The 2024 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) is in the rearview mirror and the vast halls of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center are now quiet. The awesome cars we saw on display will be seared into our memory banks for a long time throughout the long dark, dreary and cold winter months. From over-the-top nut-and-bolt restorations to cars literally plucked out of a barn or a cornfield, the MCACN show brings together one of the most diverse collections of vehicles that shaped American culture for well over 50 years. Let’s face it, these machines emblazoned in bright colors, adorned with wild stripes and fitted with big V8 engines under their scoop hoods, were more than just transportation. These cars defined who we were; and now as the population that grew up with these fantastic cars slowly ages, we still identify with these machines of our youth. Now with the MCACN show a distant memory, here are some of the highlights from this year’s show and some insights from the folks who make it happen.
“We were thrilled to have another fantastic show, and the Rosemont Convention Center was packed with some very historic and rare cars. This year, we worked with Jim Kramer on bringing together a cool ‘Factory Lightweights’ display that included awesome Max Wedge and HEMI® race machines. Jim (Kramer) also rounded up some very unique prototypes and experimental engines that many fans have never seen before, and they were a big hit with the crowds. We also celebrated the 426 HEMI engine and had some great rolling examples of how this mighty engine was installed. We’ve already begun working on the 2025 event and once again, Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars will be a big part of the show,” said Bob Ashton, Show Manager of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.
One of the unique Mopar® exhibits at the 2024 MCACN show was the A12 Anniversary Invitational. For those not familiar with Chrysler’s sales codes, “A12” was used to identify a special mid-year package on the Dodge Super Bee and Plymouth Road Runner. What the package comprised was a 440-cubic-inch V8 engine topped off with a trio of Holley carburetors mounted on an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, these cars had a fiberglass lift-off hood, black painted steel wheels devoid of hub caps and other special items. Marketed as the “440 Six Pack” on the Super Bee and “440 6BBL” on the Road Runner, these cars were an instant hit among buyers and made them heroes on the drag strips and Main Street USA. It’s hard to believe these one-year wonders with their unique content are now 55 years old but are still going strong among Mopar enthusiasts everywhere.
Another MCACN exhibit honored the iconic 426 HEMI engine and this year’s show had amassed a great collection of these rare and highly sought-after cars. Originally produced from 1964 to 1971, the 426 HEMI engine is beyond legendary from its domination of NASCAR’s Super Speedways and NHRA’s drag strips. This display was presented by The Wellborn Muscle Car Museum and the quality of cars on the show floor didn’t disappoint. The name “HEMI” is one of the most recognized automotive terms around the world and vintage HEMI engine-powered cars like the Plymouth ’Cuda, Road Runner, Dodge Challengers, Chargers and many others are highly prized examples that have been sought after by collectors for decades.
Another MCACN tradition is the numerous unveilings of restored vintage and rare muscle cars, and Mopar’s contribution during the horsepower wars of the 1960s and early 1970s was well represented. Many shops were on hand taking the wraps off the latest restorations. These businesses included Breedlove Restorations, Magnum Auto Restorations, Hodge Restorations, The Finer Details Great Lakes Muscle Cars and Apex Autosport. All of these companies do stellar work in bringing these rare Mopar muscle cars back from the dead and one step away from the scrap heap. The long hours they put in, combined with chasing down New Old Stock (NOS) parts, would astound even the most ardent fans but it’s a labor of love for the folks who endlessly put their heart, soul, blood and sweat into making these rare machines even better from when they rolled off the assembly line many decades ago.
“We unveiled three rare 426 HEMI power Mopar B-bodies at MCACN. These included a 1968 Plymouth GTX that had been owned by the same family since new, a 1969 Coronet R/T and the 1970 Road Runner ‘Pilot Car.’ We started and completed all three restorations in one year which was an amazing feat,” said Le Hodge, owner of Hodge Restorations. “This was a great show (MCACN) and thanks to Bob Ashton, he gave us a goal to reach, and with motivation that included endless phone calls from my good friend Dale Mathews, we exceeded those goals. However, if it wasn’t for my awesome shop employees such as Kevin Dills, Shannon Bogan and Dave Scruggs, we wouldn’t have made the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals.”
The 2025 MCACN show is scheduled for November 22 through November 23 and will once again be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. So, plan now on getting your helping of pre-Thanksgiving muscle car goodness before they’re all gone, but for now, feast your eyes on these scrumptious Mopar delights from the 2024 show!
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