Car Show Knick-Knacks

Granted, in most of the country, car shows are winding down for yet another season. I've been to more than my fair share this year, and I feel very fortunate to have been able to do so.

Of course, every show is flush with incredible Chevelles - that's a given. What's also a given is the vast array of car show knick-knacks that seem to go hand in hand with our classics. By knick-knacks, I'm lumping just about everything in - scale model cars replicating the original (usually atop an air cleaner, sometimes even on a rotating display stand!), fuzzy dice (always hanging from the rearview mirror), drive-in restaurant food trays (plastic burgers, fries, and shakes), 2-foot high dolls resting their weary heads (usually against a tire or bumper), and dash toppers (typically hula dancers, wiggling their hips ceaselessly). I'm sure I've missed something here; remind me if I have!

Last year, I attended the Truck Nationals in Carlisle, PA. In the special Vans section, they take add-ons to a whole new level. Here, they go all-out with themes - full-on displays and landscaping to support the vans. Case in a Chevy Van thinly disguised as a log cabin! This 70s-era truck was replete with a fireplace, a woodpile, black bears, lanterns, axes, and throw rugs. It was so over-the-top that it actually looked cool.

Personally, I'm not really into the knick-knacks although I dig model cars (diecast and even have a fair collection of them at home. And although I'd rather just concentrate on the actual (real) cars themselves, I can see the allure of decorating your car at the shows. All those aforementioned add-ons really do help create an atmosphere of fun and light-heartedness. After all, that's what most car shows are supposed to be all about!

What I can really appreciate, however, are the menu boards (display signage), vintage literature, restoration documentation, and anything else that further authenticates a classic car. Even the strategically-placed mirrors that allow you to view the undercarriage are cool (they also make it easier on the knees, thank you). Then of course, there are the gimmicks that the manufacturers (and even the dealerships) dreamed up back in the day. Sometimes you'll see these cleverly staged at the shows. I've seen stuffed tigers lounging on GTO hoods, mountain lions atop Mercury Cougars, and fuzzy coyotes chasing mangy roadrunners. That kind of stuff falls more into the nostalgia category - not to be confused with knick-knacks!

I'd love to hear your views on the subject. Do you display your Chevelle unadorned at the shows, or are you more of a set the mood and create a display type? Of course, there's no right or wrong way here - it's all in good fun. After all, that's what hobbies are for! Feel free to share your thoughts at the bottom of this blog.

Source: Eckler's Chevelle