The MCACN event takes up the...
The MCACN event takes up the main lower level of the Stephens Convention Center; we recommend good walking shoes. Here is a string of convertible 1971 Plymouth E-bodies, all Hemi powered except for the CY3 example on the end, which had the 440 Six Pack instead.
Truth be told, we all know there are enough Mopar-only events throughout the year that you would never have to go to a mixed make show to get your car fix. However, when over 500 classic vehicles are rolled into the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. (just a few minutes from O'Hare Airport in Chicago) for the big MCACN show once a year, you can be sure there will be eye candy galore. The moniker stands for Muscle Car and (ahem) Corvette Nationals, but the plastic GMs were held at bay this year by a plethora of GTXs, Charger R/Ts, T/A Challengers, vintage race cars, modified iron, and no less than five 1971 Hemi'cuda convertibles, with a extra 1-of-17 440-6BBL version thrown in just to make it interesting.
After starting with a Corvette-focused show a number of years ago, event manager and co-owner Bob Ashton realized the real need was for a show for the musclecar guys, and Detroit's sheet metal sculptures have become more prevalent since the event name was changed in 2009. The result has become perhaps the biggest rare muscle gathering of the year. Ashton may be a familiar face to those of you who attend the Mopar Nationals, since Bob and his wife Vicki also operate a vintage paper and memorabilia company called Auto Know, usually found at the Nats on a corner in the Manufacturers Midway.
The MCACN show is held on a Saturday-Sunday schedule during the third weekend of November, with vehicles creatively displayed in rings, in rows, in single displays, and in small groupings, interspersed by various restoration shops and businesses. It harkens back to the glory days of the large new car 'auto show' events, which were a big deal in Chicago. Since Bob's past background includes the management of other well-known indoor auto shows, this was a perfect fit. One cool part of this event were vehicle 'unveilings' that took place during the early hours of the opening day, allowing people to gather as specific rare cars were formally introduced to the public.
As mentioned, Mopar fans had a lot of variety to choose from, even with rings full of Shelby Fords and Baldwin-Motion Chevrolets. As part of the Class of '71 Display sponsored by the Wellborn Musclecar Museum, there were several 1971-era E-body and B-body Hemi cars from various owners. One was the famous 'most expensive' Hemi car ever built, a 1971 sunroof GTX survivor car. The Wellborns also brought in the Hemi Charger pilot car and the last Hemi ever built as part of their multicar display.
Special Mopar sections were also grouped by specific restoration shops like Ken Mosier's Finer Details and the crew from Blue Star Performance of LaSalle, Illinois. Totally Auto had two 1967 convertible Plymouths leading off a special Mopar Alley display backed by MCG; part of this included a special Challenger T/A display that included several color combinations.
Single cars were also positioned around the room - vintage racecars, survivors, street customs, and the list goes on and on. For many, the biggest highlight was seen when just coming in the show entrance - the original Diamante by Dodge E-body show car, which Steve Juliano brought in from California. Painted back in pearl white metallic, Juliano also had an impressive display photos of the car on hand as well.
Next year, the show will be held on November 17-18, 2012. MCACN was in its third annual running in 2011, and everyone we talked to there said it gets better each time it happens. We have no doubt that Ashton and his crew will have even more surprises next year, and, so, see, our recommendation is that you begin making plans to join up with the Chicago gang and be part of the best indoor gathering of iron on the planet, even if there are a few Corvettes there...
With the entrance to the show...
With the entrance to the show seen to the upper left, Steve Juliano's Diamante was the first thing many people saw walking in. The Dodge, which was changed from the Yellow Jacket Challenger to this roadster configuration for the 1971 show circuit and ended up being retired in an orange color, is one of several show conversions Juliano owns; it is now back in its most notable form.
On display with their 1971...
On display with their 1971 Road Runner was Steve and Christie Lindsey's cutaway Hemi show display. Weighing almost as much as real Hemi and on a weighted base, seeing the functional unit from the Plymouth Rapid Transit tour circa 1970-71 was a special treat. This is the only cutaway hydraulic-cam Street Hemi known to exist.
Some shops like The Finer...
Some shops like The Finer Details, operated by Ken Mosier, reserved enough space to display several cars. He had several E-bodies, including a Challenger R/T recently featured here in Mopar Muscle, as well as a pre-production 1969 Charger Daytona.
These larger displays allow...
These larger displays allow artisans like Mosier to show a variety of the work they do.
Checking in for the small-block...
Checking in for the small-block contingent was this 1971 Challenger R/T powered by a 340 engine. Today, these cars are both scarce and in high demand, even if sometimes overshadowed by their big-inch brethren. Unlike the 'cuda, no performance Challenger R/T convertibles were offered in 1971.
The Wellborn Museum sponsored...
The Wellborn Museum sponsored the 1971 display and had several of their Hemi and 440 1971 Chargers on display. Even more impressive was the 1971 GTX 'most expensive Hemi ever' on display; through a series of fortunate circumstances...
...Tim Wellborn located a...
...Tim Wellborn located a same color passenger side door to replace the one damaged in an accident by the original buyer. Like the car itself, the door seen is unrepainted, leaving the car as a true survivor.
Out in the foyer area leading...
Out in the foyer area leading into the event were several display cars. This 1970 Duster 340 is a survivor in FM3 Panther Pink, fully documented by Frank Badelson.
Terry Winkler continues to...
Terry Winkler continues to showcase his spectacular restoration of the 1964 Dodge 330 Hemi that Bill 'Maverick' Golden had campaigned in the months prior to getting the Little Red Wagon. The car was located in dilapidated shape, having been altered in 1965; Winkler debuted it at Vegas in early 2011, and gave Chicago show attendees a chance to see it for the first time.
Among the cars on display...
Among the cars on display was the 1969 pilot Hemi Charger featured on the popular TV show Chop-Cut-Rebuild last season. It was on display in the Keisler Engineering booth. This car is unique in that it is a Hemi car with XP in the VIN, denoting an SE rather than R/T model.
Bill Sefton had a several...
Bill Sefton had a several cars from the Mr. Norm's Garage operation on display, with one being this Mod Top 340 Barracuda, which ironically was not a Formula S package.
Steve Juliano is pretty careful...
Steve Juliano is pretty careful about who he lets sit inside his classic car show customs like the Diamante.
Seen here, he made an exception...
Seen here, he made an exception for Pam Wellborn, who, together with her husband Tim, had brought in a semi full of cars from the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alabama.
Dave Ferro and the crew from...
Dave Ferro and the crew from Totally Auto in Pennsylvania led off the charge in Mopar Alley with a pair of 1967 convertibles. One is Dave's long-time customized 1967 GTX convertible with a 440; the other is a just-completed Hemi-powered restoration for owner Wally Keller.
A 1974 Road Runner clone?...
A 1974 Road Runner clone? Blue Star Performance helped create one of the most unique cars on display. This car was ordered new as a Satellite Sebring Plus - with a 400 4bbl engine, A727 'flite, and white interior.
All that was changed on the...
All that was changed on the numbers-matching car was the hood, the 120 mph speedo (to a 150-mph versions) and the paint. The current owner had bought a small-block Road Runner version himself in 1974, and this was the big-block example he always wanted.
This row was just half of...
This row was just half of the Challenger T/As assembled for the event; the group was lead off by a race example (not shown) and many different colors were on hand. Dean Govostis owns the Plum Crazy one shown closest.
For people looking for more...
For people looking for more than just a car show, an entire area was set aside as a swap meet. Parts, paper, tools, and products were all featured.
Collector Bruce Bartie has...
Collector Bruce Bartie has a passion for black survivor cars; this is an unrestored 1971 GTX with Six Pack motivation under the hood. The blue Road Runner visible behind it is owned by Ricky Greer; it shows less then 5,000 miles on the odemeter and, yes, it has a Hemi...
Doug Schellinger came in with...
Doug Schellinger came in with a car that was quite well-known in the Midwest - Ramo Stott's #7 Plymouth Superbird. Doug's ongoing research is developing the possibility that the car was originally built as a 1968 model and later updated to a wing car for the 1970;
...Stott won the ARCA race...
...Stott won the ARCA race at Daytona that year, automatically qualifying him for the NASCAR Daytona 500. He also took the car the season ARCA titles in both 1970 and 1971, making this one of the winningest wing cars in circle track history.