Captivating Classics at the 2022 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

So much has changed in American culture over the past decade or so, but there’s at least one time-honored tradition that appears to be holding on just fine: the classic car show. From low-key summertime cruise nights to high-profile concours gatherings, people young and old love to get together and enjoy special-interest vehicles of all stripes. And some car shows, such as those produced by the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, get big—really big. Goodguys bills itself as “America’s Favorite Car Show,” and every year the company produces an ambitious nationwide schedule of large-scale car shows that take over fairgrounds-sized venues. The events are two- or three-day extravaganzas that typically attract 3500 to 6500 vehicles and 35,000 to 100,000 spectators per show. Put on your walking shoes!

Starting with the 2022 show season, Goodguys has expanded its definition of a “vintage” vehicle—in place of the organization’s previous 1987-model-year-and-older cutoff line, a 25-year rolling eligibility requirement has been adopted. So, for this year’s shows, anything from 1997 and earlier is welcome (and Goodguys “Nationals” shows feature All-American Sundays, where all years of American-made or powered vehicles are eligible to join in).

It’s an annual tradition of ours to attend the Goodguys Heartland Nationals at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA. As its name makes clear, the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association caters primarily to modified-car enthusiasts, but Goodguys shows usually attract plenty of interesting factory-stock (or at least close to factory-stock) vehicles as well. Since we at Consumer Guide are under the same roof as Collectible Automobile magazine, we sought out unmodified (or close to unmodified) vehicles for this gallery. Here, in no particular order, are a few of the vehicles we spotted at this year’s show… check ‘em out. And, you can peruse our classic-car galleries from previous Heartland Nationals shows here.

More car-show fun

 

Captivating Classics at the 2022 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1941 Oldsmobile Dynamic Cruiser

Clean Classics at the 2021 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1954 Nash Metropolitan

(updated with later-model Metropolitan trim during restoration)

 

1989 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser wagon

American Classics at the 2019 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1975 Chevrolet Camaro LT

Unmodified Classics: Fun Finds at the 2018 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1953 Pontiac Chieftain

Just Your Average 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible . . . Or Is It? (Monster Engine Swap Content)

 

1963 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova

Eclectic Collectibles: 2019 Mecum Chicago Auction Gallery

 

1987 Mitsubishi Conquest TSI

Eclectic Collectibles: 2018 Mecum Chicago Auction Gallery

 

1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser

Barn Finds and Hidden Gems at the 2019 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals

 

1983 Buick Riviera convertible

Barn Finds and Hidden Gems at the 2018 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals

 

1930 Lincoln L

12 Memorable Machines from the 2017 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals

 

1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer

All American: 2016 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Gallery

 

1957 MG MGA

Reliving the Glory Days: 2015 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Gallery

 

1965 Ford Fairlane 500

Naked Aggression: A Gallery of Stripped-Down Muscle Cars

 

1971 Cadillac Calais

Pics from the 2012 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals

 

1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Local Color: Unusual Paint Hues at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show

 

1933 Ford DeLuxe Phaeton

Local Color: Unusual Paint Hues at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show

 

1968 Dodge Polara

Local Color: Unusual Paint Hues at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show

 

1915 Buick Touring

Local Color: Unusual Paint Hues at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show

 

1969 Plymouth Road Runner

Local Color: Unusual Paint Hues at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show

 

1963 Ford Country Squire

Photo Feature: 1965 Ford Falcon Squire

 

1947 Cadillac 75 S Fleetwood

Photo Feature: 1937 Cadillac Series 75 Tour Bus

 

1972 Buick Estate Wagon