2017 Nashville International Auto Show

The Nashville International Auto Show is sort of an interesting affair. You can go there and find two McLarens, a half-dozen vintage Ford Broncos, and a Bentley SUV, but there’s not a new Cadillac in sight. Want to take a glimpse into the future with a concept car? Nope. But there is a replica of Buford T. Justice’s Pontiac police car. As auto shows go, this one seems to have limited support from the OEMs, so they make up for it with other things. I guess that’s OK, though. I’d rather look at the vintage Mustang club display than have to endure a bigger Toyota space.

2016 Nashville International Auto Show

If you were reading an article about an auto show that took place in 1969, complete with photo slideshow, you would think that was pretty cool, right? That’s why I keep covering the local new car show. Someday, someone is going to look back on this, and they’re going to love it. In the context of today, the Nashville International Auto Show is fairly weak. Several key manufacturers didn’t even bother to participate. There were no concept cars. The most interesting display was the “DuPont Registry Live” exotic car collection, and you had to subscribe to a $45 magazine to get close to it. Sure, there were some cars there that any red-blooded enthusiast would like to have, but come back to this in 50 years and you’ll really appreciate it.

2015 Nashville International Auto Show

November means auto show season in Nashville, so we headed out to the Music City Center last weekend for the 2015 Nashville International Auto Show. This is one of the smallest new car shows I think I’ve ever been to. It also boggles my mind that Elvis’ Solid Gold Cadillac is on display just down the street from here at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and there was not one trace of Cadillac at this show. There were also quite a few more cars than I have pictured, but I made the determination that they were not interesting enough to feature. If you want to see Hyundais and Hondas and stuff like that, you’ll have to hit this show yourself next year. If you like sports cars and American pickups, you’re in the right place.

Vintage cars from the 2014 Greater Kansas City International Auto Show

When you go to an event like the Greater Kansas City International Show (GKCIAS), you expect to see the latest and greatest new cars, trucks, and SUVs.  What you might not expect to see is a first-rate classic car show.  But if you were in Bartle Hall over the weekend, that’s just what you saw.  Several groups had vintage iron on display, including the Kansas City Automotive Museum (KCAM), the Art of the Car Concours, the Heart of America Corvair Owners Association (HACOA), and the auto show itself.  So if you’re one of those people that says, “they don’t make ‘em like they used to,” there was still something for you at this event.

New cars from the 2014 Greater Kansas City International Auto Show

As you drive around Kansas City on a normal day, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that all new cars are boring.  It’s tough to get excited about silver Corollas and neutral-colored Accords and whatnot.  But when you get under the bright lights of the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show, suddenly you realize that there’s a whole world of interesting new cars out there for sale.  People aren’t necessarily buying the interesting stuff, but they are available if you want them.  Let’s check out a few of the fun new rides from Kansas City.

New car reviews to get us ready for the auto show

The Greater Kansas City Auto Show is taking place in going on in Bartle Hall this weekend.  Naturally, I plan to be there to check out all the latest and greatest.  But to get ready, I thought we’d take a look back at my top ten favorite new cars that I had the opportunity to test drive over the past year or two. I’ve been very fortunate with this blog, because without it, I never would have had the chance to drive a new Cadillac for a week, for example.  As someone who really loves cars, I cannot understate how awesome I think this has been for me.  Just rereading the stories makes me happy.  I hope they make you happy too.

The 2013 Kansas City International Auto Show was the place to shop for a new car or check out the classics

In nearly 30 years of living in Kansas City, I don’t think I have ever missed the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show.  It’s one of the biggest events that Bartle Hall has to offer, which is all right with me.  Anytime you can get big numbers of people interested in cars, I think that’s a good thing.  At least there’s still a spark of passion left.

2013 North American International Auto Show. The early view from Detroit

Every year, the collective eyes of the automotive industry turn to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit to see all the latest concept and production vehicles from auto manufacturers throughout the world.  This is arguably the most important car show anywhere, but it doesn’t open to the public until Saturday.  Well, it doesn’t open to the regular public.  I was already there, earlier this week, for the media preview.  That means you, the readers of Hover Motor Company, also get an advanced look at this incredible event.

The 2014 Chevrolet SS recalls the full-sized, rear-wheel-drive Super Sports of the past

Thursday, Chevrolet took the wraps off of the much-anticipated, 2013 SS NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The car will be based on the upcoming, Australian-built, 2014 Chevrolet SS. This is pretty big news for bowtie loyalists, because it marks the return of full-sized, rear-wheel-drive performance to the Chevrolet lineup. But it certainly isn’t their first foray into this market segment. When people think of the SS badge, images of ’69 Camaro 396s and ’70 Chevelles with 454s might come to mind. But the SS badge was born on Chevy’s full-sized offerings.