Cris and Sherry Lofgren are no strangers to these pages. They first appeared over 10 years ago in a story about their beautiful 1969 Volvo P1800 and how Cris’s love of collector cars turned into CLASSICAL GAS MOTORS, a business that has kept the couple and their son Taylor busy since 2003.
The new business inspired another endeavor that the family called NOSTALGIA NIGHTS … a Friday evening “cruise in” to promote the hobby and the new company. It was also an answer to Chris’s dream of creating a community event for car enthusiasts. A gathering of all categories of collector cars … not a contest, just a place to meet and make new friends among a collection of the machines that are the common bond.
The Lofgrens work hard to keep the event organized, clean, and safe. No speeding, no excessive noise, no burnouts, and no for-sale signs. They do it right and are now great ambassadors for Arlington.
Over 20 years and hundreds of cars later, Cris’s company is going stronger than ever, and Nostalgia Nights is a regional institution, probably the longest running and largest event of its type in this part of the country.
And it’s free!
Hundreds of eclectic characters and cars from all corners of the Metroplex start rolling in around 6:30pm every Friday night, if it’s above 50° and there is no rain!
Co-sponsor Albertsons provides the site … the giant parking lot just south of their big store at the intersection of Highway 287 and Sublet Road in Southwest Arlington.
It was hard to select a single car to feature in this tribute to the Lofgrens. It had to be old, customized, rebuilt with passion, loud and fast! And belong to someone who has lived in our wonderful city long enough to remember the local nostalgia.
Meet one of Cris’s first customers, Don Kemp, and his work of art, a 1952 Chevy Fleetline. Thousands of hours and dollars, plus a critical eye for artistic detail and craftsmanship, have created a singular automotive masterpiece. I do not have the space to list the features and effort that make this car so special.
454-cubic-inch Chevy V8 with over 500 horsepower, 15-inch-wide rear wheels, custom-built chassis, every square inch of the handcrafted interior is upholstered in lipstick red leather, and it’s air-conditioned … and very quick! … says Don with a wink.
Please note the detailed finishing of the custom headlights, taillights, and the smooth integration of the body with the fenders and bumpers. The engine compartment, undercarriage … every detail is done with care and precision, small details, like rounding the corners of the hood and doors… all work together to explain why Don’s silver beauty has earned dozens of awards and has been featured in several national magazines and club publications.
Don has lived in Arlington since 1949, when the population was about 15% of today’s UTA enrollment!
He fondly recalls the farm fields that are now Cooper Street and the Parks Mall. And dragging Main Street with his buddies in their cars that would be nearly 100 years old today … making just enough noise to stay out of trouble.
There were at least 100 cars in attendance on the warm Friday that I took the pictures shown here. The images do not capture the spirit and camaraderie of Nostalgia Nights or do justice to the incredible cross-section of rolling works of art and the proud owners. I intend to return and will share other beautiful examples in future features.
Thank you, Cris and Sherry, for all the work required to put on a car show every Friday night! You help make Arlington the ideal American hometown.
You have come a long way since your first year at the UTA McDonald’s on Abrams. Remember when they welcomed the car owners with hamburgers for a quarter? The word leaked, causing a huge crowd to develop, all demanding bags of bargain burgers for their home freezers!
Nostalgia Nights quickly outgrew the first location, and in year two, Cris made a deal with Albertsons that still endures. First on Little Road at I-20, it was a perfect spot for nine years until Chick-fil-A bought the parking lot for their new South Arlington store. Albertsons remains a committed sponsor, so they provided the current site 12 years ago, and it has proven to be the Goldilocks location … just right!
Nostalgia Nights is a local happening. It’s a great way to end a work week and start a fun weekend. If you do not have “gasoline in your blood,” then it is hard to understand and appreciate this opportunity to share the passion with your fellow travelers. The automobile and hard work are part of the American fabric. Preserving history and sharing it with others, particularly the young, is a contribution to our heritage, plus it’s simply a lot of fun. Thanks to the Lofgren’s idea and commitment … we have a very special event every Friday night in Arlington.
This is an invitation to join the fun, and if you want to live the dream with a classic ride of your own, I can recommend a place to find it.
