In Dormont, it was always the Cadillac.

No one driving the West Liberty Avenue corridor could escape notice of the volunteer fire department's annual Fourth of July raffle, not with the prize -- a big, shiny Cadillac -- parked under the tent each summer.

The cachet of winning a luxury car was irresistible. It still is, although over the years, the prizes have changed.

Next month's Dormont Day will include games and food, face painting and fireworks. Just after the fireworks, a child from the crowd will be asked to pick a ticket from the multitude of pale-blue paper stubs.

The lucky holder of the $2 winning ticket gets a snow-white 2008, V6 Ford Mustang. The winner can keep the car or opt instead for $15,000 cash.

About half the time, according to volunteer firefighter T.J. Conway, who's been with the department for 23 years, the winners take the money.

"We've had it where the winner was already in the park, like one year when a couple from West Virginia won," said Mr. Conway, who is in charge of the raffle this year.

"They were ecstatic. They said, 'We're taking the money for our wedding!' "

In Castle Shannon, carnival chairman Kevin Brannon oversees the raffling of two cars each summer at the conclusion of the firefighters' venerable weeklong event in July.

This year, the cars are a bright red Mustang for first prize and a silver Ford Focus for second prize.

Earlier this month, the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce in Collier topped off its annual fund-raising campaign with a picnic and raffle that featured -- spotting a trend here? -- a red Mustang.

"In terms of selling tickets, it's eye-candy," said Emerald VanBuskirk, executive director of the chamber of commerce.

Only 750 tickets were sold at $60 each, making the odds of winning high. Adding to the fund-raiser's appeal, ticket holders were invited to a cookout, where the highlight was the drawing of the lucky ticket.

"[The prize] is always a very popular item or a cash prize," Ms. VanBuskirk said. The winner can opt for $18,000. "Some years, we've had a car. We've had Harley-Davidsons, trucks and we've had just cash."

This was the 16th year for the fund-raiser, which supports the chamber of commerce's building maintenance fund and provides $1,000 scholarships to one senior each at Chartiers Valley and South Fayette high schools.

Bridgeville, Scott, South Fayette and Collier are among the communities served by the chamber.

In the past, there was no limit to the cash prizes in community raffles, which paved the way for Dormont's prestigious Cadillacs.

Current Pennsylvania law limits the total amount to $40,000.

"The only time we made a mistake was during the first gasoline crunch in the 1970s," said William Reffner, Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department chief.

"We bought two small economy cars because our thinking was that everyone would want them because of the gas."

Public response was tepid.

"If you win a car, you should win something you would really like to have," Chief Reffner said.

"That's why [Dormont raffles] were so successful. Cadillacs -- back before people began leasing, so now anyone can drive one -- were special."

One year, Dormont added a boat to the prize. The winner, however, wanted the car but was hesitant to take possession of the boat.

Winners of any large prizes, including cash, must pay taxes on the prize.

Many people assume large prizes such as cars are donated, but the four cars were all purchased at discount from local dealers. So to turn a substantial profit, the fund-raising committee must sell those tickets.

Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department members are skilled in selling. Borough residents are sent a packet of tickets each spring, and tickets are sold at the fire hall parking lot and other locations, including outside grocery stores.

For decades, Bob Kobosky was a fixture outside the plaza now occupied by Wal-Mart and Giant Eagle on Route 88 in Bethel Park. Until health issues forced him to quit, he was the department's biggest salesman, sitting for hours outside of Ames.

On a recent scorcher, Jim Reith sat beneath an umbrella with a stack of tickets.

"I'll tell you, I'm 86 years old, I don't have a lot else to do, so I might as well do this," he said, smiling.

Mr. Reith said he tries to put in an eight-hour shift, starting at 6 a.m., to attract the morning commuters.

"A surprising number of people stop here in the morning," he said.

A green Chrysler van pulled up shortly after. Maryanne Bergin, of Mt. Lebanon, wanted "six tickets for my six children."

"I come here every year," she said. "I'll get six here and maybe six someplace else. I sometimes buy five extra for my five grandchildren."

Castle Shannon raffle tickets are $1 each. Chief Reffner said the raffle is a necessity because the department is primarily self-sustaining.

"The borough supports us, but not with a lot of money," he said. In addition to the upkeep of its vehicles, fire hall and banquet and community hall facilities, the fire department also owns and maintains the rides and equipment used each year for the carnival.

In Dormont, retired glazier Joe Yoest hawked tickets, volunteering for four hours at a time.

Residents are expected to buy tickets to support the fire department, but like their Castle Shannon counterparts, the firefighters are constantly out in the community selling.

Walk-up sales on Dormont Day are big.

"Taking care of my car?" asked Dormont resident Mike Ackaoui, as he filled in his name on five blank tickets.

Like many others, the purchase of tickets -- accompanied by a rush of hope -- is an annual event. Mr. Ackaoui said he usually winds up with 20 or 30.

"Pulling something like this off and making it successful is really a joint venture," Ms. VanBuskirk said. "I have a board of directors and a fund-raising committee that make it successful." She added that Janine Calabro, of Calabro Tire and Auto Service, was a key player in making this year's fund-raiser happen.

Actually winning the raffle can be a surreal experience, as Barbara Lyda will affirm.

In 1994, she went to the Fourth of July festivities and was talked into buying a few more tickets.

"I said, 'I've got a couple of bucks on me, I'll buy two more,' " she recalled. After the fireworks, she left.

The winning ticket turned out to be one she had purchased that day.

The raffle committee tracked her down by telephone, but it took 45 minutes to convince her that the call wasn't a joke.

"I called them liars," she said.

The Oldsmobile is still running.

"It needs a little body work, but after 14 years, we all need some work done," Ms. Lyda said with a laugh.

In Castle Shannon, Mr. Brannon will notify winners by phone around midnight on the final day of carnival.

"Nobody's ever been upset by that phone call late at night," Chief Reffner said.