CAMANCHE. lowa wen

Something strange:
happeaing to Hundreds * of
‘cars in Camanche. They are.
iosing their tops. ©

Car.-owners in growing -
seeking

numbers are-
American- made con-
vertibles — a nostalgic part
of the free-wheeling lifestyle
of the 1950s and 1960s —
and, a
busingss’ in the. Mississippi

river town of 4,700 is cashing ©

in on the comeback.
Bairows Enterprises ‘Inc.
cul @.
automobiles, installs folding
cafivas covers and sends the
finished product — known as
a “rag top” — to car dealers
across the nation.

business, sitting on a gravel
road between a cornfield
and a trailer court, plans to
expand to meet the nation’s
needs.
- “People need cars like this
to express their personality,”
said Vice Presdient R.C.
Schroeder. “Detroit,
Germany and Japan just
aren't giving it to them.
Camanche, Iowa, is.”
Federal regulations,
questions of safety ard the
high cost of mass producing
convertibles ended the open-
air era of motoring in 1976.
But Barrows officials said
demand for customized
convertibles now is

HARBOUR CITY
PARTS PLACE

SATURDAY SPECIALS

Oil Filters
(most cars}

GM Keys Cut Free With 7 Any Purchase

Harbour City GM, 1375 Marine Drive

is.

van. conversion”

booming, making them the
hottest things on wheels in
the 1980s. More car buyers

- ‘apparently are willing to pay

the extra $5,000-$15,000 it
costs to drive a car without a
top.

“Actually, it’s not a new
demand. It's a demand that’s
been overlooked,’
Schroeder explained. |
“Convertible:, owners never ~

“‘went.away. They just didnt

., recreational.

- car top conversion.
“Our findings shocked us,” |
.said plant manager ‘Jo¢™

.

have a product to buy.” |
The company began. 18
years ago’.as a sales lot: for_
vehicles . and |
later went into van con
version. When demand: for |
vans declined during the
gasoline shortage; Barrows

' résearched the. possibility “of.
The small, eastern Lowa

Felske.

A 70-pound octopus cap
squeeze through @ hole the
size of a silver dollar because
it has no backbone.

ca

Farkleberries are round,
black and inedible.

yr

an mt

Pick UpA Part at our Parts Place
Open Saturdays until 5.00 PM

me ee —e

Phone 988. 7\72 Direct Line: 980: 0374

Spark Plugs
(most G

*1.

CASH & CARRY.

LIMIT 6 PER CUSTOMER.

“In the amazing thing

about it is that the heaviest

concentration of con-
vertibles is in the three “I”
states — “ Mlinois, Indiana
and Iowa — ‘rather than in
California.. Camanche is a
perfect setting,” Felské said.

The cars are: marketed as

“Compliment Convertibles” _

- by about 600 car dealerships

‘in 17 states. Barrows “will.

manufacture: ‘800: this model
year. , .

The company ‘wants to
make a. sweep of the Mid-

. west and invade the territory

of established conversion
businesses: on the. East and
West coasts.

“From our central

‘Jocation, right here in the

heartland, we're able to
serve practically the entire
country,” Schroeder said.

“study of fossil footprints.

cars)

~ ~ ;

Ichnology is the scientific

- 1980 Eagle
Auto., P.S., P.B., radio, P.
locks, tilt wheel, 4 WD.
summer sale price $8995

now *8293

1979 Arrow Hatchback
Auto. trans. radio, R. window
defog., one owner

wow $5595

1980 Volare Premier
Demo. V8, auto..P.S..
P B., radio, P. windows.
summer sale price $9100

now *8499

1979 Ptymouth TC3

4Cyl, 4 Spd., AM FM radio.

hatchback, radial tires
summer seals price $6795

now °5541

1978 Dodge Aspen
Auto..P S..P 8., radio
cassette player, low miles
summer sale price $4495

now *4262

B7 - Wednesday, July 15, 1981 -.North Shore News

1976 Cordoba. -
V8, Auto., P.S., P: B..
bucket seats, vinyl roof.
summer sale price $4595

now *3996

1974 Corvette.
V8, auto., P.S., P.B., AM
FM stereo, siiver/red, T-root.
summer sais price $9995

now *9480

1978 Le Mans
V8, auto. trans., P.B., P.S.,
AM/FM cassette, wire wheel
covers - was $§595

NOW $5222

1076 Buldk LeSabre
2 OF. auto. trans., PS.
P.B., clean car

now $2995

1980 Chevy Citation
Auto ,P S., radio, hatch-
back, tront wheel drive
summer sale price $7695

now *7204

1978 Dodge Aspen
Auto PSP 8B radio,
radial tires, viny! top
summer sale price $4895

now *4488

Stop by today!

LATER S

summer sale price $5395
now *5161

1081  Dodgd 050 PU

4 Cyl., 4 Spd., radio,

tactory-s' led wheels.
summer price $7395

now *7070

19798 veto
Turbo, 4 Spd, P:
FM, sunroof, mags. radiala
summer sie price $7896

now *7270

Cobra
PB, AM

1177 Marine Dr., .V.
980-6511