Woodie station wagons are for sure a California favorite, and with such a close proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
One of the fun features of this event is the ability for displaying cars to also partake in the cruising.
The Nitro Thunderfest has a variety of historical Hemi-power early front engine Top Fuel dragsters.
George Sepulveda from Lake Havasu City, AZ, won a Hutton Builder's Choice Award with his flawless 1957 Chevrolet 3100 Series
Autocross or simply a street cruiser, C3 Corvettes are a natural for making a head-turning entry.
This second-generation Camaro (1970 1/2) was purchased new by the owner and was used as a family car back in the day.
Debbie Walls brought here "Lucille" 1940 Ford convertible along from Lokar (Knoxville, TN)
A popular trend these days in the Goodguy circles is to try to obtain a body style that rare and not often seen.
Jesse Lindberg brought his 1962 Hardtop Chevrolet Impala down from Anderson, CA.
"Severed Ties" K5 Blazer is a 1976 model that has full Accuair E-Level suspension and has retained the stock body.
For those that wanted to admire a tribute of the famous Grand Sport Corvette from 1963, Del Mar was the place.
New this year was the gathering of custom Lowriders which were staged inside an exhibit Hall, all sponsored by PPG Paints.
Woodie station wagons are for sure a California favorite, and with such a close proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
This is a 1976 Chevrolet Vega that has received a great deal of attention, starting with a hand-fabricated wide-body kit.
If you're going to build a very well-sorted 1968 big block Camaro SS, why not paint it a bright, noticeable color?!
On Sunday the show opens up to all American cars (or powered by American engines).
Second-generation F-Body cars like this 1971 Camaro are becoming more and more popular for getting full custom work.
John Carey's Fresno, CA-based 1955 Oldsmobile, 35K original miles, lowered stance, tuck-n-roll nostalgia interior.
Something about the timeless shape of the 1932 Ford Roadster, and the example from Bryan Cruz, New Braunfels, TX.
If there was ever a 1953 Ford F-100 that looks like it was designed in the wind tunnel, Bob Carvojal's "Squashed Orange Truck".
A 1988 Chevy Monte Carlo that was just an average car in its era, but bow with a lowering job and some polished wheels.
Paul Randle's 1963 Thunderbird with Sports Roadster fiberglass rear tonneau cover relies on the stock Ford body.
Take an Oldsmobile from 1961m shave the door handles, stuff a set of wide M/T rear tires and you've got a true street machine.
With a lowered front end and a set of EVOD large-diameter Lincoln wheel cover alloy wheels, and done in a light yellow hue.
Rick Dore's aluminum-bodied "Shangri-La" was once a 1936 Cadillac before all the hand-make body was created.
1968 Charger in lime green with a red viper V-0, yes, there was one of those inside!
For a detailed look at the state-of-the-art for chassis replacement, The Roadster Shop had this for all to see.
A customized DIVCO milk truck from Paul Garrett / Alpine Restoration, something out of the ordinary for sure.
A throw back to mid-1960s drag racing, this A/FX inspired 1965 Coronet post car with Hemi power and tall injectors!
A 1931 Ford Roadster from Dave Martin, Signal Hill, CA, and the injected small-block Chevrolet engine.
1966 Mustang built by Craig Speir in Hemet, CA, featuring headlights flavored by newer models.
*Start Photo Essay by clicking the gallery above
For hot-rodders and muscle car enthusiasts, each year the season-opening Goodguys event at the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego County hosts a huge gathering of the best of the best specialty vehicles for all to see over the three-day period of the show.
The show is actually three events in one: The traditional hot rod-type vehicle show; the Good Wood woodie show; plus the action-packed Autocross event, featuring three days of a variety of cars and trucks negotiating the tight and twisty autocross track set up in the huge parking lot.
The running of the 18th annual Goodguys Del Mar Show was a fabulous way to see the latest trends and for exhibitors of aftermarket parts, a wonderful way of being able to communicate their message directly to the consumer base, all the while enjoying the warm California sunshine.
Add in the Nitro Thunderfest where vintage Top Fuel Dragsters are lit off, nitro fumes in the air, and the recently-added PPG Lowrider Palace that filled one of the exhibit halls, and it’s clear that Goodguys went all-out this year for an event to please all. In fact, if one attended this Southern California gathering and didn’t walk away with seeing something they liked, then they are not really much of a car enthusiast.
This marks the 35th year that Goodguys has been promoting special car events, and 2018 has a new look to it, with the inclusion and welcoming of cars and trucks now able to show and participate going all the way up to the 1987 model year. This was brought on as a result of increased interest in later iron, plus with time the era of being a classic has to keep up with the calendar year. Plans are underway for the 2019 running of this event.
