There are car lovers and then there are car fanatics — avid fans who are so passionate about a particular vehicle that they join clubs to share their enthusiasm with like-minded people.
Atlanta is home to several clubs that allow car owners and lovers to swap stories, trade parts information and socialize. There are groups dedicated to classic cars, sports cars and luxury cars, as well as particular makes or models: Jaguar, Mini Cooper, Mustang, Camaro, Firebird and Volvo, to name a few.
At the Atlanta International Auto Show, members from two local car clubs will show off some of their favorite wheels, answer questions and invite others to join their ranks.
“You just have to love a car to be a member of our group,” said Rick Ellis, a member of the 21-year-old North Georgia Mopar Club. “There are no age requirements, and we even welcome people with new cars.”
The name Mopar, which grew out of the phrase “motor parts,” now stands for all the brands under Chrysler’s umbrella. Club members own a host of vehicles, including new Chargers and Challengers and muscle cars from the ’60s and ’70s.
North Georgia Mopar Club members will be at the auto show to talk about the eight cars they’ll have on display.
“We have about 400 members who own a wide variety [of cars] — everything from a ’33 Plymouth to a 2000 Prowler,” said Ellis, whose personal vehicles include a 1972 Dodge Dart and a 2001 Chrysler Prowler. “But we’re not just about cars; last year our club gave more than $14,000 to various charities. We raise a lot of money through our car shows.”
For 27 years, owners and fans of Corvettes have gathered for events sponsored by the Classic Glass Corvette Club. About 175 members enjoy social outings such as Saturday night cruise-ins and driving in homecoming parades. They also support several worthy causes.
“We support quite a few charities,” said club member Wayne Ray. “But more than anything, we’re a social club.”
Club members plan to showcase several vintage autos — including Corvettes from 1957, 1960, 1966 and 1974 — and two newer models.
“I’d say about three-quarters of our members have new ones, but people really seem to be drawn to the older ones. I know I am,” said Ray, who has restored several older ’Vettes but now owns just a 2000 model. “I’ve been taken with them ever since I was a teenager, but I didn’t get my first one until the kids were grown and out of the house.”
For information about the ClassicGlass Corvette Club, go to www.cgcorvetteclub.com.
For details about the North Georgia Mopar Club, go to www.northgeorgiamoparclub.com.
