MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — Classic cars, music, food, and a strong community turnout came together Sunday, September 27, as downtown Manhattan Beach hosted its seventh annual car show.
The free event ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vehicles ranged from newer models to historic classics, with participating cars arranged by year and identified by numbers.
The event gave visitors an opportunity to walk among the vehicles, meet their owners, and take a closer look at cars with distinctive histories and designs.
Among the day’s winners was Ramon Torres, who received a trophy presented by the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Torres is a two-time winner of the event, and his winning vehicle was a red 1967 Cobra Roadster.
The Cobra also featured a small model car mounted on top that resembled the vehicle itself. This addition brought another distinctive detail for visitors to see.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department was present at the event and helped present trophies to the winners.
Music and food vendors added to the atmosphere as visitors moved through the car show.
Cars With Their Own Stories
Beyond the competition, the car show provided an opportunity for owners to share the stories and personalities behind their vehicles.
Presence News reporter Maria Cornejo spoke with Jeff Wallis and Ernie Gonzalez about their cars and what makes them stand out.
Wallis is the owner of a red model of a Sunbeam Tiger from 1967. The automobile is a British sports car. On the car, you can also see a fluffy tiger and a flag of the UK. These reflect the name of the car and its British origins.
The combination of the classic vehicle and the themed decoration attracted attention from visitors walking through the show.
Gonzalez brought a 1992 Ford Explorer XLT with a Universal Studios theme. The vehicle features fake dinosaurs outside the car that can be operated using a remote control.
The vehicle’s sides feature the words “Jurassic Park,” while the car itself is decorated in red and green.
The moving dinosaurs were a particular attraction for guests, giving the vehicle an interactive element beyond its appearance.
A Community Gathering
More than 200 different autos filled the Manhattan Beach auto show. This variety gave every visitor an opportunity to find something of interest in a car from a particular age or style.
In fact, the wide variety of classic sports cars, customized vehicles, and themed cars allowed owners to express themselves through their vehicles.
The event’s free admission helped make the show accessible to the wider community. Meanwhile, music, food vendors, and activities surrounding the vehicles created a festival-like atmosphere downtown.
For the owners of the cars, this event was a chance to test their skills and have fun with their cars. For the spectators, it was an opportunity to enjoy the rare and unique cars. Furthermore, it allowed them to spend some time in the downtown area of Manhattan Beach.
This yearly event illustrates how a car show can evolve into something more than merely a presentation of cars. The show can become an event for communication among local people, tourists, and car fans.
Sources:
City of Manhattan Beach — “MBPD Car Show”
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on original reporting, observations made at the event, interviews with participants, and publicly available event information. Details regarding vehicles, participants, event activities, and attendance are reported as observed or provided to Presence News at the time of coverage. Presence News has made reasonable efforts to present the information accurately.
