Iola Car Show marks 50th anniversary in 2022
IOLA, Wis. _ The 2022 Iola Car Show will mark 50 years of a very big show in a small town this July 7-9. The annual event remains one of the nation’s largest collector car shows and swap meets, with hundreds of cars and more than 4,000 vendor spaces.
The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating 50 Years.” Many of the cars from past show posters have been invited to return.
Celebrity guests this year include: customizer Chip Foose; Candy Clark and Mackenzie Phillips from “American Graffiti;” actor Kevin Sorbo; Miss “Hurst Golden Shifter” Linda Vaughn; and others. Live music is planned Thursday and Friday beginning at 5 p.m. on the Tundraland Stage.
As always, the show will feature a Pre-War Display of vehicles built prior to 1942; a Post-War Display of presentable vehicles produced from 1945-1990; a Blue Ribbon Concours for invited cars; and a Modified Display of hot rods, street rods, customs, lowriders, rat rods, kit cars, and replicas.
Other features will include “Old Cars/Young Drivers” for young hobbyists; a Survivor Display of original pre-1976 cars; Second Generation Specialty Cars featuring 1990 or older cars that revive a marque discontinued by the manufacturer; and Late Model Vehicles with cars and trucks from 1990 and newer.
The swap meet area is open for three days beginning on Thursday at 6 a.m. The Iola Car Show grounds has more than 1,600 sites available for tent camping and RVs with free shuttle service to the show grounds. A large car corral area will again provide acres of room for up to 1,000 vehicles available for private sale.
A three-day pass is available for $30; daily passes are $20. For information, visit www.iolaoldcarshow.com.
Buick dusts off Wildcat badge for EV
DETROIT — Buick has brought back the Wildcat name for its new EV concept car.
“The Wildcat was developed to convey the all-new design language that will influence Buick production models for the foreseeable future,” the company said in a press release. “Buick’s new tri-shield logo, mounted prominently on the body front and rear, symbolizes the design transformation and new production models will wear it starting next year.”
“The Wildcat EV concept represents the real design future for the brand,” said Sharon Gauci, executive director, Global Buick and GMC Design. “Buick has always been forward looking and this expression is a glimpse of where we’re going, and the optimism we have for the limitless possibilities of an electric future.”
According to the company, the Wildcat EV concept is built to be a platform for futuristic features such as artificial intelligence, biometrics and aromatherapy. The vehicle is designed to detect an elevation in driver heart rate and automatically adjust vehicle settings to calm them down. For example, when Zen Mode is activated, it will dim the cabin lights, disperse calming aromatherapy scents and activate massaging seats.
Shelby unveils new Cobra concept
LAS VEGAS – Shelby American unveiled the “Cammer
Cobra” concept, a 427 SOHC V-8-powered continuation Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, at the Carlisle Ford Nationals Carlisle, Pa., June 3. The “Cammer Cobra” follows Carroll Shelby’s initial vision for a racecar to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Carroll Shelby wanted to fit a massive Ford big-block engine into a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe for Le Mans in 1964,” said Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American. “While many know that a one-off car was built with a 427 “wedge” Ford engine, that was not Carroll Shelby’s initial vision. He hoped to pair the sleek aerodynamics of the Peter Brock-designed body with the incredibly powerful aluminum singleoverhead-cam version of the FE motor. Since it was impossible to obtain one of those rare engines in time for the race, Shelby American installed the NASCAR version. Our concept car was built to realize Carroll’s initial Cammer vision.”
The continuation big-block Shelby Daytona Coupe follows the same specs as the Ohlsen-modified racecar. It has an aluminum body over a 3-inch-lengthened chassis with a hood modified to accommodate the aluminum 427 SOHC big-block motor. The 650-hp engine is mated to a period-correct four-speed manual transmission. The car was assigned Shelby serial number CSX2623 and will be documented in the official Shelby Registry.