Next-Gen Celebration – a Gallery of Cool ’73-’87 Rides
As we think ahead toward the 2019 Goodguys event season and all the good times and cruisin’ to come, it seems like a good time to reflect back at some of the fun we had in 2018 – and some of the changes that came our way last year. Of course, one of the biggest changes for Goodguys was a Next-Gen Celebration – opening up our national events to 1987-and-earlier vehicles.
There were plenty of skeptics who argued against this move, and one of their biggest protests was the notion that there weren’t very many cool post-’73 vehicles out there. Based on the amazing later-model rides we saw attending events last season, though, we’d like to think we’ve proven the naysayers wrong.
Many of these “newer” rides are vehicles that have always attracted enthusiasts – like late-’70s Trans Ams, Fox-body Mustangs, and third-gen Camaros. But it was also cool to see participants entering vehicles that many of us might have previously overlooked – everything from Pacers and Gremlins, to Aspens and Pintos. It proves the point yet again that, given the right attitude, hot rodders can make anything cool.
In terms of sheer numbers, square-body GM pickups were probably the most-popular ’73-’87 vehicles we saw at Goodguys evens last year. But there were also plenty of late-’70s GM F-bodies like Trans Ams and Camaros, plus Fox-body Mustangs and a healthy dose of GM G-bodies like Monte Carlos and Grand Nationals. It was also cool to see some later-’70s Ford pickups, as well.
We’ve combed through our photo files from events last season and set aside a few of our favorites for your viewing pleasure. Take a peek through this gallery and see if you agree that this next generation of iron is truly fitting for the Goodguys family.
Photos by Goodguys Staff