FREE REVS 2021 MUSCLE CAR & CORVETTE NATIONALS Every fall when the weather changes, my heart gets racing. That excitement isn’t for the plethora of pumpkin treats or warm, cozy attire, but rather, it’s in anticipation of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. The annual event, held in November in Rosemont, Illinois, has become the premier show to catch the best period-correct vintage muscle and sports cars on the planet all on display in one place. After a year off (due to the pandemic), the MCACN team, participants, spectators and I MATT AVERY Matt is the Executive Producer and host of the On the Move podcast. He was a repair technician for both BMW and Mercedes- Benz before acquiring a B.S. Degree in Film and moving into automotive journalism. He wrote for the TV show MotorWeek, was the senior video producer for the Cars.com editorial team and served on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Automotive Media Association. Matt’s latest book “COPO” is the authoritative guide to Chevy’s ultimate muscle cars. In 2020, Matt was recognized and awarded by SEMA as a rising young star within the automotive industry, making the coveted “35 Under 35 List.” were all revved up for the 2021 show, and simply put, it did not disappoint. Hundreds of dazzling vehicles (coming from 42 states and even Canada) were on display making for a ton to take in. Invitational Displays this year included such legendary gatherings as the General Motors 1970 LS6, Ram Air IV, W30 and Stage 1 “Top Dogs,” the Corvette Triple Diamond Showcase and the Dodge Challenger T/A and Plymouth AAR Cuda Invitational. The days were also full of official unveilings, with covers being pulled off of 25 vehicles for the first time since undergoing full restorations. Besides four wheels, other vintage transportation interests were represented by retro snow machines, Schwinn muscle bicycles and much, much more scattered throughout the convention center. MEMORABLE MUSCLE It’s beyond tough to pick favorites, but this year, two vehicles really stood out. First was a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 that was part of the brand’s Lawman Performance Team. After being built, this high-performance vehicle (along with several other ‘Stangs) was shipped to the southwest Pacific. There, it toured military bases, being shown off to hundreds of military men and women who watched the vehicles perform in safety seminars, driving clinics and performance exhibitions. After ending its high-revvin’ duty, the 429-car returned to Detroit where it was sold and campaigned by a local drag racer. After bouncing to several other owners, it ended up in the hands of professional wrestler Bill Goldberg who had the car undergo a full and proper restoration. Another standout was found back among the Barn Finds and Hidden Gems, a special collection of unrestored cars displayed in all kinds of rough ‘n’ ready conditions. One of this year’s diamonds in the rough was a 1969 Yenko Camaro that had been rescued after years of being parked outside in a lonely, grassy lot in central Wisconsin. It never traveled far, being sold new at Reilly Motors in Wautoma, Wisconsin, and thankfully, it will soon be restored. It’s one of the 201 built by the famed Chevrolet dealer and performance enthusiast Don Yenko, who ordered the run through the brand’s backdoor Central Office processing, making it an ultra-desirable COPO car and one I couldn’t get enough of. MECUM AT MCACN Mecum Auctions is MCACN’s title sponsor and boasted an impressive display of some of the stunning and ultra-rare vehicles slated for the Kissimmee, Florida, auction block. Highlights included the 1963 Corvette Z06 known as “Gulf One,” the 1965 Shelby Factory Stage III 289 Cobra Dragonsnake and the 1966 Corvette Pilot Line L88. 38 // MECUM.COM
