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Sena expects to have more than 1,500 specialty vehicles – street rods, muscle cars, antiques, custom and restored cars and trucks – that are more than 30 years old.

Sena says a lot of the vehicles have updated drive trains, modern chassis, leather interiors, air conditioning and the comforts of a newer vehicle.

“The owners have spent a lot of time putting the time and effort into getting each vehicle perfect,” he says.

Sena is a member of the NSRA and has rebuilt four vehicles – a 1941 Chevy coupe, a 1951 Chevy pickup, a 1956 Chevy two door and a 1948 Chevy sedan delivery.

“To see the finished product is what makes it worth it,” he says.

On a recent Wednesday, Sena invited a group of car enthusiasts for breakfast in Old Town.

One of those owners is Charles Brunt, who arrived in a 1966 four-door Chevy Impala. His grandmother bought the vehicle brand-new in 1966 and drove it until she was 91.

Brunt had it in storage for 24 years before taking on the project of bringing it back to life. “I began to work on it full time once I retired,” Brunt says. “We took it down to the last bolt and rebuilt it from there.”

Sena said all of the cars will be on display for public viewing during the three-day event.

There will also be activities for the car owners, including the NSRA safety program. There will also be a chance to meet both Candy Clark and Bo Hopkins from the film “American Graffiti.”

At 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, the “streets of rods” will be awarded to some of the vehicles.

Some of the award categories are:

“29 Below” – it’s for all street rods owned and registered by participants ages 20 and younger.

“Low Lid Lane” is open to all vehicles with chopped tops.

“Best Interior” is open to all vehicles with neat interior.

“Square Body Pickups” which is open to all makes of square-body pickups from 1973 through 1987.

For more information, vist nsra-usa.com.

NSRA Route 66 Street Rod Nationals

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, Aug. 24; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25

WHERE: Expo New Mexico, 300 San Pedro NE

HOW MUCH: $19 adults, $17 seniors, military or NSRA members; $6 for children ages 6 to 12; free for children under 5 at the gate or O’Reilly Auto Parts stores