Clean Classics at the 2021 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

After a year of cancelled car shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s lots of pent-up energy and interest around the 2021 car-event season—car lovers are anxious to get out of the garage and back to their favorite shows and cruise nights. One of our favorite summer “super shows” is the Goodguys Heartland Nationals at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA. One of the longest-running events on the Goodguys schedule (this year’s edition was the 30th annual), the Heartland Nats always takes place on the weekend closest to the 4th of July, and regularly draws more than 4000 vehicles. This year’s show enjoyed record-breaking participation: almost 5000 registered vehicles filled the spacious fairgrounds facility.

As its name makes clear, the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association caters primarily to modified-car enthusiasts, but Goodguys shows typically attract lots of interesting factory stock (or close to stock) vehicles as well. Since we at Consumer Guide share an office with Collectible Automobile magazine, our focus here is on those unmodified—or at least mostly unmodified—gems. 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.

Clean Classics at the 2021 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

1934 Dodge pickup

Classic Cars at the 2020 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1964 Ford Fairlane 4-door sedan

American Classics at the 2019 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Unmodified Classics: Fun Finds at the 2018 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1958 Jaguar XK150

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

 

1978 International Scout II

What Was The Monteverdi Safari? (International Scout content)

 

1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar coupe

Photo Feature: 1962 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire Hardtop Coupe

 

1971 Chrysler Newport 4-door sedan

Pentastar Madness! A Gallery of Classic Chrysler Ads

 

1960 Pontiac Catalina 4-door sedan

Poncho Madness! 10 Classic Pontiac Ads

 

1966 Pontiac Catalina 4-door sedan

10 Great Car Grilles

 

1966 Plymouth Barracuda

Forward Look Madness! A Gallery of Classic Plymouth Ads

 

1972 Chevrolet Blazer

Full-Size 4WD: The Big Rigs of 1989

 

1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Wreath and Crest Madness! A Gallery of Classic Cadillac Ads

 

1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454

0-60 Challenge: The Personal Luxury Cars of 1972

 

1988 Ford Mustang ASC McLaren

Cheap Wheels: 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE Turbo

 

1975 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon

Woodie Madness! 5 Classic Car Ads Featuring Wood-Sided Rides

 

1970 Ford Torino Cobra

 Photo Feature: 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport

 

1966 Chevrolet C-10 pickup

 A Gallery of Old, Cool Chevy Trucks

 

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1

 The 10 Fastest Cars of 1971*

 

1979 Buick Regal

’80s Flashback: Lil’ John Buttera-built Buick Regal

 

1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe 4-door sedan

Photo Feature: 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Fleetline Aerosedan

 

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

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

 

1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham

Classic Car Ad: 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

 

1968 Chevrolet Camaro

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 Clean Classics Gallery

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Clean Classics

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

Clean Classics