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Are you itching to show off your classic car to the whole world? Good news: There are car shows happening all over the country this summer and fall. Here’s what you need to know.
Also check out this article: Preparing Your Classic Ride for a Car Show or Cruise Night.
Cars and Coffee
Photo: Tea Tater via Creative Commons
The first thing to consider is your level of competition—starting with no competition at all. That’s the whole point of the Cars and Coffee movement. The event series was launched as “Crystal Cove” in 2003 before it became Cars and Coffee Irvine.
Cars and Coffee is similar to informal car cruises that happen at drive-in parking lots and other locations. These events are casual and fun. There’s no judging, although informal prizes might be awarded. And there are no entrance fees. You just show up with your car, park where you can, and bask in the admiration.
Of course, Cars and Coffee has a few common-sense rules. For example, don’t sit on anyone’s car, but do take and share pictures. It’s okay to have some period accessories in the vehicle—like a copy of Life magazine from your car’s year, a picnic basket, or a pair of driving gloves—but don’t overdo it. It’s all about fun over competition.
The American on Wheels Museum in Allentown, Pa. maintains a master list of Cars and Coffee locations and schedules in the United States.
Local Clubs and Fundraisers
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen via Creative Commons
One step up is local car shows that often benefit charities. There’s usually a modest fee for entrance or for exhibiting. Somebody’s grilling burgers and 1950s music is blaring. These events skew American, with ’57 Chevys and ’63 Corvettes thick on the ground. There might be a few foreign makes clustered together for warmth.
It’s possible to trailer your chariot to these weekend events, but hardly anyone does. It would be seen as pretentious. Often you can just show up on the day and get your ride signed in, but pre-registration is a good idea.
Regional events are similar, just bigger, with more formal judging and higher fees. Your car has to be accepted for display.
Old Cars Weekly has a worthwhile calendar of local car shows around the country.
National Car Shows
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen via Creative Commons
There are countless national car shows and events dedicated to a single marque or style of car. There’s incredible camaraderie among the devotees, who are quick to get underneath any member’s car needing help.
These events draw people from around the country, so the most challenging part can be getting there. The exhibitor who travels the greatest distance sometimes gets an award.
These events are usually all about the love of a specific brand or model. People enjoy seeing works in progress. So your pride and joy won’t be disqualified for having a bit of rust or missing chrome.
That said, before making travel plans, you should inquire about the level of competition. For example, the Antique Auto Club of America (AACA) maintains a high standard for early cars. The organization was founded in 1935, holds the annual fall Meet in Hershey, Penn. The show is exclusive—with judging rules that go on for 134 pages and many different classes of vehicles.
It’s probably not wise to show your car in Hershey unless you want to truly compete. Everything counts, including the hoses and the battery cables. If there was a tag on the radiator about adding antifreeze when the vehicle was new, you should have it in place. Nonetheless, one of the big attractions for the Hersey event is the biggest classic car flea market in the country. Everybody is welcome.
The Concours
Pebble Beach Concours
If you are a genuinely ambitious classic car owner, you might consider preparing for the so-called Concours d’Elegance. Events such as Pebble Beach in Monterey, Calif., the Greenwich Concours in Connecticut, And Florida’s Amelia Island are America’s premier classic car events. The best and most valuable cars from around the world are put on display and judged at these venues.
Pebble Beach, in particular, is a global event. It’s invitation-only, very crowded, and expensive even as a spectator. Even without a class win, just having a car shown at Pebble could add a zero or two to the vehicle’s value. Most of the cars going to Pebble Beach are shipped there and enclosed. eBay has an arrangement with uShip and can take the headaches out of the transaction.
Whether you keep things local at an informal Cars and Coffee event, or head to one of the national competitive shows, you’ll want to put your car in the best shape. Read our tips about getting your car ready to show: Preparing Your Classic Ride for a Car Show or Cruise Night.
