Miss Hurst | 2005
Once a year in Newport Beach, Calif., THE OC Chapter of the Exchange Club puts on a
Concours D’Anciens. Although the Exchange Club is service club not a car club, many of the
members are serious car collectors – think Pebble Beach. It is more of a fun event designed
for members and invited guests.
This year, AOAI member Nick Berger volunteered to put on the show. This required providing
trophies, registering and staging the cars, and most important, getting a cool guest speaker.
Last year the Exchange Club had Dan Gurney come and show his newly designed motorcycle,
and give a talk on racing. This year Berger found out that one of the group’s members knew
Linda Vaughn, who is pictured above, leaning against Christine, his 1963 custom R2 Avanti.
For those who may be too young to remember or know Linda Vaughn, she was one of the first
talking women in automotive advertising. She started out as the HURST GIRL and believe it or
not, still works for the company.
After about an hour of tire kicking, we went inside for lunch, and also to award the trophies.
The last class we had an award for was “Linda Vaughn’s Pick.” With all eyes intently staring
and ears straining to hear – remember, this is a group of retired guys, Linda’s favorite audience, Linda announced her favorite car was one of our member’s 1956 Chevies.
Although they all knew the car and agreed it was a real nice, under 30,000 mile car, none of
us were quite ready to hear her rationale for picking it. It seems back in the old days, the back
seat of a ‘56 Chevy was witness to her first “experience.” The owner immediately jumped up
to clarify her comment with “IT WASN’T ME!” to which most murmured “bummer.”
So if you see the back seat of a ‘56 Chevy for sale on eBAY, be sure to notice that it says “Linda Vaughn Back Seat - CLONE!
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AVANTI Magazine
Fall/Winter 2005 Issue 132