Over 300 cars displayed for 2021 Classics by the Lake

After a year away, the annual Classics by the Lake car show returned for 2021, and on Saturday, Sept. 11, Buffalo’s Sturges Park was packed with classic (and modern) cars and trucks.

   Car owners set up camp behind their vehicles, chatting with spectators about the special details and features.

   Over 300 vehicles were on display during the show, the hillsides of Sturges Park were home to rows  of various makes and models, the pathways along Buffalo Lake lined with more as well.

   Music, food, kids’ entertainment, and awards were also included in the event, offering something for everyone to enjoy. The car owners were able to cast ballots for their favorite entries, with the Top 35 receiving trophies.

   Morrie’s Ford of Buffalo is a major sponsor of the event, and Morrie Wagner showed up, bringing his 1951 Muntz Jet with him; it is estimated that about only 400-500 of these cars were ever made, making them a rare and priceless find.

   Classics by the Lake not only serves as a way for car owners to connect and for the community to check out a collection of classics, but it also gives back to the community. The Wright County Car Club assists with the event, and every year, they’ve been able to pour thousands of dollars into Buffalo. From providing new bathrooms at Sturges, to supporting the floral program in the park and “Let’s Go Fishing!” Classics by the Lake has averaged giving back approximately $30,000 every year since its inaugural show in 2007; the show started in the streets of downtown Buffalo as a way to support the local businesses, and later needed to expand to the park for more space.

   Event representative John Hagen shared his appreciation of the successful turnout, of both car owners and the community.

   “A success for us is when we have this many spectators,” Hagen said. “The City is so good for letting us use the park to host the hundreds of spectators. Adam Farrell, the Parks Supervisor, and everyone with the City have been so helpful.”

   Hagen noted how special it was to be able to feature the priceless and rare models in the show, like Wagner’s Muntz Jet. Joel Nystrom, of Buffalo, brought his 1929 Cord, and the VEIT Automotive Foundation entered its 1933 Ford Model 40 High Boy.

   “Cars like that are the reason we call it Classics by the Lake,” Hagen said.

   Though the car show has now come and gone, it’s already time to start planning for next year, which is sure to continue the tradition of bringing the classics to the community and raising funds to help the City.