Arkansans love their classic cars. This passion is fueled by a nostalgia for simpler times, a post-war boom when Sunday drives were the norm, and family time was a given. Or maybe there’s a yearning for the carefree “All-American rebel” life personified by hot rods and drag races.
Some might even consider this passion a backlash against the bells and whistles of modern cars and a celebration of the days when a car owner could really get their hands dirty, tinkering with mechanics under the hood. Possibly, it’s just aesthetics. The process of designing cars included hand-drawing automobiles while considering visual appeal, not crash test ratings and aerodynamics. Either way, Arkansas’ love for classic cars is here to stay.
Find Your Perfect Arkansas Car Group
Vintage car enthusiasts often spend a lot of time and money on lovingly restoring their “babies,” traveling to car shows, and networking with other classic car owners. According to Classic Car Community, there are dozens of car groups in Arkansas. Some of these groups include promoters of a particular make or style, such as the Classic Chevy Club of North Arkansas, headquartered in Mountain Home, or KROZ, Kustom Rods of the Ozarks. Others are more generalized—open to all classic car owners or enthusiasts in a particular region, or open to the owner of any vintage car that has had a certain number of customizations or modifications.
Resources for Arkansas Car Shows
There’s a public Facebook group for vintage car lovers that does a great job of keeping up with the sundry classic car shows, auctions, and events in the Natural State. Old Ride also has a fairly comprehensive state-by-state listing. Eureka Springs has a particularly active car show calendar (plus, it’s just a great town to visit!).
There are so many car shows in Arkansas, that it’s hard to know which shows are worth your time. First off, our advice is to support your hometown (or home-region) events. Beyond that, here are a few that we really like.
A Few Natural State Car Show Picks
The annual Hot Springs Cruisers has been held for 24 years and supports a different local charity each year. It features any make or model car from the 1940s through the 70s.
Cruising the Ozarks has multiple events throughout the year, but their main event is held every September at the Washington County Fairgrounds. It includes an auto show, instructional classes, and road tours.
The Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run in Mena will throw its 44th event this year. It’s two days of vintage hot rods and a street dance.
The Petit Jean Show & Swap Meet in Morrilton, in its 66th year, features cars from the turn of the 19th century to the 1980s, with hundreds of collectible automobiles for sale and over 1,000 vendors selling car parts, related items, and food!
Need to Insure Your Antique Car?
You’ve invested time, money, and effort into restoring and maintaining your antique cars. Fully protect this investment! Talk to a Farm Bureau Insurance agent in Arkansas today about antique car insurance.