MCACN CREW ANNOUNCES 2012 INVITATIONAL DISPLAYS
Aero Cars, Trans Am Cars and much more to share the spotlight
With the incredible success of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show in the Chicago area, promoters are well under way with plans for 2012. With over 500 of the country’s rarest and finest Muscle Cars and Corvettes on display in nearly 400,000 square feet of all-indoor exhibit space in their first three shows, the bar was set to a level never before seen. “We are both humbled and excited by the response,” stated Managing Member, Bob Ashton. “And with each show, we have featured cars that are rarely shown and many that have travelled thousands of miles to be a part of the show.” Indeed, collectors and the media nationwide have taken notice, along with many of the most respected vendors, restorers and suppliers. The MCACN Sponsor list also looks like the “who’s who” of the industry. And one of the most amazing things is that many of these cars are shown in the Chicago area for the very first time ever. “We pride ourselves in bringing an entirely new show to town each year, with minimal repeat vehicles,” Ashton said.
One of the most popular annual features has been the “Invitational” displays. Each of these very special gatherings draw the absolute best of the best in the muscle car world, hand-picked by the MCACN team. For 2012, the MCACN team will once again create several “shows within the show” with something to excite nearly all fans of high-octane Detroit muscle.
Kicking off the show will be the 40th Anniversary “Class of 1972” display. Showcasing the “Top Dawg” muscle machines of the ’72 model year, expect to see W-30’s, HO-455’s, CJ’s and 440’s to name a few. Although by ’72 performance was indeed not the biggest selling point for the big three, manufacturers still had a few tricks up their sleeve. Another Anniversary display will step back 50 years, to 1962 with “The Class of ’62.” This one will feature many of the big-body performance cars and several very special Corvettes. You’ll see Super Stock Dodges and Super Duty Pontiacs too. For the vintage Nascar enthusiasts, a special “Aero-Warriors” gathering will focus on the race inspired aerodynamic automobiles produced by Dodge, Plymouth, Ford and Mercury. This is when things got really outrageous, with sky-high wings and extended noses. These were some of the wildest production cars ever produced, including the Plymouth Superbird and Ford Talledega.
And speaking of race inspired cars, the show will also feature Trans-am inspired cars with “Trans Am Terrors.” When Chevrolet introduced the very first Z/28 in 1967 and Pontiac brought out their very first Trans Am in ’69, the world took notice. Chrysler followed suit with their all new Dodge Challenger T/A and AAR Cuda’s in 1970, and the rest, as they say, is history. You’ll be able to witness this history in person, with race and street cars on display focusing on cars that are sought after by collectors world-wide.
When it comes to rarity in the Muscle Car world, nothing beats massive cubic inches combined with a top that goes down. “Going Toplesss” will feature the rarest high cube convertibles, many currently surpassing the $1m mark in the collectors world. Since convertibles added extra weight, very few were produced back in the day and now, many are considered the ultimate Muscle Cars, as they were rare even when new and a scant few have survived.
For Shelby fans, MCACN will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cobra and will feature the “Shelby Snakepit IV” showcasing a whole new group of documented original creations from Texan Carroll Shelby. Again, these are some of the rarest and most desirable American automobiles ever produced.
Another interesting display will feature Dodge’s Super Bee’s of 1968-1971. Credited as one of the first low-buck Muscle Cars, Chrysler launched these big-block bare-bones cars in 1968 along with the Plymouth Roadrunner. This brought affordable muscle to thousands of people and with a 4-year run, they have become some of the most recognized and revered performance cars ever built. You’ll see everything from the entry level 383 powered 68’s to the one year only Charger bodied 71’s, featuring Hemi power under the hood.
In addition to the 4-wheeled machines, a special gathering of Muscle Bicycles will also be featured. Inspired by both Dragsters and Muscle Cars, these two-wheeled pedal powered bicycles inspired thousand of kids to be a part of the action. With the introduction of the Schwinn Stingray in mid 1963 and then the “kool” Krate bikes in 1968, an entire genre of “Muscle Bikes” was born. These bicycles are now sought-after collectibles and the MCACN show will feature not only the Schwinns, but many others from a variety of companies, including the Raleigh Choppers from England.
Additional displays will be announced but one thing is for sure; the show will never be boring or predictable!
The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals is the world’s largest all-indoor specialty show devoted to Muscle Cars, Dealer-built Supercars and the finest Corvettes. In addition to 500+ cars, the show features an automotive swap meet, a variety of national vendors, restoration shops and suppliers, and several car for sale area’s. This public show will take place November 17-18, 2012 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, (greater Chicago), Illinois. Please see www.mcacn.com for more information or call 586-549-5291
The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals is an all makes indoor show that provides the ultimate gathering place for enthusiasts, young and old, who have a passion for horsepower. For more information visit www.mcacn.com, email musclecarandcorvettenationals@gmail.com, or call (586) 549-5291.