Custom car show coming to borough

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A De Tomaso Pantera GT is one of the vehicles confirmed to be at the Connecticut Indoor Custom Car & Motorcycle Show in Naugatuck on March 25 and 26. It will be held in the former General DataComm building at 6 Rubber Ave. –CONTRIBUTED

NAUGATUCK — After five years without a winter-season custom car show in Connecticut, the borough will host the Connecticut Indoor Custom Car and Motorcycle Show.

It will fill a void in the state, which used to have a custom car and hot rod show in Hartford every year. The show ceased because the rent became too expensive.

That’s why Naugatuck’s indoor car and motorcycle show will be a panacea for car enthusiasts, accustomed to attending outdoor shows in warmer weather, event promoter Don Clady said.

“It’s like they died and went to car heaven or they’re waking up on Christmas morning,” Clady said. “That’s the kind of reaction I’m getting from people.”

The event will be held at the former General DataComm building at 6 Rubber Ave. The borough owns the property and has renovated the building, which was empty for years, to host festivals and expositions.

The car show, which is the first event in the newly revamped building, is scheduled for March 25 and 26. The hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 25 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 26. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for ages 8 to 13 and children under 8 are free. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Proceeds will go toward building improvements.

Anyone interested in displaying a vehicle, sponsorship opportunities or vendor space can email donclady@ctcruisenews.com.

The show will feature custom and classic cars, race cars, motorcycles and specialty vehicles, along with automotive vendors, club displays, jewelry, clothing and more. Vehicles that will be there include a “Walking Dead” motorcycle, a motorcycle with “Scarface” characters painted on it, a General Lee motorcycle and the “Starsky and Hutch” car.

In addition, exotic cars such as Lamborghinis, Ferraris and a De Tomaso Pantera GT will be on display.

The former DataComm building is being billed as “Naugatuck’s new entertainment facility.” The 374,000-square-foot building has four floors with wide open space, along with free parking and a lower rental fee than the XL Center and Connecticut Exposition Center, Clady said.

“It looks great to me from what I saw and the potential of this building is phenomenal,” Clady said.

Clady has signed a three-year deal with the borough and will host another event next winter. Clady, who lives in New Milford, has organized shows for 30 years and owns Connecticut Cruise News.