Do you need a reason why so many Mopar devotees (and lovers of other brands) congregate in St. Paul, Minnesota on the 25th weekend of each year?
The Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA)'s HUGE "Back to the '50s" weekend is the only reason you need.
This year marked the 36th time that MSRA's put on this show, which started as a way to have some fun with movie-goers who were watching American Graffiti at a theatre located on their prime cruise strip (University Avenue in St. Paul)--when the 9:30 show let out on one Saturday night, folks walked out of the theatre...into the movie, as University was filled with period-correct cars not just cruising by, but parked along the curbs.
The first "Back to the '50s" show happened exactly one year later, and a few years after that, it had outgrown the nearby Montgomery Wards parking lot, and moved to the Minnesota State fairgrounds.
This year, there were 11,510 registered participant vehicles, (all 1964 or older), and well over 100,00 spectators.
Among those on hand were Barry Meguiar, and his Car Crazy TV crew, shoowing lots of video for their upcoming shows.
Here's a look at some of the cool Mopars that were on the grounds:
Rick and Darlyn Gulbrenson's '62 Plymouth from Hermantown, Minnesota looks like one of the 50 original Max Wedges Ma Mopar built with Plymouth sheetmetal in '62. Doesn't it look like it could hit the 13s in the `14-mile as it is?
Speaking of Max Wedge-looking Mopars, how about one with a "Candymatic" color scheme. This one, owned and shown by Stuart Hugsberg of Oregon, Wisconsin, is a reminder of when 727-equipped Max Wedges used to win automatically.
Back To The '50s is all about street rods and the fun that folks have with them. Here are some examples of rods that weren't blue ovals or bowties (and still aren't). This red sedan is not a Dodge, brothers....per the registration card on its windshield, it's a '38 Plymouth, owed by Gary Pischake of West Salem, Wisconsin.
What's better than a Mopar street rod? How about one with Hemi power, like this '34 Plymouth PF coupe, owned by Jean and Rob Schwartz of Minneapolis. That's an injected early Hemi in its engine bay--the ideal choice for big, streetable power!
On Saturday of Back To The '50s weekend, there's a "show within the show" put on by the Ignitors, those MSRA members under age 30. (Sorta like our Young Guns). Here's one that stood out in a big way in that mini-show field: Phil Koehler's '46 Dodge truck. It's got an updated chassis under that vintage steel (and gorgeous wood bed) that includes a 360 and a 727.
Another gorgeous Dodge truck on the grounds...a '41 Dodge Town Panel with windows all around, that you can thank Larry Lavigne of Woodbury, Minnesota for updating while keeping its tougher-than-tough styling outside. When was the last time that you saw anything like it?
We didn't get the owner's name of this sweeet '56 Imperal two-door hardtop, but here's a good look at that distinctive rear styling (including Imperial's first "gun-sight tailllights" ). If the term "Luxury Cruiser" is in the dictionary, this car should be next to it!
Want to find out more about MSRA and next year's Back To The '50s? Visit the MSRA site at www.msra.com, and see for yourself.