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PHOTO ESSAY: LA Auto Show Highlights

  • Located smack-dab in the middle of Los Angeles, the LA Convention Center once a year comes alive for enthusiasts of new cars, tr
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • Yes, a bright yellow new Ford GT just hanging on the wall, something every Ford dealership worldwide should have in their showro
  • 50 years of Camaro and a tie-in to Hot Wheels, visitors of the LA Auto Show saw this 2018 Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Edition co
  • The Dodge area had a large assortment of Hemi-propelled passenger cars featured, including this bright yellow "Daytona" model, f
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Slightly less potent but still impressive is the 464-horsepower ATS-V Coupe, which can produce a zero to 60 mph run in 3.8 secon
  • Gotta love the visual impact of the 2019 ZR1 Corvette, and it goes on sale Spring 2018, with expectations of a production run of
  • For the LA Auto Show, Chevrolet literally took the top down on their top-of-the-line Corvettes the fist time on 47 years that t
  • For the LA Auto Show, Chevrolet literally took the top down on their top-of-the-line Corvettes the fist time on 47 years that t
  • These really are the good ol' days of high-performance from Detroit, as evidenced by the fact that at a new car show, there's a
  • The 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody has a lot going for it, besides its 707-horsepower and unreal straight-line acceleratio
  • Mopar still relishes in their rich high-performance past with the names Super Bee and "Demon" and a lot of Dodge lifestyle items
  • Built in 1969 as an attention-getter and wild exhibition vehicle, this four-wheel-drive four-engined Mustang Mach IV that Gary W
  • A 2018 RTR Spec 5 Mustang GT done up in white (with Battleship Gray and Neon Yellow accents) provided a sampling of the things t
  • This 1956 Ford F-100 was Ed Roth's shop truck back in the dat and Galpin took the rig after it was found in an Oklahoma barn and
  • In the early 1950s there was a small, inexpensive compact car called the Henry J built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corp., and in the 19
  • This 1935 Ford pickup was used by Gene Winfield in 1960 as a shop truck, and after all those years, it was lost for 43 years bef
  • Frank Gaplin noticed one day in the late 1950s that his service and parts manager, Ron Hornaday, was a pretty good race driver b
  • Galpin's 3M Fuschia Vinal Wrap treatment given to this 2018 Mustang GT made the car jump big time in their exhibit, and the lowe
  • The Ford GT with its 216 mph top speed and 647 horsepower from its 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost engine, carbon fiber body panels and teardr
  • The Ford GT with its 216 mph top speed and 647 horsepower from its 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost engine, carbon fiber body panels and teardr
  • Somebody was given an assignment from Ford Motor Co. to show off their Lego skills and one can only guess how much time it took
  • Prestone had the Ring Brothers 1972 Javelin AMX featured along side an older Pantera they built a few years back. For high-profi
  • Roush's "Boss 729" is a modern take on the legendary 1969-70 Boss 429 production cars that were built in small numbers to make
  • Roush's "Boss 729" is a modern take on the legendary 1969-70 Boss 429 production cars that were built in small numbers to make
  • Roush's "Boss 729" is a modern take on the legendary 1969-70 Boss 429 production cars that were built in small numbers to make
  • Part of the fun in the lobby was a featured old school-themed Phantom 500R bike, which rolls on 26-inch diameter tires and has t
  • A fun throwback to yesteryear was the mounting of historic images of the earlier times of the LA Auto Show, and it showed the ob
  • A fun throwback to yesteryear was the mounting of historic images of the earlier times of the LA Auto Show, and it showed the ob
  • A fun throwback to yesteryear was the mounting of historic images of the earlier times of the LA Auto Show, and it showed the ob
  • Located smack-dab in the middle of Los Angeles, the LA Convention Center once a year comes alive for enthusiasts of new cars, tr
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • With the world debut of Jeep's new fourth-generation Wrangler taking place at this event, a ton of media attention was given to
  • Yes, a bright yellow new Ford GT just hanging on the wall, something every Ford dealership worldwide should have in their showro
  • 50 years of Camaro and a tie-in to Hot Wheels, visitors of the LA Auto Show saw this 2018 Hot Wheels 50th Anniversary Edition co
  • The Dodge area had a large assortment of Hemi-propelled passenger cars featured, including this bright yellow "Daytona" model, f
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Cadillac is celebrating its victory in the 2017 IMSA Manufacturer, Driver, Team and Endurance Championships with the release of
  • Slightly less potent but still impressive is the 464-horsepower ATS-V Coupe, which can produce a zero to 60 mph run in 3.8 secon
  • Gotta love the visual impact of the 2019 ZR1 Corvette, and it goes on sale Spring 2018, with expectations of a production run of
  • For the LA Auto Show, Chevrolet literally took the top down on their top-of-the-line Corvettes the fist time on 47 years that t
  • For the LA Auto Show, Chevrolet literally took the top down on their top-of-the-line Corvettes the fist time on 47 years that t
  • These really are the good ol' days of high-performance from Detroit, as evidenced by the fact that at a new car show, there's a
  • The 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody has a lot going for it, besides its 707-horsepower and unreal straight-line acceleratio
  • Mopar still relishes in their rich high-performance past with the names Super Bee and "Demon" and a lot of Dodge lifestyle items
  • Built in 1969 as an attention-getter and wild exhibition vehicle, this four-wheel-drive four-engined Mustang Mach IV that Gary W
  • A 2018 RTR Spec 5 Mustang GT done up in white (with Battleship Gray and Neon Yellow accents) provided a sampling of the things t
  • This 1956 Ford F-100 was Ed Roth's shop truck back in the dat and Galpin took the rig after it was found in an Oklahoma barn and
  • In the early 1950s there was a small, inexpensive compact car called the Henry J built by the Kaiser-Frazer Corp., and in the 19
  • This 1935 Ford pickup was used by Gene Winfield in 1960 as a shop truck, and after all those years, it was lost for 43 years bef
  • Frank Gaplin noticed one day in the late 1950s that his service and parts manager, Ron Hornaday, was a pretty good race driver b
  • Galpin's 3M Fuschia Vinal Wrap treatment given to this 2018 Mustang GT made the car jump big time in their exhibit, and the lowe
  • The Ford GT with its 216 mph top speed and 647 horsepower from its 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost engine, carbon fiber body panels and teardr
  • The Ford GT with its 216 mph top speed and 647 horsepower from its 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost engine, carbon fiber body panels and teardr
  • Somebody was given an assignment from Ford Motor Co. to show off their Lego skills and one can only guess how much time it took
  • Prestone had the Ring Brothers 1972 Javelin AMX featured along side an older Pantera they built a few years back. For high-profi
  • Roush's "Boss 729" is a modern take on the legendary 1969-70 Boss 429 production cars that were built in small numbers to make
  • Roush's "Boss 729" is a modern take on the legendary 1969-70 Boss 429 production cars that were built in small numbers to make
  • Roush's "Boss 729" is a modern take on the legendary 1969-70 Boss 429 production cars that were built in small numbers to make
  • Part of the fun in the lobby was a featured old school-themed Phantom 500R bike, which rolls on 26-inch diameter tires and has t
  • A fun throwback to yesteryear was the mounting of historic images of the earlier times of the LA Auto Show, and it showed the ob
  • A fun throwback to yesteryear was the mounting of historic images of the earlier times of the LA Auto Show, and it showed the ob
  • A fun throwback to yesteryear was the mounting of historic images of the earlier times of the LA Auto Show, and it showed the ob

*Start Photo Essay by clicking the gallery above

California certainly is car crazy and a great place each December for industry members and car enthusiasts alike when the LA Auto Show comes to town at the Los Angeles Convention Center. All the major auto manufacturers worldwide are represented in the show, and for those that enjoy high-performance and race vehicles, there’s a good variety shown in both the main exhibit halls and inside The Garage section, which specializes is customized cars, exotics, gifts and aftermarket equipment. Truly something for everyone.

For members of the auto industry, the show promoters have put together an extensive four-day gathering called Automobility LA, with a focus on education and networking. Seminars like Electric Vehicles: From Romance to Dominance and The Future of Human Driving take place, and the schedule allows industry members to pick and choose what best interests them and their business. Plus there’s real benefit in walking through the halls and actually being able to talk and ask questions to factory representatives, including designers, engineers and marketing pros.

The photo essay that can be accessed by clicking below is a quick example of some of the highlights at the LA Auto Show, which runs through Dec. 10.

Plans are already underway for next year’s event. Check out www.laautoshow.com for additional details.

Frank Gaplin noticed one day in the late 1950s that his service and parts manager, Ron Hornaday, was a pretty good race driver behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car. Starting in 1960, the dealership campaigned Galaxies on the west coast NASCAR circuit with Hornaday as their team driver, eventually winning the 1963 and ’64 championships. In recent years a 1964 Galaxie was sourced and an accurate re-creation was built as a tribute to the glory days, complete with a 410-horsepower, race-prepped 427 FE engine. Hornaday worked at the Galpin dealership for a total of 44 years and was instrumental in getting high-performance as part of their product push as well as assisting in them becoming the very first Shelby dealer in California.

James Maxwell

James Maxwell is an automotive journalist and historian based in Southern California. Contact him at imax@roadrunner.com.

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