VINTAGE 1955 BEL AIR IN BROWNSVILLE'S HISTORIC DISTRICT

(Ed.'s Note: They tell us that the restored 1956 Bel Air that cruised through Adams Street in Brownsville's historical district belongs to one Pete Diaz, a vintage car enthusiast and restorer who is also a raconteur of tales of antique cars. This photo was sent to us yesterday (Thursday) and we are told that Diaz was making one of his rounds through downtown Browntown turning heads from passersby as his restored Chevy rolled by. Then, some of our readers corrected that and said the car is a 55 not a 56 as stated and that the car belongs to Jesse (Chuy) Canales. We'll take their word for it. It's a beaut.

During first annual Vintage Days held last year, antique car enthusiasts dressed in the style of the era marveled at how realistic the props became when they were displayed next to the historical buildings downtown. Support fro the restoration is available through tax incentives to local owners, although some of the rules in the implementation of the Heritage Plan have left some people miffed and their plans to open businesses foiled. Hopefully, they'll get it right and accelerate the process which some say is taking much too long. 

For now, we can only imagine what it was like growing up in Brownsville in the 1950s when cars like the one above used to cruise its streets.)