By Eliza Partika
Glendale News-Press
Glendale’s Brand Boulevard is accustomed to hundreds of vehicles cruising up and down its busy street.
But on July 15, the street hit the brakes and welcomed roughly 40,000 people to stop and admire more than 400 classic cars and customized, decked-out vehicles during the city’s 28th annual Cruise Night.
At the forefront of the classic car selections was a replica of the famed 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, “Herbie.” Recognized for its red, white and blue stripes with the number “53” emblazoned on the hood and doors, the same model was the star in films like 1968’s “The Love Bug,” 1974’s “Herbie Rides Again,” and most recently, 2005’s “Herbie: Fully Loaded.”
Jerry Caron, the vehicle’s owner of 12 years, is used to the attention the car brings at events like Cruise Night. Caron has joined his famous vehicle at a number of red-carpet events and countless press tours including a trip to Disneyland.
Caron takes particular care of “Herbie” to preserve the movie magic inside and outside the car. The 200-mph green speedometer is like the one seen in the films. In the backseat sits the helmet worn by all of “Herbie’s” on-screen drivers. Inside the hood, a black display shelf is adorned with pictures, “Herbie” model cars and various awards.
The replica of the well-known buggy was recreated by Caron himself. He came across an old, beat-up white Volkswagen for sale on his way home from work one day. His son badly needed a car to begin learning to drive, and Caron figured that, with a little fixing, the car would be in good enough shape to drive. Eventually, Caron decided to give the car even further upgrades.
“I went out, taped off the lines to paint in the red stripe and blue stripe, and made a stencil with a 53. People went nuts,” he said.
Caron drives “Herbie” on camping trips to Yosemite, on errands in the neighborhood and even to work. The driver-vehicle pair attracts a lot of attention on the Los Angeles freeways.
“[They can] see ‘Herbie’ in the rearview mirror,” Caron said. “When I’d get up beside cars, kids would be screaming and all that.”
Bringing “Herbie” to local car shows like Cruise Night reminds Caron of the magic he is able to provide for himself, his family and the public.
A 1901 buggy was the oldest featured car of the event. Owner Harry Agazarian bought the buggy from the Sees family 25 years ago when he worked for the chocolatiers as a roofer. The wood and metal carriage was stored in boxes in the family’s garage. Agazarian spent the next eight years learning how to reassemble it from thrifted instruction manuals and YouTube videos. He registered the car with the Department of Motor Vehicles as a “horse-drawn carriage” when it was completed and since then, the vehicle has become his favorite of the seven classic cars he owns. He loves the reactions people have when they see the vehicle, especially when he needs to call roadside assistance.
“I called AAA like, ‘Excuse me I need a flood bed because it’s 1901’ [and the AAA employee said] ‘What do you mean 1901, what is that?’ And I was like ‘it’s a car.’ It was so funny; for him it was the biggest thing to come and see. He kept saying, ‘Whoa, what the hell is this car?’”
Agazarian and his wife enjoy driving the carriage on small errands every Sunday. Some Cruise Night attendees said they have seen Agazarian and the car around town — in the Trader Joe’s parking lot or rumbling at a snail’s pace of 10-to-15 mph along a residential road.
To drive the buggy, the driver must sit in the center of the red cushioned seat to have the best control of the clutch, brakes and gas. The one-cylinder engine emits a rumble from under the carriage seat where it sits. It’s a sign that the frail metal and wood vehicle is roaring to life.
Among a group of beaming onlookers, Agazarian demonstrated the carriage’s throttle and its original horn shaped like a black bulb. The owner was not the only one squeezing the horn throughout the event.
“When you have more than one passenger, you have to be careful. It’s a beautiful piece of furniture,” he said, chuckling.
Hermosa Beach resident Don Feeney brought in his 1972 Cadillac Eldorado, offering families and couples a chance to sit in his classic convertible cruiser. Feeney adores car shows because it gives him the opportunity to share his car with the community. As each person gingerly sits on the back hood of his car, he circles the vehicle like a photographer of Hollywood models, snapping continuous photos of grinning faces.
Feeney bought the car in 1986 after his boss told him his Volkswagen was too small and his customers would get too cramped in it.
“I was in a job where I was in marketing, and I had to entertain customers,” Feeney said. “I had to take them out for lunch and for dinner. … I was told to get a big car and I picked this. I just kind of fell in love with it.”
He’s driven his shining, white Eldorado cruiser across the country, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and most recently, on a trip to Yellowstone. He always drives with the top down.
“I enjoy this car,” Feeney said. “And I get a lot of pleasure out of having people enjoy it. … It makes me happy.”
Orange County-based car club Surf City Classics showcased a number of classic cars at the event, including a couple of copper-finished “rat rods” — classic 1930s cruisers customized with varying parts and paint jobs.
“It’s a ‘36 Ford, but it has a Chrysler engine [and] a G.M. transmission. It’s just mixed up, whatever you got laying around,” said Robert Wong, member of Surf City Classics and the owner of a 1936 Ford on display.
Wong said many classic car owners are worried about their prized possessions being scratched or damaged by people. That inspired the owner to add a chalkboard to his rat rod’s trunk so people can draw on it.
“It’s a different kind of mindset,” he said.
Wong customized his ride by stripping it down to bare metal before covering it in a primer that turned the rusting gray metal into an almost iridescent copper finish that reflects the sun in a wavy pattern. Along with the new paint job, Wong replaced the transmission, and on the way up to the event, had to clamp off a busted engine and duct tape the steering wheel.
“There are always things to do,” he said. “So you can just have fun.”
Ray Venegas, another member of Surf City Classics, installed old headlights as his brake lights and turn signals into his rat rod so they would blink on command. He added Uber stickers to his windows as a light-hearted joke, and for some spooky fun, a skeleton cat to his griller. He carries tools in case of an emergency but insists that maintaining the car is not any more than what’s required for other vehicles.
“All you really have to do to maintain any car is just change the oil,” Venegas said. “You know, keep the air tire pressure. Just like any other regular car. … Make sure you got enough gas to go where you’re going,” he said.
Other modern and classic cars — GTOs, Thunderbirds, Chevy Malibus, Mustangs and Corvettes — lined Brand Boulevard until 10:30 p.m.
Cruise Night attendees also had the option to explore local vendors and learn more about community organizations, along with taking part in carnival games and other family-friendly activities. Three local bands, Ticket to Ride: A Tribute to the Beatles, Gregory Wolfe as Rod Stewart and Jumping Jack Flash: The Tribute to the Rolling Stones, curated the night’s song selections. A fireworks show concluded the evening’s festivities.
Bradley Calvert, director of community development for Glendale, said events like Cruise Night not only help bring communities together, but also encourage residents or visitors to take alternative transportation methods, like biking or walking.
“Glendale supports opportunities for healthier lifestyles, reduced dependence on automobiles, safer streets, reduced energy consumption and the creation of vibrant neighborhoods,” Calvert said in a statement to the News-Press.
“I think setting up a booth at an event like that … gives us exposure to a different audience that normally may or may not be engaged and gives us a chance to kind of spread the word about some of the initiatives that we have going on.”
First published in the July 22 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
