West Michigan’s Oldest & Largest Antique Car Show at Gilmore Car Museum: August 6, 2016

THE RED BARNS SPECTACULAR—the area’s oldest and largest antique, classic, and special interest car show and swap meet, featuring vehicles of all eras from 1991 and earlier, takes place at the Gilmore Car Museum on Saturday, August 6^th. Celebrating its 36^th year, the RED BARNS SPECTACULAR has been sponsored continuously by the Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restorers Club (KAARC) and the Gilmore Car Museum since 1980. “This is the event that folks wait all summer for,” said KAARC show chairperson Jim Holland, “The name says it all, it really is spectacular!” At last year’s event, close to 1,500 collector cars and several hundred swap meet vendors descended on the Gilmore Car Museum for what has been dubbed the “Granddaddy” of all area car shows. There’s something for everyone at the RED BARNS SPECTACULAR: the nearly 100 trophies to be awarded to show vehicles; the vast automotive parts swap meet; the variety of collector cars for sale; the huge assortment of antiques and crafts; and much, much more for every level of automotive enthusiast. Whether you’re interested in the antiques, the classics, mid-century muscle cars, or prefer trucks, customs, street rods, vintage boats or campers, this event will not disappoint! Guests to the RED BARNS SPECTACULAR will be given access into the Gilmore Car Museum—North America’s largest auto museum—and its campus and exhibits at no extra charge. In honor of the Museum’s 50^th anniversary, many of the cars that started the collection are showcased in limited engagement special exhibit. The Museum’s extraordinary collection of over 400 historic vehicles includes pioneer gas, steam and electric cars from early 1900s to the iconic cars of the 1950s, 60’ and 70s. The Gilmore Car Museum’s 90-acre historic campus, located just 20 miles northeast of Kalamazoo, will be filled with antique, classic, and special interest autos, as well as customs, street rods and military vehicles. You’ll even find a large gathering of vintage travel trailers and antique boats. Both a Judged Car Show and Driver’s Choice Show will take place during Saturday’s event. Visitors will have the chance to step back in time, locate those hard-to-find parts for their restoration project, and even purchase a collector vehicle from the large cars for sale “corral” area. You’ll also find several vendors selling vintage auto-related memorabilia, general antiques, as well as arts and crafts. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of old-time food concessions and visit the Museum’s authentic 1940s roadside eatery—George & Sally’s Blue Moon Diner. Some highlights for this year’s event includes:

• A special gathering of cars from 1966 will help pay homage to the Gilmore Car Museum’s 50^th anniversary.
• A living history “Tin Can Tourist Camp,” featuring several dozen antique and vintage campers and trailers from throughout the Midwest, will be displayed on the Museum’s historic campus.
• “Boats at the Barns” is an amazing display area of antique boats and motors and, vintage wooden and classic fiberglass boats of all kinds—from barn-finds to stunningly restored.
• The noon traffic “jam” is when all show cars announce their presence by sounding their horns!

Gates will open to the public at 9am for this ever-popular family friendly event, which runs until 4pm, while the Museum remains open until 6pm. Discounted admission for the day is only $12.00 per person, with those under 11 admitted FREE, and includes the car show and all the expanded Museum exhibit buildings. The Gilmore Car Museum is located midway between Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Battle Creek, on M-43 just five miles north of Richland. To learn more about the Gilmore Car Museum and the Red Barns Spectacular, visit: www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call the Museum at 269-671-5089. You can also CLICK HERE to view the 2016 show flyer and registration form.