By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The streets of downtown Bucyrus turned back the hands of time Saturday as classic cars took over Sandusky Avenue for the 23rd Graffiti Cruise. Drivers from the county as well as throughout the state cruised in over 500 classic and custom cars dating from 1977 and older on Sandusky Avenue between Mary Street and Oakwood Avenue.
Bucyrus Resident Buzz Foulke had his 1955 Chevy on display.
“I bought the car at a swap meet in Indiana and restored the interior, door panels, seats and steering wheel,” Foulke said.
Ashland resident Russ Chapman’s custom 1929 Ford may have been seen by more people than any other car in the show. With many unique customizations to the car it has been dubbed “The Brutusmobile”
“The car was voted number one Buckeye ride over the internet. It has been in the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame parades,” Chapman said. “It has been in the fourth of July Parade down at Ohio State, been in the Ohio State Home Coming Parade. It was on display in South Bend Indiana at the College Football Hall of Fame.”
Barbra and Bob Ruyan from Westerville displayed their 1955 Ford Crown Victoria at the car show. Sitting in the front seat of the car was the Pink Panther and his son.
“I purchased the car 17 years ago and only had to do some restoration to it,” Ruyan said. “It’s my wife’s favorite car. She fell in love with it, so really it is her car.”
Ruyan said he brings his Crown Vic to Bucyrus’s Carl’s Auto for maintenance. “It is harder and harder to find someone who knows how to work on these cars each year,” Ruyan continued.
Driving in one of the rarer classics, Bob and Helen Carter showed off their 1923 Durant.
“I purchased the car in 1992 and am the second owner,” Carter said. “There are only six left in the world of this model, and it is all original except the paint, upholstery and tires.”
The 23rd Graffiti Cruise went from 2 p.m. until midnight Saturday. A photo gallery of Saturday’s Graffiti Cruise is on the Photo page.