OAKBORO — In 1964, actress Maggie Peterson purchased a red Volkswagen bug. She drove it daily to Los Angeles where she played the role of “Charlene” on The Andy Griffith Show.
Some 370,000 miles later, she still owns it and is anxious to see other classic cars during the Oakboro Cruise-In & Burnout on Friday, Aug. 26.
“Ms. Applebee,” as Peterson named her car, “cost around $1,500 or so when I bought her. I recall Denver Pyle put little silver vases on the inside of the doors so they would hold Charlene’s mountain flowers. The vases are still there.”
Peterson says she would love to show Ms. Applebee at the Oakboro Cruise-In & Burnout, but she opts to fly by plane from her Las Vegas home. She will be in town, along with Rodney Dillard, who played the role of her brother, Rodney Darlin’, and members of The Mayberry Tribute Gang for a concert in Troy on Saturday, Aug. 27. But during the Oakboro Cruise-In & Burnout, they’ll participate in a parade along Main Street at 8 p.m. and kick off the Burnout at 9 p.m. They will be available for photos and autographs.
Oakboro is located 45 minutes northeast of Charlotte on NC Hwy. 205, just off NC Hwy. 24/27.
For more information, visit www.OakboroCruiseIn.com