By John Gunnell
The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN), held each November in Rosemont, Ill. (near O’Hare Airport) grew out of pure passion for American high-performance cars. Several Midwestern shows that had been popular annual events in Illinois and Wisconsin were cancelled. A group of seven enthusiasts from across the country got together and decided to launch the MCACN. They chose Bob Ashton—a veteran car show manager from Michigan—to start a tightly-focused top-notch event.
Everyone involved in creating the new show was passionate about the cars it championed. They included very serious muscle car collectors, a man who had written some outstanding muscle car books, several Corvette fans and professional car builders and restorers. From the start, they decided that they wanted to do the show “right” and fill it with famous cars that had drag raced or made it into car magazines in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The show would include Triple Crown Corvette judging, reveals of famous muscle machines with fresh and accurate restorations, theme displays honoring the best muscle cars of a certain year and famous celebrities from the muscle car era such as Jim Wangers, Grumpy Jenkins, Mr. Norm, Joe Mondello, Linda Vaughan and Milt Schornack.
Ashton and the show owners knock themselves out each year to make the latest show even better than the previous ones. They have had featured seminar givers such as the Norwood Ambassadors who worked on the Camaro assembly lines in the ‘60s, unique cars such as a Corvette with half of a see-through body and amazing line ups of Hurst vehicles, ’69 Pontiac Trans Am ragtops, Buick GSX models and other rarities.
Being a collector of muscle car books, Bob Ashton has also included automotive historians, authors and photographers in his mix of show attractions. Colin Comer, Jerry Heasley, Doug Mitchell, Bob McClurg and Ryan Brutt are among those who did book signings. Each year the show also features a different automotive artist. Many spectators come to MACAN with books under their arms that they want to get autographed.
Over the years, Ashton and his friends have added attractions such as a large automotive swap meet, a vintage bicycle show and turntable displays featuring rarities like the late-Steve Juliano’s Dodge Diamante show car and Fred Mandrick’s Oldsmobile Fouranado (a one-off build that combine Toronado and 442 features). And how about a one-of-one four-door ‘Cuda or a George Barris built Teen Magazine Pontiac Firebird?
A few years ago, the Car Sessions group from Green Bay rented a bus to make a “bucket list” trip to MCACN. It’s a show that, once you go, you’ll want to go back the next year. If cool Corvettes and hot muscle cars are your thing, this is a must-see-at-least-once event. Our first show listing gives details about the 2023 MACAN. See you there!