Dade City Cruise In
It's a Family Affair
Meet Paul Rogers and Paul Rogers, Jr. In Dade City, their close relationship is as classic as their shared interest in this 1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. Young Paul was born here and grew up in rural Lacoochee, his father's retired antique car quietly collecting dust in the garage. His father had come to own it because a steel worker's strike in 1965 left local car dealerships struggling to acquire inventory.
As the Muscle Car craze was gaining traction with American car buyers, union disputes left Detroit with depleted inventory at dealerships around the country. In Dade City, Pasco Motors was the dealer for General Motor's Buick, Pontiac, GMC and Oldsmobile lines. Then as now, the various brands shared platforms and engines with brand defining trim packages and other distinguishing features.
Paul Senior, then working at the Evans Family's citrus packing operation had wanted a Pontiac GTO. But he was told it would be six months or more before he might expect to take delivery of his dream machine. Imagine his surprise when the salesman from Pasco Motors showed up at his job just two weeks later with a saffron yellow Cutlass 442 Coupe, an Oldsmobile that closely matched the Pontiac he was waiting for. Another gentleman had ordered the car but when it arrived, he was unable to buy it. In today's world we would call it fully "tricked out" with power steering and brakes as well as an unusual option for the time, air conditioning.
"They offered to let me drive it for a couple of weeks while I made up my mind," said Paul Senior. "But I drove it up the street and back a couple of times and said yes! I wanted a Muscle Car and this one was just right." With tax, tag and title, he paid $4630.79 with monthly payments just over $86.00 a month, a big commitment for the times.
A few years later he bought a pickup truck and parked the slick Oldsmobile. And, a few years after that, his son Paul was born who would grow up with a special place in his heart for the car his dad just had to have. As we ushered in the new millennium and Paul left for college at University of Florida, father and son began the 2-year project of restoring the 442 to its former glory.
On weekends and during vacations they rebuilt the engine, reupholstered the interior and eventually painted it a brighter yellow, keeping the unique two-tone white roof reminiscent of its original and pricey "two-tone magic mirror" paint option. On the original window sticker it's listed as a $16.46 upgrade.
When Monthly Cruise-In festivals began in Dade City, Paul and Paul Junior were among the first to participate. "It's a great way to spend the day together," says young Paul. "We like hanging out talking to other antique car owners and answering questions about our car." Today the 442 is officially valued at $20,000 or more. "But that isn't anywhere near what its worth to us," according to Paul Junior.
The Rogers men attend Classis Car rallies in other communities as well but Dade City is their favorite destination. Now, 28-year old Paul is engaged and his fiancé, is also an enthusiastic supporter of the hobby. They attend rallies together with Paul's dad and have several friends in their Wesley Chapel neighborhood who share their passion for preserving America's Automotive History. Communing on a regular basis and sharing their carefully restored and preserved treasures with visitors is a family event that is also the signature monthly event of The Dade City Chamber of Commerce.