Welcome to the San Francisco International Auto Show
Northern California’s largest vehicle exhibition celebrates 55 years of gears
The San Francisco International Auto Show didn’t just wheel into the city. It has a long history here. In 1958, forward-thinking Bay Area import auto dealers decided to create their own exposition when they were turned away from participating in the local domestic auto show.
Kjell Qvale, who had leveraged a Jeep dealership into British Motor Cars, was president of the Import Car Dealers Association at a time when most people couldn’t correctly pronounce Volkswagen, let alone his name (Shell Kev-all-ee). He was the biggest supporter of the upstart show.
“I think to be successful, you have to have a certain excitement about life and you need to be willing to take a risk,” said Qvale.
His contribution to the show will be honored this year with a 2,500-squarefoot exhibition area called “Cars of Qvale.”
Auto writer John Kelly, who covered the Import Car Show for a variety of publications, recalled with nostalgia the ploys Qvale used to interest the public in the show, including appearances by internationally known race drivers and panel discussions by local automotive writers.
“He had Evel Knievel doing jumps on his motorcycle one year in front of the show,” said Kelly. And for one or two years, Qvale promoted an autocross outside the show, in which Kelly participated in the 1956 Healey he bought from BMC.
Qvale later hired one-time San Francisco Examiner automobile columnist Jerry Diamond to run the operation. The partnership lasted until Diamond’s death.
“I remember putting up posters on telephone poles and running errands at the show for my dad,” said Kevin Diamond, the current show director.
As attitudes and the auto industry changed, owing to greater global cooperation in automotive production and increased competition in the world’s car markets, it was only natural that the Import Car Show broadened its scope to include the products of both domestic and international manufacturers worldwide. Thus the ever-expanding import show became truly international in 1982 when it moved to the Moscone Convention Center in downtown San Francisco.
In 1992 another hall was added to the
Vehicles representing the work of more than
38 manufacturers for 2013 will be on display.
Moscone Center, expanding it to a total of 1.2 million square feet. The additional space allowed exhibitors to construct more elaborate displays to showcase their vehicles and provided spectators a more spacious and inviting environment in which to view them. It also allowed the San Francisco International Auto Show to become the premier auto show in Northern California and the only regional one to lure the dazzling, high-tech displays from the world’s major manufacturers. With almost 350,000 spectators attending annually, it is the second largest auto show in the western United States and the number one exhibition of any kind in Northern California.
Now celebrating its 55th year, the San Francisco International Auto Show continues to grow. This year’s show will fill Moscone Center with exhibits in the North and South halls and the Gateway, plus the North and South lobby areas. Vehicles representing the work of more than 38 manufacturers for 2013 will be on display including several new introductions, exotic sports cars, alternative fuel hybrid and high-mileage vehicles, plus special exhibits, including the Academy of Art University Classic Car Collection, the Aftermarket Alley, hot rods, race cars and an auto accessory area.
The San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate.com 55th Annual International Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com and supported by the California Motor Car Dealers Association, will run for five days at the Moscone Center.
Show hours: Thursday, November 22 to Sunday, November 25, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday, November 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission is $9 for adults, with children 12 years and under free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit www.sfautoshow.com.