Cabriolet Club History
In the 1970’s, Don Land from California started and organized a 1929 Cabriolet Club. It was at this time that Larry and Gwyn Machacek decided to get involved with helping send out newsletters to 68A owners, in what would become a 40 plus year journey as editors and coordinators of the organization! Not wanting to leave out 68B owners, Dick Johns of Virginia compiled and sent out a newsletter in 1980 called The 68-B Line. By 1984 the club’s name was changed to The Cabriolet Club, expanding to include all 3 styles of the Model ‘A’ Cabriolets made in 1929-1931 (68A, B, C). Bill Preston made the suggestion to name the newsletter “The Cabrioletter” about that time, which remains to this day.
Dick Johns retired as editor in 1985, with #34 being his last newsletter produced with the help of Steve Overly from Ohio. At this juncture, Larry and Gwyn officially became the club’s editors and coordinators. They got some much needed help from Art & Sue Grandle, from Ohio, as co-editors starting in March of 1989 (#47) through Sept. 2013 (#145). They worked together for 24 years writing, compiling and publishing close to 100 newsletters. When Art and Sue retired, Bill (William) Tipton Sr, from Florida, assumed their positions in Dec 2013 (#146) and helped up to the Dec 2015 (#154) newsletter. Larry and Gwyn are now officially retired as editors of nearly 120 newsletters! Many people have stepped in and out helping with different projects, such as Arthur Evdasin, Beverly Martin, and Jack Mayes with the index along with Rodney Gott and Tom Moniz as 68C coordinators. When Rodney Gott stepped down from the 68C Coordinator/Record Keeper position, Joop Plaggenborg took it over and continued gathering and compiling new data with Rodney's. Joop then combined all the known 68C owner data on a computer file.
In March of 2016 (#155) Tom Krueger and Alan Mende joined the team as the new co-editors for the Cabrioletter. The most recent change to the club history brings The Cabriolet Club home base address to Parker, CO where Tom Krueger is transitioning to Club Coordinator, as Larry and Gwyn Machacek retire from most of the Club operations. There are many other volunteers that have humbly helped out in the shadows, and to all of them this Club is very grateful!
Dick Johns retired as editor in 1985, with #34 being his last newsletter produced with the help of Steve Overly from Ohio. At this juncture, Larry and Gwyn officially became the club’s editors and coordinators. They got some much needed help from Art & Sue Grandle, from Ohio, as co-editors starting in March of 1989 (#47) through Sept. 2013 (#145). They worked together for 24 years writing, compiling and publishing close to 100 newsletters. When Art and Sue retired, Bill (William) Tipton Sr, from Florida, assumed their positions in Dec 2013 (#146) and helped up to the Dec 2015 (#154) newsletter. Larry and Gwyn are now officially retired as editors of nearly 120 newsletters! Many people have stepped in and out helping with different projects, such as Arthur Evdasin, Beverly Martin, and Jack Mayes with the index along with Rodney Gott and Tom Moniz as 68C coordinators. When Rodney Gott stepped down from the 68C Coordinator/Record Keeper position, Joop Plaggenborg took it over and continued gathering and compiling new data with Rodney's. Joop then combined all the known 68C owner data on a computer file.
In March of 2016 (#155) Tom Krueger and Alan Mende joined the team as the new co-editors for the Cabrioletter. The most recent change to the club history brings The Cabriolet Club home base address to Parker, CO where Tom Krueger is transitioning to Club Coordinator, as Larry and Gwyn Machacek retire from most of the Club operations. There are many other volunteers that have humbly helped out in the shadows, and to all of them this Club is very grateful!