Madison Classics Show in Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Well this weekend, August 1st and 2nd, one of Wisconsin’s biggest classic car show and swap meet was held in Elkhorn, WI. Even with the weather being a little gloomy with scattered light showers from time to time, that didn’t stop anyone from bringing their cars or parts. The theme of this years summer Madison classics show was convertible cars but as always, the biggest attraction was the swap meet and cars for sale. Rows of car panels, engine parts, tools, and other knickknacks took up over 5 acres of land. Whether you were looking for that one piece for your car or just a nice antique car part for hanging up in your shop, there wasn’t anything that didn’t catch your eye. In the car corral where about 2 acres of cars were displayed for the only purpose of selling it. Cars ranged from a couple thousand to the high $60,000 price. You could find someone’s project that they either completely finished or gave up trying to build, to junk yard wrecks, to even the untouched original cars. Thousands of classic cars showed up for the show and they looked excellent. Every era and type of car showed up, even the cars you knew existed but have never seen like boat cars.

After the show I headed over to Gus’s diner in East Troy for the Saturday car show and cruise. A couple cars from the Elkhorn show were there, but there were more cars there from people who weren’t at the show. The food was good and a live band was playing while everyone enjoyed all the cars at the diner. Of all the hot muscle cars and beautiful classics at the show, my favorite vehicle was a 1940’s Chevy pickup truck that this middle age man has had since high school. He told me he did all the work himself with the help of some friends. It was painted Prowler orange with a bit of metallic flake in it. It included custom made side steps and truck bed and rails made out of thick wood that was smoothed out and sealed with stain and a gloss clear coat. Not only did he do that but he also made a dragster spoiler propped up in the truck bed which was also made entirely of wood. Powering this dragster looking truck was a Chevy big block, completely redone with all new parts, a giant blower, and NOS which was dynode at 1000 rwhp. Although this thing looked like a drag truck with the giant motor, nitrous, and huge drag radials in the back, the owner said it has never seen a drag strip.