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
1978 International Scout II
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
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
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
Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast
Clean Classics Gallery
(Click below for enlarged images)
Clean Classics
Barn Finds and Hidden Gems at the 2019 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals
Clean Classics
