Who has the coolest car in town? Richard Saunders says he does. While many other New Canaan drivers spend their time in modern cars, Saunders sees as all the same. The Hawks Hill Road resident takes to the road behind the wheel of an American classic: a 1931 Ford Model A.
This is a real car, said Saunders, who has owned the roadster for 19 years. It looks like a car, and it has style.
Saunders took his dream machine for a spin around downtown Monday. While his wife, Nina, and daughter, Sarah, were on Elm Street, Saunders went to lunch with Keldon Shepherd and Stuart Beswick, both elders with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I just took it out for a joy ride and went to lunch.
Saunders bought the car after Nina nixed the idea of an airplane kit. The car should be familiar to many New Canaan residents who attend the towns annual Memorial Day Parade. Three weeks ago, Saunders drove the car for more than 440 miles along the Natchez Trace Parkway, stretching from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn., as part of an event with the Model A Ford Club of America. He left shortly before tornadoes struck the Southeast.
Saunders says he loves to drive the car around town, especially on sunny days. People slow down for you, and they dont try to block you in, he said. All of a sudden, people get friendly.
With more warm weather coming, expect to see Saunders a lot more in his road-ready classic.
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