th annual Cruise the Narrows Car Show.

The Gig Harbor Cruisers Car Club event showcased the timeless lines and acute styles of some of this area’s most beautiful automobiles.

A look down on the Cruise the Narrows car show at Uptown. Photo by Dennis Browne

Henry Ford would have had a smile on his face Saturday strolling among the stunning cars, enjoying the abundant sunshine and listening to great rock ’n’ roll music. Ford probably would have appreciated how the automobile has become an art form to so many people, while also conveying their personal style in a way few other possessions can.

Back in Ford’s day, form wasn’t nearly as important as function. He sold his first Model A in 1903 to a dentist from Chicago for $800. Ford’s first cars were built in a rented warehouse in Detroit after Henry borrowed $28,000 to start production. He had just $223 left in the bank when that first Model A sold. That was probably as low as the account ever became. The Ford Motor Company’s total assets were an estimated $223.3 billion in 2023.

A beautiful paint color on Mike Hartman’s stunning ’34 Ford. Photo by Dennis Browne

What’s old is new again

Henry’s new automobile had the strength of eight pulling horses, an impressive top speed of 28 miles per hour and one color, bright red. It stirred the imagination and adventure of so many who yearned to get off the back of a horse and ride through the American countryside.

The automobile has come a long way since then as evidenced by the hundreds of styles at Cruise the Narrows. The show has become Gig Harbor’s biggest, best and longest-running car show and it did not disappoint this year. The overall spectator experience and the quality of the attending cars seem to continually advance year after year.

Doc Brown showed up in Bob Brill’s Back to the Future 1981 DeLorean replica. Photo by Dennis Browne

An overflowing blend of hot rods, sports cars, luxury cruisers, off road vehicles, custom creations and so many cars that I would love to drive were washed, waxed and polished to perfection.

It’s not easy to put into words what it feels like to turn the key, hear the hum of a V-8 motor and feel the power of a drive in a perfected classic car. It’s kind of a, “if you know, then you know” type of thing.

But more and more Harborites young and old are discovering the feeling as the classic models that actually involved steel construction, unique body contours and interesting design elements are often more appealing than modern cars.

A 600hp LS3 motor is in Michael McAndrews’ 1969 Chevy Camaro. Photo by Dennis Browne

Cruisers’ stories

Many buyers are reaching back in time to purchase Corvettes, Mustangs and everything in between. It’s starting to show on local streets as every Friday, Saturday and Sunday more and more classics cars are seen rolling down Harborview Drive, to appreciative glances. Car companies have also noticed the trend and have started to recreate the old styles. But as they say, nothing beats the real thing.

The owners of the cars at the Cruisers show know the feeling quite well as they flank their cars, sitting quietly by while appreciative onlookers ogle their cars. The owners are a friendly and eclectic group of people who delight in the opportunity to tell the personal stories of how they came to own their cars, how long they have worked on them and the bond formed with a family member or a special friend in the restoration process.

A 1962 Chevy Nova convertible owned by Maureen Phelps of Port Orchard has a taillight that doubles as a gas filler. Photo by Dennis Browne

But the biggest thrill of all is when the work is done and they get the time to grab the keys, push the pedal down and let their rides take them away, down a winding road as life’s troubles melt away with each passing mile.

Check out these cars

Below, you’ll find a few of my personal favorites from the Cruise the Narrows Show and here’s to hoping that more of you think about what it might be like to own a unique stunner like possibly a 1968 Porsche Speedster, a 1949 Cadillac, a rumbling 1972 Dodge Challenger, or a iconic 1967 Mustang.

Whatever your preference there’s a beauty out there for you and a car club like the Cruisers as well, whose members would say that buying a classic car just may turn out to be one of the best purchasing decisions of your lifetime.