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Our exhibits and events calendar
lists premiere auto related offerings
around Indiana.

I believe one of the best ways to experience Indiana automotive history is by visiting exhibits and events. My first exposure to collectible cars was the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival over Labor Day weekend. After visiting the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, seeing the Parade of Classics, perusing the cars around the Courthouse square, and going to the auction, I was hooked for life. In fact, if you want to experience it all in one full day, do it just as I did. Visit all four places on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Now, I take it at a slower pace, and spread it out over two or three days.

This page is my attempt to share what I feel are some of the state’s premiere exhibits and events.

Before visiting any of these listings,
I suggest you contact the listing Web site
or the respective county Convention and Visitors Bureau
to verify the details.

Are high prices and the slumping economy keeping you from traveling?
I invite you to visit an Indiana auto museum and save money.

The recent economic troubles are just another indicator of how hard American travelers are getting hit financially. Indiana has over 12 museums or collections that have some automotive emphasis. For those living in or near Indiana, I invite you to visit one or several of the state’s auto museums and save money.

“With so many people traveling across the country to visit the museum, we hear many comments about higher prices and how it affects our visitors,” Gran Roberts, marketing director at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum notes. [more]

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Ray Skillman Classic Cars is a great place for a car club event.

If your car club is in central Indiana, or will be visiting the area, consider holding an event at Ray Skillman Classic Cars in Greenwood, Indiana.

A couple of months ago, the White River Valley Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America visited Skillman’s facility and was impressed with the collection of cars mostly from the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. [more]

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Are you feeling cabin fever now that winter has put an end to your car show activities?
Well, I’ve got an event that will get you back in the car show mood.

Visit the Hoosier Literature & Small Collectible Exchange at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Motel, January 17 & 18, 2009. In my quest for Indiana automotive literature, I never cease to be amazed at the items I find there.

The first time I went a number of years ago, I found a stock offering brochure for the Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Corporation of Indianapolis. It describes the features of Duesenberg’s innovative early 1920’s auto. Another item was a 1963 Studebaker Avanti advertising brochure. It is a great example of 1960’s era automotive marketing materials. I especially liked some of the claims for performance items. [more]

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Spring Hoosier Auto Show & Swap Meet

May - Third Friday & Saturday, Indianapolis, Spring Hoosier Auto Show & Swap Meet at the Marion County Fairgrounds. This event includes the swap meet and a car corral. For additional information, call 317-351-2933.

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Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction

May - Third Wednesday through Sunday, Indianapolis, Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction at the Indiana Staate Fairgrounds. This event includes the auction featuring over 1,000 collector cars and a merchandise area. For additional information, visit the event Web site.

The Annual Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis is one of the “must attend” collectible car auctions in the country. This year’s event held May 13 – 17 featured over 1,000 cars and 300 neon signs exhibited in five connected buildings at the Indiana State Fairgrounds that allowed visitors to peruse the offerings without worrying about the weather. [more]

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Auburn Spring Motorfair

June – First Thursday thru Sunday, Auburn, Spring Motorfair at Kruse Auction Park. Anchoring the event is the auction featuring over 1,000 collector cars, swap meet, and a car corral. For additional information, visit the event Web site.

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Emily Anderson hopes to recreate the Centennial of Alice Ramsey’s Drive starting June 9, 2009

Emily Anderson hopes to recreate Alice Ramsey’s transcontinental drive on the 100-year anniversary of the tour starting on June 9, 2009. Anderson will drive a 1909 Maxwell DA, similar to Ramsey’s car, from New York City to San Francisco, California with two stops in Indiana.

Anderson describes the trip as a way to explore women’s history and inspire women. Along the route, she plans to make several stops, such as in Tarrytown, N.Y., where the original Maxwell was built. (Maxwell models were also made in New Castle, Indiana.) [more]

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17th Annual Lincoln Highway Association Conference, June 16 – 20, South Bend, Indiana

The 17th Annual Conference of the Lincoln Highway Association is scheduled for June 16 – 20, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana. The subtitle of the conference is “Welcome back to Indiana, where the LHA was born.” In addition to traditional conference fare, attendees have a chance to visit numerous sites, go shopping, and experience local dining. For more visit: the Indiana Lincoln Highway site.

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Haynes Apperson Festival

Weekend of or proceeding July 4, Kokomo, Haynes Apperson Festival on the courthouse square. This event celebrates the city's automotive heritage with a car show, cruise in, parade, concerts, fireworks display, food, carnival rides, and more. For more information, visit the event Web site.

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Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival

Labor Day weekend – Thursday thru Monday, Auburn, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival takes place at various venues throughout town. Family Fun with the Parade of Classics, cruise in, antique shows, flea market, food, and more. For additional information, visit the event Web site.

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Are you looking to take a break during Labor Day weekend in Auburn Indiana?
Visit the Auburn Concours d’Elegance in the meadows behind the National Military History Center.

On Sunday of Labor Day weekend, we attended the Auburn Concours d’Elegance. This iteration of the event featured the Classic Automobiles of Indiana. I was in heaven since I’ve never met an Indiana-built automobile I didn’t like. Indiana-built cars were represented in many of the 16 classes of autos, from the brass era through Post War Customs & Modifieds.

Indiana cars were well represented by Cord, Duesenberg, Kiblinger, Studebaker, and Stutz, with a Packard Darrin also present. These cars provided a good cross section of Indiana offerings available from the 1900s through the 1950s. [more]

Visit the event Web site.

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Auburn Fall Car Auction

Labor Day weekend – Thursday thru Tuesday, Auburn, Fall Car Auction at Kruse Auction Park. The marquee event billed as “The World’s First & Largest Car Auction” features over 5,000 collector cars, a swap meet, and a car corral. If this event doesn’t get you excited, then you better call an ambulance! For additional information, visit the event Web site.

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Fall Hoosier Auto Show & Swap Meet

September - Third Thursday, Friday & Saturday, Indianapolis, Fall Hoosier Auto Show & Swap Meet at the Marion County Fairgrounds. This is one of the largest antique and special interest auto show and swap meets in the Midwest. This long-running event includes the swap meet, a car corral, and a car show with 54 classes on Saturday. For additional information, call 317-351-2933.

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Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb

October – First Friday thru Sunday, Newport, Antique Auto Hill Climb on Courthouse Square. The hill climb features more than 200 competing antique autos, a car show, an auto auction, a swap meet, entertainment, and food. For additional information, visit the event Web site.

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