Buckle up. You are about to join me in my DMC DeLorean as we time-travel back to the 1980s and 1990s. This adventure has become an annual tradition for many folks around North America over the last several years. The RADwood car-show circuit first started in 2017 as a means of experiencing the cars and culture of the final two decades of the 20th century. Organizers debuted it as “The car show that blends period-correct attire with killer music of the most radical era.”
Since that time, the RAD movement has grown to span coast-to-coast venues and attract thousands of participants and spectators. The Los Angeles event is one of the largest. Here is a look at last year’s LA show. On Saturday, November 9, the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro welcomed attendees for the second year in a row. I was lucky enough to partake in the immersive experience.
Chariot of Choice
It is unusual for me to be seen at a RADwood show in anything besides a Honda or Acura, but this year I changed things up by taking my big-block Ford F-250. This was my pickup’s first show since acquiring it in February. Over the nine months, I put it through a small checklist of items which included some light body work, the addition of a spray-in bedliner, a set of new BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and a modern audio system. After all, I wasn’t about to drive 900 miles with just an AM/FM radio and an inoperative tape deck.
A Period-Correct Prop, Too
When I was 10 years old in 1992, my dad had an orange and gray 1992 Yamaha Timberwolf 250cc ATV that my brother and I would ride. I decided to put my F-250 to work by throwing a similar ATV into the bed as a RADwood prop. Luckily for me, I came across the four-wheeler on Facebook Marketplace a couple of months before the show, which gave me some time to get it cleaned up. Preparation included a respray of the chassis, replacement of the headlights, and reupholstery of the seat.
My caravan to RADwood included another Ford truck, a Ford Bronco, a GMC Typhoon, and a Honda Insight. We were definitely truck-heavy this year, and our fuel economy reflected that (for everyone except Kai in the insight, who achieved about 68 miles per gallon). The drive to the South Bay area of Los Angeles took closer to 10 hours than the usual six, thanks to characteristic weekday traffic bogging down the freeways as we got closer to our destination.
Fabulous Rides
RADwood continues to up the game when it comes to attractions and amenities. This year, there was a “VIP Chill Zone” with food and beverages for people who wanted to elevate their experience. An exterior stage provided a venue for entertainment, and the band played cover songs from the 1980s and 1990s including a few I recognized from Blink 182 and other recording artists of the era.
The Port had both indoor and outdoor parking arrangements – the former being reserved for “Royalty” registered participants.
Here were just a few of my favorite vehicles in attendance this year:
1986 Buick LeSabre Limited
The LeSabre name dates back to 1959, and this sixth-generation model caught my eye for its originality and condition. Riding on the General Motors H-body platform, this front-wheel drive car featured a unique clamshell hood and a transverse-mounted engine. It was offered in both coupe and sedan variants, and it came with a long list of conveniences including “Dynaride” suspension for the ultimate in personal luxury touring comfort.
1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC Z28
The “Heartbeat of America” had a strong pulse in this bright red sports car, and it drew me in from way across the show floor. The third-generation Camaro adopted a wedge-shaped silhouette complete with a raked front windshield and a slickly-integrated rear spoiler. I loved the gold IROC-Z accents on this clean machine, even tied in with color-keyed insets on the aluminum wheels. The owner had some period documentation on display to cap off the presentation.
1987 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country
It only took one look at this car before I realized where I’d seen it before. This was the kind of car that Ferris Bueller’s mom drove in the famous 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Built on the famous Chrysler “K-car” platform, this LeBaron was powered by a turbocharged inline-four. Between the whitewall tires, the woodgrain trim, the roof rack, the miniature golf game behind it, and the “brick” cell phone on the dash, this car was a non-stop conversation piece throughout the day.
1988 Honda Accord LX-i
Armed with a fuel-injected 122-horsepower four-cylinder, “Lolita” the Chateau Red Metallic Accord belongs to Scott King and Sandy Edelstein of Palm Springs. She has only about 34,000 original miles on her odometer, and she remained with her original owner (also named Lolita) until 2022. The car was purchased new from Santa Barbara Honda and looks showroom-fresh even today. Long live pop-up headlights!
1991 Dodge Spirit R/T
While unassuming on the exterior, this sport sedan was a screamer for its time. Performance wise, it had a 2.2-liter 16-valve DOHC engine that was designed by Lotus. Equipped with a Garrett turbocharger, the car was rated at 224 horsepower and came with a five-speed manual transmission. When new, the car was advertised as “the fastest sedan made in America.” I loved the color-keyed white wheels. The car’s owner, John Maroney, said the car received a full repaint under his ownership. It looked perfect!
1992 Ford Taurus SHO
Another family sedan that you didn’t expect to be fun to drive was the Taurus SHO. Named for its “Super High Output” powertrain, the SHO existed for three generations and was originally developed in collaboration with Yamaha Motor Corporation to produce a performance-oriented V6 engine. The 1992 SHO was built on Ford’s “DN5” platform and received special body cladding, a dual exhaust system, and unique seats when compared to contemporary Taurus models.
1993 Volkswagen Corrado SLC
The Corrado was a compact two-plus-two sold from 1988 through 1995. Its body shell was built by Karmann, and the Volkswagen A2 platform provided the basic framework. Some Corrados were marketed as “SLC” (or Sport Luxury Coupe) variants. There was absolutely no missing this lime-green Corrado with its “LETTVCE” license plate, carbon fiber rear spoiler, and custom wheels.
At the conclusion of the show, awards were distributed for a number of categories including the coveted “Best Dressed,” which went to a trio of individuals who were dressed as a rock band “Jem and the Holograms.” Jason’s 1987 F-250 diesel won “Raddest truck” – a well-deserved accomplishment to reward him for the effort he’s put into his two-plus year restoration.
No doubt about it, RADwood is still the go-to destination for anyone who is enthusiastic about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and anything else from the neo-classic era of the 1980s and 1990s.
Stay Connected
The Los Angeles RADwood show concludes the “RAD” season for 2024, but stay tuned to the schedule for upcoming events in 2025 and beyond. We look forward to taking you there!
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