In this year's special Street Rod Round-Up edition, I spotlighted the McGee Roadster and mentioned it was picked by the Historical Vehicle Association (HVA) as a significant car. I promised you readers more information on the HVA and here it is.
The Historic Vehicle Association was founded in 2009 with the initial support of the Hagerty Insurance folks. Now with the Library of Congress and the US Department of Interior, they are creating a permanent archive of significant historic vehicles. Their mission is "to promote the cultural and historical significance of the automobile and protect the future of our automotive past."
What I like about the HVA is they don’t just pick the 1967 Camaro and say that model is a keeper. No, they actually sift it down to a specific car. In this case, the FIRST Camaro ever produced was selected.
As part of the archival process, they spend weeks documenting the car and taking exact, specific photographs that meet the Library of Congress' demands. As the HVA historian, Casey noted to me, the real work then begins. They research the car and gather as much documentation and details as they can on the vehicle and ownership. All is to be preserved for future generations.
So far, twenty-four cars have been designated by the HVA, and I have been fortunate now to have seen five of them in person. In the spring of each year, the newly selected cars are individually highlighted on the National Mall in the Nation's Capitol- Washington D.C. While on outside display, they are encased in a glass enclosure and offer some placards about the car significance for parties to read. It is always fun to watch the reactions of the passersby. Some barely glance at the car on display while others stop, read the data sheets, and are obviously impressed by what they see.
Part of the recognition process includes a neat looking bronze plaque that denotes the significance of the car. Not too many owners can post that "trophy" on their garage wall. This year the cars selected were a 1927 Model T Ford, the 1968 Ford Mustang from the movie "Bullitt" , a replica of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California from the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", a 1984 Plymouth Voyager minivan and a 1918 Cadillac Type 57.
Each year the brain trust at the HVA consider some cars, before sifting it down to a select few. So far, no owners have turned down the recognition. So we now have the opportunity to recognize our significant cars in the ever growing history of American automobiles.
© 2018 Mark C. Bach
Some photos courtesy of the HVA