On Sunday, July 20, the Newtown Business Association Antique & Classic Auto Show returned to historic State Street, drawing thousands of car lovers, families, and curious onlookers,
From 10 am to 3 pm, Newtown Borough hosted nearly 200 antique and classic vehicles, parked with intention and elegance. As always, the show’s distinction was not just its impressive lineup of vehicles, but the atmosphere itself.
“We had about 3,500 to 4,000 people come through during the day,” said Dan Petty who has chaired the event since 2020. “That’s pretty typical for the show now. It’s becoming one of those events people just put on their calendars. I start to recognize people year after year; it’s truly become an annual tradition that people look forward to.”
The strong sense of tradition extended to the car owners, many of whom return each summer to showcase their carefully restored classics. “At least half of the car owners have been coming here for years,” Petty noted. “You start seeing kids grow up, grandkids coming along. It’s really special to watch these families grow before your eyes, as they return each year.”
This year’s show saw a strong turnout of new vehicles as well. Over 50 never-before-seen cars at this show lined the historic street, many freshly restored and gleaming in the July sun. Among the standout newcomers were showroom-quality models from the 1950s and 60s, including a particularly pristine Chevrolet Bel Air from the 1950s that ultimately took home the coveted “Best of Show” trophy.
“We had an incredible lineup of cars from the ‘50s and ‘60s this year,” Petty noted. “Cars we’ve never seen before at this show. It was really cool.”
But what sets the Newtown show apart from other car events, according to both attendees and participants, is the thoughtful organization and unmistakable charm.
“Other shows can feel a little chaotic,” said Petty. “You show up, and they park you wherever there’s room; you might see a 1932 roadster next to a 2015 Lamborghini. But here, we place every car by decade and class. It gives the whole event this curated, museum-like feel. If you’re in the 1950s section, every car you see in that area is from the 1950s.”
The themed sections also included foreign cars and dedicated displays for beloved marques like Corvettes and Porsches. “Foreign cars have such a different aesthetic than American cars,” Petty said. “So we created a foreign section to honor that difference. And Corvettes always show up in full force; we had a huge section just for them.”
This level of organization and polish is no accident. Petty and the Newtown Business Association work year after year to elevate the event. Petty added that this show would not be possible without the amazing car show committee and judges.
“We hear the same two words over and over again: character and class,” Petty said. “That’s what we aim for. This year we added more signage, sandwich boards with QR codes that told people which car era they were walking through, and linked them to info about the show. It’s the little touches that make this show feel more like an experience than just a car lineup.”
And it wasn’t just cars that delighted visitors. DJ Luke Devlin kept the energy high, while five food trucks appealed to many hungry, thirsty spectators during the hot summer day. A variety of vendors offered a diversity of products and services as well, providing a full-fledged festival feel while maintaining the event’s signature classiness.
“We go out of our way to keep it clean and welcoming,” Petty added. “We make sure there’s a trash can every fifty feet, and that everything looks polished. We want it to be a place where people of all ages can enjoy themselves.”
“Every year this show gets a little bit better and a little bit more fun,” Petty said. “We’re already thinking about how to make next year even more special.”
