Staff photo by Fritz Busch Matt Flaig of Gibbon stands next to his 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood lowrider with hydraulics at the Gibbon Funfest Sunday. Several dozen customized and original cars and trucks were part of the classic car show.
GIBBON — The attention of Gibbon Funfest Classic Car Show enthusiasts centered around a couple vehicles on the west side of City Park Sunday.
Matt Flaig, owner of a 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood with hydraulics drew a small crowd when he operated his vehicle’s hydraulics, bouncing his big car up and down on the street.
“It’s got 16,000 original miles. I just got an offer on it from a guy from the United Arab Emirates. He wanted me to ship it to him overseas. I told him I just finished it and it’s not for sale,” Flaig said.
The car has eight batteries in the trunk to power the hydraulic suspension system and a fair number of chrome parts.
Flaig said he bought the car that spent much of its life garaged in Nashville, Tn.
Staff photo by Fritz Busch Matt Molash of Gaylord stands next to his 1947 Crosley rat rod at the Gibbon Funfest Classic Car Show.
Low-riders have suspension modifications to lower a vehicle’s ground clearance below that of its original design. The body of the car can be raised and lowered by remote control.
Enthusiasts hold car jumping contests. With sufficient pumps, vehicles can jump and hop several feet off the ground.
Steve Molash of Gaylord drove his 1947 Crosley rat rod with a 500 cubic inch 1976 Cadillac engine to the show.
“I found the Crosley near Litchfield and worked on it for two years in my garage,” said Molash. “It has a front rack and pinion (steering) from a 1986 Pontiac Fiero. The front end comes off the ground about three inches if I hammer on it.”
Crosley was a small, independent American manufacturer of subcompact cars from 1939 to 1952.
Rat rods are custom vehicles with a an unfinished appearance, often lacking paint, showing rust and made from cheap or cast-off parts. The parts can include non-automotive items that have been repurposed, like a rifle used as a gear shifter, wrenches as door handles and hand saws as sun visors.
Rat rods known to imitate early hot rods, uniquely show the builder’s imagination. Typical rat rods are a late 20s to late 50s vehicle, often without fenders, hoods, running boards or bumpers. Maltese crosses, skulls and other accessories are often added.
Other vehicles at the car show included a 1970s Dodge Challenger, 60s and 70s Chevy Nova SS, Chevy Camaros and Corvettes, Ford Falcons, a 1958 Ford, 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet, and a 1950s Buick.
