The Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA) rang in the 38th annual Back to the Fifties car show this past summer, taking place June 17-19 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. With nearly 12,000 pre-1964 cars and trucks registered, the family oriented event is one of the largest in the nation. The show kicked off on Friday in full force with plenty of happenings for the whole family featuring arts and crafts, music, dancing, food, and, of course, cars. A Mecum auto auction on Friday and Saturday made it possible for those who didn’t drive a classic into the show to drive one home. The shindig started early on Sunday with a huge one-day-only swap meet featuring more than 350 vendors stocked full of those hard-to-find items.
By Sunday afternoon, we were exhausted and had looked at so many trucks that our eyes were crossed. Toss in the trek through the swap meet and even our wallets were starting to hurt thanks to all the good deals we had to pass up. I wish someone would warn me about how much work all this fun can be!
All in all, the Back to the Fifties weekend is one of the most chock-full car events in the country and a definite must-see for those into all things classic Automobilia. Cars, trucks, music, parts, and all things 1950s converge once again in St Paul, Minnesota, next June; check out the MSRA’s website at www.msra.com for more info. CCT
Dick Berg of Rochester, MN,...
Dick Berg of Rochester, MN, had this cool 1935 Ford highboy powered by an inline-six with three deuces and a wood bed with spun aluminum fuel tank.
Del VanEmmerik of Maple Grove,...
Del VanEmmerik of Maple Grove, MN, brought out his 1938 Ford with matching vintage Bifort Engineering Circraft saucer hydro. The beautiful combination had a crowd around it throughout the show and is a perfect combination for Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
Chuck Elofson from Chisago,...
Chuck Elofson from Chisago, MN, brought out his clean 1956 Ford F-100.
We dug this early F-1, done...
We dug this early F-1, done in a ’60s-style with scallops, white interior, and lowered suspension.
Austin McClean’s lifted 1964...
Austin McClean’s lifted 1964 Chevy Fleetside had aftermarket large diameter wheels, beautiful wood bed, a late-model bench seat with flipdown console, and aftermarket gauges.
Carl Trader III of Oriska,...
Carl Trader III of Oriska, North Dakota’s 1961 Chevrolet Apache Custom extended cab with third door was a very well done conversion.
This full custom short/fleet...
This full custom short/fleet ’75 C10 was placed in the Mecum auction and sold for $18,000…
…while this restored ’69 GMC...
…while this restored ’69 GMC powered by a 396 went for $16,500. Good news for us truck guys, as the prices typically reflect the strength of the market.
A steady stream of old trucks...
A steady stream of old trucks were cruising the fairgrounds all weekend long. Dig the triple horns and six-pack catch cans.