Unity Bank Classic Car Show Recap - Lehigh Valley with Love

Unity Bank Classic Car Show is proof that the only thing more powerful than a vintage V8 is a good story.

The annual show was recently held at Unity Bank headquarters in Clinton, NJ. This year’s event raised a record-setting $9,000 for Family Promise of Hunterdon and Warren Counties. The weather was crisp and clear, the lot was packed with cars and spectators, and the stories were just as colorful as the paint jobs.

We had the chance to meet a few owners and learn what makes their cars special. Art Dysart brought a 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton that has been in his family since the early 1980s. “It was my grandparents’ car,” he said. “We’d work on it together every year. It’s got a special place for us.”

He only brings it out twice a year; once for the Lebanon parade and once for this show.

Jesse showed up with a 1968 Buick Riviera that looked like a rolling piece of 1970s album art. He calls it “cosmic debris.” The car was originally all red, but Jesse and his wife transformed it into something far more unique. “We were gonna fix it up and paint it one color, but it needed so much. We figured we’d just have fun with it instead.” That decision paid off. The car drew crowds all day and took home the Most Likely to Be at Woodstock award.

John brought a 1944 Willys Jeep, configured as a World War II medical evacuation vehicle. “This Jeep was actually in France during the war,” he told us. “The French army rebuilt it in 1946 and again in 1964.” Despite its age, it still runs strong. “Put it in low gear and low range, and it will climb stairs.” John brings it to local parades and gives educational talks about WWII military medics. He says Willys built the first SUVs, and that this Jeep is where it all started.

Dennis brought his 1970 and a half Camaro Z28; a factory-built race car with no frills. “No power steering, no radio, no insulation. Just speed,” he said. The car ran for six years before being put into storage. About a decade ago, Dennis was ready to let it go. “My wife said, why not just put it back together? So I did.” It ended up setting a few national records, and now it’s fully restored and back on the road.

The show handed out awards in 15 categories, recognizing everything from original restorations to over-the-top creativity. Here’s the full list of 2025 winners from the Unity Bank Classic Car Show:

Best Custom Paint: Paul Sadawski, 1934 Ford Coupe, Byram Twp, NJ
Best Custom Interior: Lester Murphy, 1956 Chevy Bel Air, Great Meadows, NJ
Chauffeur’s Choice: Arnold McCathary, 1994 Cadillac Hearse, Asbury, NJ
Rattiest Rat Rod: Raechel Miele, 1931 Ford Victoria, Belvidere, NJ
Best Truck: Rick Smirnoff, 1951 Ford F1, Phillipsburg, NJ
Most Likely to Get a Speeding Ticket: Ken Ewing, 1966 Chevy II, Lebanon, NJ
Best Getaway Car: William Nelson, 2021 Ford GT Heritage, Asbury, NJ
Best Road Trip Car: Ralph Scarto, 1957 Chevy Nomad, Flemington, NJ
Worst Gas Mileage: Ken Ewing, 1966 Chevy, Lebanon, NJ
Best First Date Car: Frank Verducci, 1994 Chevy Corvette, Cranford, NJ
Most Likely to Be at Woodstock: Jesse Moore, 1968 Buick Riviera, Clinton, NJ
James Bond’s Car of Choice: Lonnie Cryan, 1957 Jaguar XK140MC DHC, Oxford, NJ
Best True to Original: Art Dysart, 1929 Ford Model A, Clinton, NJ
Family Promise Choice: Art Hawk, 1954 Chevy 3100 Panel Truck, Alpha, NJ
Unity Bank Choice: Clinton Fire Department, 1926 American LaFrance Pumper, Clinton, NJ
People’s Choice: Steve Della Vella, 1967 Corvette Stingray, Flemington, NJ

Clinton is a great town for a Sunday drive, and seeing classic cars lined up in front of Unity Bank added something special to an already charming downtown. There’s nothing quite like walking past rows of chrome and custom paint while hearing the stories behind each engine. It was more than just a car show. It was a celebration of memory, mechanics, and community.

Thanks to Unity Bank and everyone involved for having us. If you missed it this year, keep an eye out for next October.

Photo gallery below. Click for a larger view.