Muscle Cars at the strip, Formally Mopars at the strip

[Doright]

Hi I just got from today's Saturday show, I hadn't been to a good Car show or a good swap meet in years. I was really looking forward to it.
I have to admit I always wanted to go to "Mopars at the strip" BUT always had to work, last week I ran across an add for this weekend show labeled Mopars at the strip online and was excited as I had the day off but when I was purchasing tickets online I found out it was Muscle cars at the strip and was formally Mopars at the strip and ran by the same people supposedly any way I bought some tickets and went to the show eager to visit the Swap meet!!!!! see some show cars and watch some Drag racing.

The Swap meet
The Swap meet was a HUGE let down Mostly JUNK! Some good stuff and a few Ok deals, but most of it a good 90% was overpriced Junk in my opinion.
I.E a couple items I inquired about a 8 3/4 A body housing with axles new bearings $1350 (You can get a New Mosure with axles for $1400) (Heck you can get a Dana 60 housing from Mosure for about the same coin!) PASS!
Same guy had a few 8 3/4 Carriers but wanted $1000 each supposedly rebuilt and he had 40 years of experience building them bla bla bla 2 were 489 cases other was a 742 3.91, 3.55 4.10 bla bla bla (Why they got dust and dirt in them?) PASS!

Another guy had a 5.7 hemi block with a set of Eagle heads all needing rebuild and wanted $900 and quickly came down to $500 no covers no crank no skins no intake. PASS!

Another guy had a bunch of B body stuff and a really nice like new original custom rebuilt 4 core radiator I wanted but he wanted $650 for it, You can get a custom built one new for not much more and it will have a Guaranty.

There was a Good looking nice Project 70-71 Cuda with a Shaker hood for sale I didn't bother to ask how much as I knew It was more than I was willing to spend today.

Other than that I would say their were less than 50 guys selling parts it didn't take more than a Half hour to browse all the sellers junk, I can go to a Auto swap meet in LA and it would take me ALL DAY to get threw all of it! all in all I was very disappointed.

Parts Venders
There were a Few Classic industries was their handing out catalogs, and Milidon stuff as was Schumacher Creative Services was their and a couple others nothing exciting except these two :

MMR was really cool really cool parts selection for A body's nice people I will be buying some A body stuff from him 661 829 5157 (MckellerModifiedrides@gmail.com

Another worth while mention an Outfit called "Ultimate Rides" they restore Dash pads Craftsman ship was good on the pieces I saw Prices were also good No web sight though "1-855 Dash Pad" their # they are out of Elpaso TX.
I will be sending them one of my Pads to try them out.

Car show
Their were some cool cars, a few very nice restorations But mostly Low buck Home restoration stuff and Hot rods and a lot of stuff I would have left in the parking lot (The Patina BS!)
(Patina definition/meaning : I cant afford a Paint job, I am too lazy to do it my self or learn to do it myself and to cheap to buy the stuff to do it my self) But coo-dos to them for showing it off its all about having fun I am all for it.
More customs and Modified than anything else, I like Modified so I was happy.


Drag racing
Their were some very fast cars Old and new a lot of A body's for sure and one Very Fast 69 Charger it pulled of a Low 7 sec run I was a bit surprised he was the fastest run I saw today.
3 Pro mods ran, Two Funny cars were their but they never ran while I was their.
A bunch of Hellcats Demons SRT's and such and enough Old school stuff to make me smile, way way too many that needed paint going with the Patina BS
("Patina" definition: I cant afford a Paint job, I am too lazy to do it my self or learn to do it myself and to cheap to buy the stuff to do it my self)

Food and drinks
OMG! EXPENSIVE Bring your own! I am Glad I did! even though it was only water and a couple sandwiches My small cooler was not searched.

All and all I will skip next years show till they Start having real prize money for the racers and a real Car show For Original, Restored and Modified & customs with real Prize money for the different classes and a real swap meet.

Entrance fees for all the different cars classes show and Racing stuff were sky hi so was the swap meet spaces way way to hi any of it I am not surprised the show was a flop!

DRAG RACE, AUTOCROSS, TICKETS, MISC. MATSLV 2026 tickets

 

[ckessel]

It hasn't been the same since the mother ship hosed Phil back when Biscuit Head strong armed Detroit and shut down numerous dealers. Hats off to Phil for still trying.

 

[gtx6970]

Avoid Ultimate Rides for a dash pad at all costs

 

[Runcharger]

It's unfortunate these shows don't get support of enthusiasts. Pretty soon they'll all be gone. I travelled 1000 miles one way to attend the MATS in the past and brought a car a few times. I can't imagine not going to a show of that magnitude if you lived within say 200 miles. Without participation there will be no car hobby.

 

[Dennis H]

Was there last year. Thanks for update. Got photos?

This from 2025.

 

[moparmarks]

This year was the first time I didn't go. It's mostly a racing event anymore. 600 drag cars and 150 road track cars. Those racers are a diehard bunch.
I had a good friend that lived in Pahrump that had been doing this show and the Flings with me for about the last 15 years. He died from a heart attack about a week before the MATS last year. Left me totally bummed out.

 

[Budnicks]

I'm with ya' on the "patina" crap...

I quit going a decade ago or more, I did it for the racing mostly anyway
for many of the same reasons, you stated,
there was plenty of cars & people selling their junk thou
& I'm nowhere near as close as you, to Vegas

I usually don't give a rats-*** about the show part either

that "patina" faze is all but dead, hanging on by a thread
by a couple diehards, it's just old junk now
even a bad garage paintjob is better than the "patina look"
some love it, not me
never was anything in my mind, & it looks like sh*t

like the Rat-Rod faze

I do like a lot of the stuff on 'Roadkill Garage', respect what they do
but that's a TV show, not real-world stuff...
IMHFO they kept that 'patina trend' going, way, way after 'it should've died'
a much deserved death...
But when I watch, I always think to myself;
why no head liner ? & why not at least do a lil' body work & prime it at a min. ?
especially the cars they do road trips in always
They (or the shows producers) spend a fortune (or given the parts by sponsors ?)
on drivetrain, or high dollar suspension, gears/rearends or brakes, shocks
& a 9" ford in everything
but never change a/the bad power steering (Crusher Impala or Bang Shift Cougar)
but will put on a small fortune in other parts
(I'd love to have their budget)
yet they do nothing on appearances, usually
except wheels & tires, maybe stance & maybe a hood scoop/hood
or new windshield, no wipers etc.

maybe why IT went away

 

[Kern Dog]

I was there in 2004 and 2005. I really hoped that it would rival the Southern CA CPW Spring Fling in terms of car show and swap meet with the racing being the icing on top.
The swap meet was not great, the car show count was better than Sacramento but a fraction of the Van Nuys turnout.
I want to support the shows. This one was poorly promoted. I only heard of the date yesterday when I saw this thread!

 

[Runcharger]

Patina isn'y my thing but if a guy brings out his Patina old car I'm going to look at it before a new Challenger.

 

[Kern Dog]

Patina isn'y my thing but if a guy brings out his Patina old car I'm going to look at it before a new Challenger.

I have two cars that look field fresh but run like the wind.

The Dart just got a rebuilt 360 last month and that dude flat out scrams. I love peeling out in it so much, I'm getting close to making the leap and painting the damned thing to make it look as good as it runs.
The Charger? I call that one "Jigsaw" because it looks like a puzzle with pieces from other incomplete puzzles.
In 2023, I had Jigsaw at the Sacramento Autorama next to my shiny Charger that I call "Ginger".

It was a 3 day show. I did not spend much time there but when I was around, Jigsaw got more attention than my shiny one.
Project cars are relatable to others. They show what many of us have seen...a neglected car pulled from a field and made to run and drive again.
Face it, the mechanical stuff is the easy part. It may sting a bit to admit it but bodywork and paint are skills that are much harder to develop compared to building an engine or bolting on a set of disc brakes. Many of us can get a dead car mobile in a weekend if we have a shed of used parts in it but very, very few can take a car that looks like Jigsaw and get it looking better than new in that same weekend. I don't see Jigsaw as a "Patina" type car as much as a Roadkill one. That show had the guys throwing together cars that looked like this but ran strong. I do have tentative plans for the car but am in no hurry to get there yet.

 

[33 IMP]

I'm 125mi away, and definitely would have gone..... if I'd remembered

And if my car was running.....

And if I hadn't wrecked my knee a couple weeks back

And if I hadn't pulled muscles in my back by moving funny to avoid hurting my knee.

Otherwise I definitely would have been there!

Edit: this post kinda sounds like a joke. Unfortunately, it's entirely true.

 

[mmissile]

Hi I just got from today's Saturday show, I hadn't been to a good Car show or a good swap meet in years. I was really looking forward to it.
I have to admit I always wanted to go to "Mopars at the strip" BUT always had to work, last week I ran across an add for this weekend show labeled Mopars at the strip online and was excited as I had the day off but when I was purchasing tickets online I found out it was Muscle cars at the strip and was formally Mopars at the strip and ran by the same people supposedly any way I bought some tickets and went to the show eager to visit the Swap meet!!!!! see some show cars and watch some Drag racing.

The Swap meet
The Swap meet was a HUGE let down Mostly JUNK! Some good stuff and a few Ok deals, but most of it a good 90% was overpriced Junk in my opinion.
I.E a couple items I inquired about a 8 3/4 A body housing with axles new bearings $1350 (You can get a New Mosure with axles for $1400) (Heck you can get a Dana 60 housing from Mosure for about the same coin!) PASS!
Same guy had a few 8 3/4 Carriers but wanted $1000 each supposedly rebuilt and he had 40 years of experience building them bla bla bla 2 were 489 cases other was a 742 3.91, 3.55 4.10 bla bla bla (Why they got dust and dirt in them?) PASS!

Another guy had a 5.7 hemi block with a set of Eagle heads all needing rebuild and wanted $900 and quickly came down to $500 no covers no crank no skins no intake. PASS!

Another guy had a bunch of B body stuff and a really nice like new original custom rebuilt 4 core radiator I wanted but he wanted $650 for it, You can get a custom built one new for not much more and it will have a Guaranty.

There was a Good looking nice Project 70-71 Cuda with a Shaker hood for sale I didn't bother to ask how much as I knew It was more than I was willing to spend today.

Other than that I would say their were less than 50 guys selling parts it didn't take more than a Half hour to browse all the sellers junk, I can go to a Auto swap meet in LA and it would take me ALL DAY to get threw all of it! all in all I was very disappointed.

Parts Venders
There were a Few Classic industries was their handing out catalogs, and Milidon stuff as was Schumacher Creative Services was their and a couple others nothing exciting except these two :

MMR was really cool really cool parts selection for A body's nice people I will be buying some A body stuff from him 661 829 5157 (MckellerModifiedrides@gmail.com

Another worth while mention an Outfit called "Ultimate Rides" they restore Dash pads Craftsman ship was good on the pieces I saw Prices were also good No web sight though "1-855 Dash Pad" their # they are out of Elpaso TX.
I will be sending them one of my Pads to try them out.

Car show
Their were some cool cars, a few very nice restorations But mostly Low buck Home restoration stuff and Hot rods and a lot of stuff I would have left in the parking lot (The Patina BS!)
(Patina definition/meaning : I cant afford a Paint job, I am too lazy to do it my self or learn to do it myself and to cheap to buy the stuff to do it my self) But coo-dos to them for showing it off its all about having fun I am all for it.
More customs and Modified than anything else, I like Modified so I was happy.


Drag racing
Their were some very fast cars Old and new a lot of A body's for sure and one Very Fast 69 Charger it pulled of a Low 7 sec run I was a bit surprised he was the fastest run I saw today.
3 Pro mods ran, Two Funny cars were their but they never ran while I was their.
A bunch of Hellcats Demons SRT's and such and enough Old school stuff to make me smile, way way too many that needed paint going with the Patina BS
("Patina" definition: I cant afford a Paint job, I am too lazy to do it my self or learn to do it myself and to cheap to buy the stuff to do it my self)

Food and drinks
OMG! EXPENSIVE Bring your own! I am Glad I did! even though it was only water and a couple sandwiches My small cooler was not searched.

All and all I will skip next years show till they Start having real prize money for the racers and a real Car show For Original, Restored and Modified & customs with real Prize money for the different classes and a real swap meet.

Entrance fees for all the different cars classes show and Racing stuff were sky hi so was the swap meet spaces way way to hi any of it I am not surprised the show was a flop!

DRAG RACE, AUTOCROSS, TICKETS, MISC. MATSLV 2026 tickets

Welcome to the reality of the car hobby. It's dying, and nobody is interested in what was happening in the past. I have a patina dragcar, and it's not because I can't afford to paint it. It just screws with people's heads.
I'm just sick-to-death of all the over restored crap, and the numbers fags. Everybody is a critic and cheap....but seldom contribute or participate in anything.

 

[Budnicks]

I'm just sick-to-death of all the over restored crap, and the numbers fags.

 

[Doright]

I have two cars that look field fresh but run like the wind.

View attachment 2015333

View attachment 2015334

The Dart just got a rebuilt 360 last month and that dude flat out scrams. I love peeling out in it so much, I'm getting close to making the leap and painting the damned thing to make it look as good as it runs.
The Charger? I call that one "Jigsaw" because it looks like a puzzle with pieces from other incomplete puzzles.
In 2023, I had Jigsaw at the Sacramento Autorama next to my shiny Charger that I call "Ginger".

View attachment 2015337

It was a 3 day show. I did not spend much time there but when I was around, Jigsaw got more attention than my shiny one.
Project cars are relatable to others. They show what many of us have seen...a neglected car pulled from a field and made to run and drive again.
Face it, the mechanical stuff is the easy part. It may sting a bit to admit it but bodywork and paint are skills that are much harder to develop compared to building an engine or bolting on a set of disc brakes. Many of us can get a dead car mobile in a weekend if we have a shed of used parts in it but very, very few can take a car that looks like Jigsaw and get it looking better than new in that same weekend. I don't see Jigsaw as a "Patina" type car as much as a Roadkill one. That show had the guys throwing together cars that looked like this but ran strong. I do have tentative plans for the car but am in no hurry to get there yet.

Im self taught how to do body work and paint. Mechanic by trade, Paint and body work is not Rocket science. nor is interior work.
I learned long ago Anyone can build an engine fewer can do a Transmission or a differential fewer yet can do metal/Rust repair.
Paint and Body work while not hard to find some one to do its ungodly expensive, Money I would rather spend on parts. So I learned and taught myself how to do it all open up a Book seek out those who do seek there advice listen to what they say.

 

[440 PHIXX]

The cost of building these things has become Ferrari like. Luckily I got a bunch of junk in the 80’s or I’d be building new stuff.

 

[Doright]

Welcome to the reality of the car hobby. It's dying, and nobody is interested in what was happening in the past. I have a patina dragcar, and it's not because I can't afford to paint it. It just screws with people's heads.
I'm just sick-to-death of all the over restored crap, and the numbers fags. Everybody is a critic and cheap....but seldom contribute or participate in anything.

I agree to a point I don't care for the numbers matching crap either, As everything was just a bolt on option.
Over restored just a Guy trying no harm no foul I am guilty myself, better over restored than looking like it belongs in a junk yard.
Critic - No as I know what it takes to do it right.

 

[Doright]

The cost of building these things has become Ferrari like. Luckily I got a bunch of junk in the 80’s or I’d be building new stuff.

Its always been expensive Its gotten worse as the Dollars value is almost worthless and peoples wages haven't kept pace with inflation.

 

[33 IMP]

Its always been expensive Its gotten worse as the Dollars value is almost worthless and peoples wages haven't kept pace with inflation.

It's still a hobby, and lots of people just don't have a great deal of money to put into a hobby.
And as for paint and body..... paint is now insanely priced and bodywork by someone who knows what they're doing is worse!
I NEVER put anybody's car down for not dropping $10 or $20k (or more!) into paint and body.
I'm hoping to get my old camaro running so I can take It in for an Earl Scheib paint job in a bit......

 

[70bigblockdodge]

If I was waiting on paint I would have missed a lot of great times with my cars. I just drive them like they are dailies. Way better than stupid pu trucks (that weigh 6000#, with a 350hp engine), hate to burst your bubble but that ain't fast. The New cars are better, but still suffer from too many pounds. I like other people's shiny cars and I don't get near them.
I am going to make the drive to MATS one of these days.
It won't be in a new car, it won't be a rental, it will absolutely not be in a pu. Yeah it will probably be in a orange charger with 3 different shades of orange.

 

[Project66]

Im self taught how to do body work and paint. Mechanic by trade, Paint and body work is not Rocket science. nor is interior work.
I learned long ago Anyone can build an engine fewer can do a Transmission or a differential fewer yet can do metal/Rust repair.
Paint and Body work while not hard to find some one to do its ungodly expensive, Money I would rather spend on parts. So I learned and taught myself how to do it all open up a Book seek out those who do seek there advice listen to what they say.

Some of you guys are savants, not me. The first time I try something new, I usually fail miserably. Fortunately, I learn fast. Still, if I'm going to put a finish on my car, I'm going to have to dedicate several weekends (or probably several months of weekends) to doing the work (trial and error) until I get it right. Frankly, I'm not sure that the end result is important enough to me to justify all that work. It's the same reason why I don't go to the gym. Impressing other people just doesn't move the needle for me. If I don't enjoy doing the work then I'm not gonna do it.

As others have said, I'm really not impressed by show cars. I really like survivor cars, but I'm more drawn to race cars and garage builds that represent a person's passion for their car. I'm also fascinated by low-riders and mini trucks not because I would ever want to drive one, but because they reflect the passion and ingenuity of the people who built them. The idea of building a car from reproduction parts so that it's exactly like it was the day that it left the factory is really not my vibe.