Goodguys
1979 Chrysler LeBaron coupe

By Damon Bell

Among the seemingly countless tragedies and hardships that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon the world this year, the upending of the normal American summertime car-show season ranks relatively low on the list. Still, it hurts to have so many car shows, car races, cruise nights, and other automotive gatherings either cancelled outright or postponed.

However, some auto-enthusiast organizations, such as the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, are finding ways to adapt to the new reality, and are moving forward to produce events with safety and social-distancing precautions in place. It’s a summer tradition of ours to attend the Goodguys Heartland Nationals at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, so we grabbed our face mask and a pocket-size bottle of hand sanitizer and headed out to the show.

This year’s edition was the 29th annual, and though the overall car count was down as expected, the event still drew in more than 3800 registered show vehicles, according to Goodguys—that’s more than anybody can realistically take in over the course of a couple days.

Though Goodguys caters primarily to hot rod and custom-car enthusiasts, there are plenty of factory-stock (or at least close to factory-stock) vintage vehicles that show up every year. The definition of “vintage” that Goodguys uses is a 1987-model-year or earlier vehicle (yep… 1987 was 33 years ago).

Here, in completely random order, are a few of the vehicles that caught our eye at this year’s show… have a look!

More Goodguys galleries

 

Classic Cars at the 2020 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1972 Chevrolet Impala Convertible

1972 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
1972 Chevrolet Impala Convertible

American Classics at the 2019 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1940 Ford DeLuxe Convertible

1940 Ford DeLuxe Convertible
1940 Ford DeLuxe Convertible

Unmodified Classics: Fun Finds at the 2018 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1962 Buick LeSabre

1962 Buick LeSabre
1962 Buick LeSabre

Standout Stockers: Unusual Vehicles at the 2013 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

 

1964 Ford Thunderbird

1964 Ford Thunderbird
1964 Ford Thunderbird

Pigskin Madness! A Gallery of Football-Themed Auto Ads

 

1936 Chevrolet Standard

1936 Chevrolet Standard
1936 Chevrolet Standard

Forward Look Madness! A Gallery of Classic Plymouth Ads

 

1967 Shelby GT500 (unrestored survivor)

1967 Shelby GT500 (unrestored survivor)
1967 Shelby GT500 (unrestored survivor)

More Shelby news and reviews

 

1976 Ford LTD station wagon

1976 Ford LTD station wagon
1976 Ford LTD station wagon

Eclectic Collectibles: 2018 Mecum Chicago Auction Gallery

 

1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1974 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
 

1979 Ford Mustang Indy Pace Car Replica

1979 Ford Mustang Indy Pace Car Replica
1979 Ford Mustang Indy Pace Car Replica

Rear-View Madness! Classic Ads Featuring the Backs of Cars

 

1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

Review Flashback! 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z

 

1952 Dodge M-37 truck

1952 Dodge M-37 truck
1952 Dodge M-37 truck

First Spin: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

 

1971 Ford Torino

1971 Ford Torino
1971 Ford Torino

Model-Year Madness! 15 Sporty Car Ads from 1984

 

1963 Chevrolet Chevy II

1963 Chevrolet Chevy II
1963 Chevrolet Chevy II

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

 

1972 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van

1972 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van
1972 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van

Pony-Car Madness! 10 Classic Mustang Ads

 

1987 Buick Regal T-Type

1987 Buick Regal T-Type
1987 Buick Regal T-Type

Cheap Wheels: 1988-89 Dodge Lancer Shelby

 

1976 Oldsmobile Toronado

1976 Oldsmobile Toronado
1976 Oldsmobile Toronado

Review Flashback! 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado

 

1969 Ford Torino Talladega

1969 Ford Torino Talladega
1969 Ford Torino Talladega

Model-Year Madness! 10 Luxury Car Ads from 1987

 

1979 Chrysler LeBaron coupe

Goodguys
1979 Chrysler LeBaron coupe

What Was The Cadillac Eldorado Evolution?

 

1953 Chevrolet station wagon

1953 Chevrolet station wagon
1953 Chevrolet station wagon

10 Most-Expensive American Coupes of 1976

 

1964 Buick Wildcat

1964 Buick Wildcat
1964 Buick Wildcat

Review Flashback! 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

 

1979 Ford F100 Custom

1979 Ford F100 Custom
1979 Ford F100 Custom

What Was The GMC MotorHome?

 

1969 Imperial LeBaron

1969 Imperial LeBaron
1969 Imperial LeBaron

10 Great Car Grilles: Readers’ Choice Edition

 

1955 MG TF 1500

1955 MG TF 1500
1955 MG TF 1500

10 Great Car Grilles

 

1974 Chevrolet El Camino

1974 Chevrolet El Camino
1974 Chevrolet El Camino

The Buicks of 1986

 

1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT

1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT
1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone GT

What Was the Mercury Cougar Bostonian Edition? (Gallery)

 

1972 Dodge Polara station wagon

1972 Dodge Polara station wagon
1972 Dodge Polara station wagon

Fratzog Madness! 10 Classic Dodge Ads

 

1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Classic Car Ad: 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

 

1962 Ford Galaxie 500

1962 Ford Galaxie 500
1962 Ford Galaxie 500

Photo Feature: 1960 Ford Galaxie Starliner Hardtop Coupe

Check out the entertaining and informative Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2020 Goodguys Heartland Nationals

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast Episode 212: Updated Ford Ranger, Redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe, and Traveling with Cats and Dogs

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