A delivery van on display at the Shades of the Past classic car show still had sign lettering from a local business, Ericksen’s Furniture in Cottonwood. The van’s current owner Adam Eckstrom said he remembered seeing the van when he was a kid.

MARSHALL — Each of the vehicles on display at the Shades of the Past show in Marshall had its own story. And for some of this year’s show participants, their entries brought back memories.

Adam Eckstrom said an old green Chevrolet delivery van he brought to the show had connections to local history in the city of Cottonwood.

“I remembered it from when I was a kid,” Eckstrom said. Although the paint is faded now, lettering on the van’s side panels reads “Ericksen’s Furniture.” Cottonwood business owner Loren Ericksen had bought the van when it was new, Eckstrom said.

Ericksen’s Furniture operated in Cottonwood from the 1950s to the early 1980s, when Loren Ericksen retired. Years later, Eckstrom had a chance to buy the van.

“It was kind of amazing when I was originally told about it in the ’90s,” he said. About 20 years ago, Eckstrom’s brother-in-law worked on the van, and made updates to get it running again, he said.

Eckstrom said his family might repaint the van eventually, but they also wanted to keep the Ericksen’s Furniture lettering.

“We’d like to get the stenciling on the side reproduced,” he said.

Over at the other end of the show grounds, Clarkfield resident Todd Tennis said his 1986 Buick Grand National also brought back memories. Tennis said he had wanted a Grand National “since I was in high school.”

“In 1986, it was the fastest car of the era,” Tennis said.

Tennis said earlier this year, he found a Grand National for sale completely by chance. He tried searching for one on Facebook Marketplace, and found a listing. Unique Classic Cars in Mankato had a Grand National in great condition, and with features like an “Astro roof” sun roof, which was rare, Tennis said.

The trip to Mankato to see the car was an exciting one. “I was like, ‘Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming,'” Tennis said.

At the Shades of the Past show, Tennis got to share the Grand National’s story with visitors interested in taking a closer look at the car’s details and under the hood.

“It is nice,” one person said.

“I got lucky,” Tennis said. “I was telling someone earlier, either I found it or it found me.”