Automobilia 2008 Moonlight Car Show & Street Party

I had the opportunity to attend the 2008 Automobilia Car Show Saturday, July, 12. This show was located in downtown Wichita on Douglass Avenue. The show was packed with awesome cars, food, bands, and people.

I have only lived in Kansas for one year now, so I’m still learning about all of the activities and events that take place in the area. I was not aware of this car show until the previous week, when I attended a motorcycle rally in Cassoday, Kansas. I spoke to airbrush artist, , Aleycia Crawford, from Eye Kandy Custom Paint, who told me about Automobilia. She said, “Autombilia is one of the biggest car shows in Wichita, but a lot of people are unaware of the event, because it is not promoted as much as some of the other ones are.” After attending the show, I agree with Aleycia; Automobilia is a huge car show.

They had everything from muscle cars, classic cars, show trucks, exotics, to Hurst’s and even a casket roadster. There were seven or eights bands playing at the same time throughout the car show. And, if you were hungry…there was plenty of food there. This was definitely an event worth attending. Best of all, this car show costed absolutely nothing to attend. That’s right, there is no charge to get into the car show. The public could come and go as they pleased.

There were hundreds of cars that I fell in love with. Here are a few of the ones that caught my eye.

1966 Cobra This has always been one of my favorite cars. The picture is not the best, but good pictures were hard to get with all of the people there.

1966 Firebird

Firebirds and Camaros are also on my favorites list. Watch out AJ, you have competition… I don’t know if you keep up with Adrienne Janic from Overhaulin’ now on the Speed Channel, but she recently restored a 1968 Firebird. I have only seen the pictures of it, but it looks really awesome.

TPI Total Performance

Total Performance had a Camaro on display. It was loaded on there trailer elevated off the ground, which made it an eye catching display. I had the opportunity to meet the TPI President, Brook Phillips, and Body Fabricator, Ken Swinney, while attending SEMA 2007 in Las Vegas. In fact, Ken completed Butler’s Collision Repair Program a few years back. After viewing their work, I’m convinced that they are the real deal. They perform outstanding work.

Along my journey through the show I noticed a body shop that I was unaware of. They had a clean and attractive shop, but I did not get a chance to speak with them. It appeared that they perform custom work, as well as, collision repair work. Maybe I will have a chance to visit them one of these days.

Casket Roadster

Strange enough, I guess one of the most eye catching cars was a casket roadster. After reading some of the graphics on it, it got my respect. The jest of this roadster is to “say no to drugs. If not, this is where you will end up at.”

I was impressed with the car show and recommend it to others. I’m sure I will be there again next year.

If you were at Automobilia, let us know what you thought about it. If you know of other car or motor cycle show in the Wichita area, please let us know about them.