MARILYN Monroe once rode in it. So did Clark Gable. So did Rock Hudson.

Now it's Stuart Williamson behind the wheel of the swish American automobile.

Stuart who?

Stuart, from Darwen, is the proud owner of the 1950 Chrysler convertible that ferried the stars about the movie lots when it was owned by the MGM studios.

He is also chairman of Blackburn based Th'owd Fettlers Vintage Club and is polishing up the car ready for a special event.

Vintage vehicles from across the North West will descend on the Whitbread car park at Guide, Blackburn, for the Fettlers' first ever rally on Sunday.

More than 100 vintage cars, motorbikes and tractors are expected to be on display at the rally, which starts at 10am and runs throughout the day.

The Fettlers, with about 20 members, was launched in 1997.

"We're hoping to get ourselves known a bit better and attract new members," said Stuart.

In addition to the vehicle rally, in aid of Darwen Lions' charity funds, there will be a fairground and model railway.

The event is being sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.