The classic car community, for many individuals, is an extended family. And since the holidays are all about family gatherings, one Arizona-based club got together for a day of food and fellowship. “Fenders and Friends” is a group that was founded in October 2015 and has seen steady growth over the past decade. The organization is led by a handful of volunteers who work with the community and businesses on creating a calendar of shows, cruises, and charity events throughout each year. The 2025 holiday program took place the Horny Toad restaurant in Cave Creek, about 30 minutes north of Phoenix.
Here were some of the vehicles in attendance:
1964 Pontiac Grand Prix
The first-generation Grand Prix launched in 1962 targeting the personal luxury segment, and it lasted until 1964 before moving into its second iteration. This clean white example belonged to one of the leaders of the group, Kent. He told the story about how the car had been completely transformed from a barn-find style acquisition. In fact, the holiday brunch was the car’s first outing since completion. Congrats, Kent!
1965 Chevrolet Corvair 110 Sedan
The “110” in this car’s name corresponded to its rear-mounted, 110-horsepower, air-cooled, flat-six engine. For 1965, the compact Corvair was in its second generation. The car was phased out after 1969 but sold 1.8 million units during its lifetime. Today, there are many devout Corvair clubs, like the Cactus Corvair Club, which assembles every October as well as throughout the year.
1965 Rambler Marlin
The defining feature for this distinctive coupe, owned by Paul, was its fastback roofline. The Marlin was built by American Motors Corporation (AMC), and it came well-equipped with standard power disc brakes, reclining front seats, and deluxe trim. The base engine was a 232ci inline-six, but other options up to a 327ci V8 were available.
1967 Buick Skylark Sedan
The Skylark was considered an “intermediate car,” and it rode on the General Motors A-body platform alongside the Chevrolet Chevelle and the Oldsmobile Cutlass. This clean Ivory sedan was looking good with a black vinyl roof, whitewall tires, and rear wheel skirts. The Skylark model lasted, albeit with a brief intermission) from 1961-98, not including the semi-custom model built in 1953-54.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
The Chevelle name is synonymous with the muscle-car era, since General Motors used the platform to showcase some of its most powerful engines, like an available 454ci big-block. This clean blue SS was a stunner inside and out. It was powered by a 396ci V8 paired with a Muncie four-speed manual transmission.
1977 Cadillac Eldorado
Large and in charge, this 221-inch-long, front-wheel drive personal luxury coupe was commanding attention right near the entrance to the restaurant. It was powered by a 425ci V8 and became an icon of American luxury for the era. Its engineering focus, of course, was on a comfortable ride and plentiful creature comforts.
1988 Pontiac Fiero GT
Pontiac’s mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seat sports car was produced from 1984 through 1988 and used a steel spaceframe with plastic body panels. While early models were sometimes criticized for having a lack of power, a later 2.8-liter V6 gave the car some performance credentials that better matched its sporty exterior. Chad’s five-speed Fiero on display only had about 50,000 miles on the odometer and was looking brilliant.
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata
In a parking lot dominated by older domestics, I felt it appropriate to recognize and appreciate this sweet little Japanese roadster. The early MX-5 had such a nimble, “tossable” platform thanks to its 2,200-pound weight and 50/50 weight distribution. We recently talked about the cultural impact of the Miata when sharing the news of Tom Matano’s passing.
As always, Fenders and Friends brought together an array of unique classic cars. We can’t wait to see what the group comes up with next.
