Classic Car Show Preparation

There are about as many types of shows as there are cars and trucks. Most shows are just for fun, a good excuse to drive around in your favorite ride and spend time with like-minded enthusiasts. However, many shows also involve some type of judging, which results in trophies for participants or the car clubs they belong to. Preparing your car for serious car shows can be as involved as getting ready for a race, but knowing what to expect is half the battle.

Custom Car Shows
Custom car shows are the place to display hot rods, musclecars, tuners, customs and classics. Some, like Autorama events, are traveling shows put on across the country. Professional events will have a rulebook with an explanation of the judging procedure. Unless you've been involved in one of their events before, you probably won't know some of the secrets to garner those extra points that spell the difference between victory and defeat.


The first step is to get a copy of the rulebook, as car classifications and point structures vary widely. Generally, there will be classes for street cars, race cars and customs. These are further broken down by car make and degree of modification (mild to wild). For instance, there might be several different classes in which Camaros would compete.


In street car classes, cleanliness is of primary importance; judges will not be looking for absolute originality. In fact, a classy set of mag wheels or a custom paint job might help your cause, but you don't want to go too far or you'll end up competing against all-out customs with radical and expensive modifications. In the top custom classes, extra points are given for engine swaps and lots of plating. Bonus points are given for presentation. Regardless of how nice your car is, you'll get extra points for having the hood, doors and trunk open for judging. The judges are usually not allowed to touch your car, so if you are not there when the judges arrive, you lose out. If in doubt, leave everything open.


Interesting additions to your display area also are rewarded. Many competitors display a scrapbook showing the car during its rebuild or modification. Others add custom painted tools, miniature cars (painted like the car on display) and accessories tastefully arranged around the car. A poster with information on the car is a simple idea (it also gives you a place to thank all the people who helped on the project) and it's a fun project the kids can do.