ADAMS TWP — They came to help the family of the late James “Jimmy” Ellis Jr., Adams Area Fire District vice president. They stayed for the coffee, cinnamon rolls and classic vehicles.

The first Cars & Coffee car cruise took place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Classic Automotive Collision & Mechanical, 758 Route 228.

Money raised by the sale of Kairos Coffee, Oram’s cinnamon rolls, a 50/50 raffle and tips placed in firefighters’ boots will go to Ellis’ widow, Cathy Ellis, and his sons, Brady Michael and Ryan James. Ellis died last month following a sudden illness.

Ellis was considered an integral part of the company. He contributed to the building of the Adams Area fire station on Route 228

Jason Safreed, president of the Adams Area Fire District, said the district joined with Classic Automotive to stage the event.

Classic car owners learned about the event from word of mouth and notices on the fire department’s social media.

“We’re expecting a couple of hundred cars. We’ve got a pretty good turnout so far,” Safreed said.

Aimee Thompson, co-owner of Classic Automotive, said it was an easy decision to open the repair center for the event.

“We like to bring the community together for a good cause for the Ellis family. And we get to show off the facility,” she said, adding that the business had an open house showing vehicles staged in various states of repair.

“We love bringing everyone together. It’s still a small-town feeling,” Thompson said.

Alice Leonberg, of Mars, shared in that small-town feeling.

“It’s a benefit for the Ellis family, and I know a lot of people in the area. That’s why I am here,” Leonberg said.

“We’re really good friends with Larry (Lape, Collision Automotive’s co-owner), and whenever he has an event we come out to support it,” said Steve Martin, of Valencia.

Martin said if he had known Oram’s cinnamon rolls were going to be for sale “I would have brought a lot more people.”

Butch Michaels of New Castle and his fiancee, Sandy Shoup, of Mars brought his 1965 Mercury Comet Cyclone to the car cruise. He’s the original owner.

“I bought it in December 1964 when they first came out. I was 19,” Michaels said. “It cost $2,500. I worked at a gas station for $1 an hour.”

He said the car sat unused for 20 years, and after his wife died, his children told him, “Get your car out. It will give you something to do.”

He said the Comet’s V-8 engine is "the best little engine Ford ever made.“

“It makes a nice rumble,” Shoup said. “Everybody likes the sound.”

Michaels said, “I baby it. It does not go out in the rain.”

He does take the Comet to a lot of car shows and cruises, though.

“We meet a lot of nice people at the car cruises,” Shoup said. “We were up in Franklin at the airport. We go the cruise every Friday at Victory Church in Cranberry. We’ve been to Greenville, Ellwood City, Mercer. We’ve been over to Ohio.”

Gary Peaco of Mars said he also babies the 2014 Chevy Camaro convertible he brought to Saturday’s car cruise. He bought it in 2017 and only takes it to shows and cruises.

“I’ve had four Camaros in the past. I’ve always wanted a sports car. If it’s going to rain, it stays indoors. It’s a pre-retirement gift to myself,” he said.

“That’s all I do with it. I’ve put about 500 miles on it,” said Peaco, who’s on the Adams Area Fire District board. He was happy to bring the Camaro out to support the Ellis family.

Mars resident Drake Donovan brought his 2011 Camaro 2SS, which he bought from a Richmond, Va., car rental agency in April 2011.

After he moved to Louisville, Ky., he credits his Camaro with getting him involved in the car cruise community.

He joined the now defunct Derby City Camaro Club and learned how to spruce up and show his car to the best effect. It also prompted him to start a business, Car Show Life, providing classic vehicle owners with show boards and art.

“I try to hit a show every weekend. I’ve turned a passion into a business,” Donovan said.

Gene Phillips of West Deer Township in Allegheny County brought his 1987 Monte Carlo SS Aero Coupe out for the Cars & Coffee event.

“I’ve had it since 2000,” Phillips said, adding that he had to have its T-top redone when it started to rot. Other than that, it has needed very little maintenance.

“I try to make as many car shows as I can. Since I retired, I can make a lot more. They’ve got a lot of nice cars here today. They got a nice turnout.”

Adams Area Fire District’s Safreed said the district is planning another Cars & Coffee cruise for 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 at Classic Automotive.