Photo courtesy Los Angeles Public Library

After the success of last year’s inaugural National Collector Car Appreciation Day, the day set aside to recognize and raise awareness of the role automotive restoration and collecting plays in American society, it has now become an annual event, with July 8 designated as this year’s collector-car Christmas, and Hemmings has something special planned for it.

Now, this is no mere “drive your old car to work day” type of event, though that activity is encouraged. No, across the country, SEMA is partnering with clubs, businesses and individuals to host events celebrating National Collector Car Appreciation Day. Up here in the woolly Northeast, we here at Hemmings have decided to move our regularly scheduled cruise night that week from Thursday to Friday night, and from the Hemmings Motor News world headquarters to the nearby Hathaway’s Drive-In Theater in Hoosick Falls North Hoosick, New York. Only collector cars will be allowed inside the drive-in, and at dusk, Hathaway’s will be playing a double feature of car movies for the cruise night participants.

We have a few ideas for movies, but the bill hasn’t been finalized yet, so tell us what car movies you’d like to see at this show. Christine? The original Gone in 60 Seconds? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Leave your suggestions in the comments below.

UPDATE (12.March 2011): The movies we’ll be showing have been selected.