Car Show Season Begins: Sterling, Illinois
For a long time, the first big car show to usher in the season for me is the Loafers show held in downtown Hannibal, Missouri. I’ve been going since approximately 2012, and it is a good one. I was just there on the 10th, and will likely be doing a post soon. But the past few years there is an earlier, equally good yet closer venue: Sterling.
The Sterling/Rock Falls metro area is about an hour down “Scenic 88” from Klockau Manor. I think the first year I went was maybe 2013. Then other concerns and events kept me from attending for a while, but the past 2-3 years I make it a point to head down.
Also, there is a most excellent, three-story antique mall two blocks away to check out. In the past I’ve found Automobile Quarterly books, a Majorette ‘80s Cadillac Fleetwood limousine and a Franklin Mint 1/43 scale ‘57 Fury—among other interesting items. But I digress!
And so it was I hopped in the MKZ on May 4th (please omit “may the fourth be with you,” if you please, Klockau prefers Spaceballs to War Stars claptrap) and pointed it northeast on I-88. It was a gorgeous day. And I had a fully charged phone!
As usual, there was something for everyone: Muscle cars, Broughamage, classic pickups, you name it.
Far and away my favorite was the pristine, 37,000 mile 1973 Impala.
With factory AM/FM/stereo 8-track sound system.
I also have to confess I was stupid on this day. After doing the once-around at the show, I went to the antique mall—and found an immaculate, 1962-63 Falcon dealer promo—for a mere $45.
I wanted it, but had just gotten there and thought, oh, I’ll grab it when I’m done. Lo and behold, I’m done, go back down, and GONE. Shit. As Dr. Evil would say. It was my own fault. All I had to do was take it upstairs to the checkout and say, hey, can you hold this while I shop.
But I didn’t and paid the price. Rats! Oh well, at least it wasn’t a ‘68 Coupe de Ville promo!
But I mellowed as I returned to the show for one final once-over. It really is a great show. And later on, at the Hannibal show, I found a ‘57 Mercedes 300SC at an antique store there for $45. And bought it.
I felt better.
Til next time!
Don't know if it was my grandmother's black '73 Caprice or many screenings of "Live and Let Die," but I've always had a soft spot for the '73 Chevys. That enormous rear bumper with the six taillights built in is a work of art. I know the '77-'90 is a superior car in nearly every way, but still.
Hemmings currently lists 54 1973 Chevrolets for sale, not one of which is a full-size sedan.
Tom, hard to believe that your favorite 73 Impala made it 52 years with the steel wheels and moon hubcaps. I was thinking that they were standard on the Biscayne and Bel-Air but would have thought full wheel cover would have been standard on the Impala, check you 73 full line brochure when you have a chance. Great show thanks for posting, glad to see all those nice cars are out of hibernation.