From 1921 T’s to 2021 E’s, Denver Auto Show goes outdoors
The Denver Auto Show, stalled all last year by the pandemic, will turn to an outdoors venue in mid-September in a revival of one of the Rocky Mountain region’s most popular extravaganzas.
Taking a page from Denver’s auto show history, planners have chosen the attractive outdoors setting of Elitch Gardens for the early fall event, just as the show a century ago was an attraction at Civic Center.
One hundred years ago, it was the Ford Model T’s in dominance; among top features this year will be the electrics, including the Ford Mustang Mach-e, Volkswagen iD-4, Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf and others.
“Dates are Sept. 15-19 at Elitch,” said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. “The show will be staged along parking lots with plenty of space for walking and viewing.
Mid-September in the Denver area is ideal for an outdoor event such as the auto show.” CADA member Fletcher Flower of Montrose is chairman of the 2021 show. It is sponsored by the Denver Post Media in association with Xcel Energy. It is produced by the Paragon Group, Needham, Mass.
Though the Denver Auto Show dates back to 1902, making it one of the oldest in the country, it was never staged on a definite, permanent yearly basis until Bill Barrow arrived in 1977 as head of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.
One of Barrow’s first undertakings as head of the dealers was planning an auto show for the spring of 1978. Last year’s cancellation of the show through the pandemic ended 42 consecutive shows dating back to the one in May ’78.
Assisting Barrow in plans for the ’78 show were Hugh Tighe, president of the Denver car dealers, and Bruce Kenyon, of the George P. Johnson company in Detroit. Downsizing and the emergence of front-wheeldrive models occupied the industry at that time. Following the event at Currigan Exhibition Hall, show manager Kenyon said surveys of attendees at the 1978 show were surprising in revealing the tremendous interest shown by women. “Women aren’t just asking a brother-in-law for advice these days when it comes to buying a car,” Kenyon said. “They’re earning better salaries, have a strong image of themselves as career people and want a car that reflects that image, and gives them good value for their dollar.”
The Colorado Convention Center, which opened in 1990, hosted the Denver Auto Show from 1991 through 2019.