Just call it his old faithful.

Jim Clamp’s black 1929 Model A Ford Roadster may have been the first car to roll off factory lines years ago, making the auto among the oldest of roughly 40 classic cars sitting pretty at Sonic’s Drive-In Saturday evening.

“I’ve been driving that for 68 years,” says Clamp.

“I had it when I was in high school,” he says. “Sometimes I would leave band practice with 18 kids on it.”

Clamp still drives the antique car and restored it about 20 years ago, he says. He drove it to Sonic Saturday for the Newberry Car Buffs monthly showcase.

Ed Haltiwanger sat beside Clamp in folding chairs in Saturday’s 90+ degree heat with other Car Buff members nearby a Sonic ordering intercom.

Like Clamp, Haltiwanger also has an antique auto.

Haltiwanger’s red ’29 Ford—a coupe with rumble seats—may also be in the running for the unofficial oldest Car Buff car title with Clamp’s car.

“I’m just here to drool,” says Sheryll Henderson, who was visiting South Carolina relatives from Gallup, N.M.

The out-of-towner isn’t a member of the Newberry Car Buffs group, but like Clamp and Haltiwanger, Henderson does have what it takes to be one if she were interested in joining: a love of classic cars.

Newberry Car Buff President Charles Wessinger says to be a member of the club, you don’t have to own a classic car, but just have an interest in the autos.

“I think I’m in love,” said Cody Sowry of Ohio, who was also visiting South Carolina relatives.

Sowry stood staring at a white car that pulled into the car patch well after the event started Saturday.

As Sowry and a handful of others stood around the just-parked car, its owners exited the car and then lifted off its hood, further exposing the base of the car’s protruding cylinders.

“It’s a Dodge A/FX,” said Sowry, who works on cars. “It’s got my vote.”

Both car owners and admirers toured the rows and rows of primped autos, some of which were well-polished with hoods up, top down and trunk open.

“I enjoy the people and seeing all the different cars,” said Erin Camerino, who joined the Car Buffs group around the first of the year. Camerino stood with friends Boyd Bedenbaugh and Cindy Frick in front of she and her husband’s candy red ’67 Buick Skylark convertible.

The Car Buffs event filled the Sonic drive-in parking lot and beyond, fitting cars even into the former Taco Bell empty lot, and leaving some to park on the grass behind Sonic.

Still, Car Buffs members think the heat shaved off attendance.

Saturday’s hot weather didn’t keep Larry Smith of Clinton from coming, though the heat did keep his 1969 Impala, which has no air conditioner, at home.

“I cheated and drove my (air conditioned) truck,” said Smith smiling.

“It’s not as many here as it usually is,” said Car Buffs member Miller Jacobs. “I think the heat is keeping them back.”

At May’s Sonic gather, Wessinger estimates there were more than 65 cars.

But even high heat can’t stop the car-lovin’ faithful.

“Yep. We’re car crazy,” said Jacobs.