Carmel Artomobilia 2024

My hometown Carmel Indiana has an annual car show. Actually there are lots of small car shows specific to some enthusiast group or other - and one big show called Artomobilia. I haven't been in at least 4 years and my has it grown. 

This year Byron, Taylor, and I rode our bikes downtown to see what was there to be seen. The first thing we ran into riding up the Monon trail was about a mile of Lotuses. This wasn't part of the actual car show - it was a single Lotus dealer who seemed to have brought their entire stock to Carmel for the show.

Most of them looked a lot like this (above). Different colors and trim bits, but same basic look. 

There was also, of course, the obligatory Lotus SUV. I hate to get snooty about cars and if you love this thing, great, you have a car to love. But it's difficult for me to imagine Colin Chapman getting very excited about this.

There were a few classic Lotuses there, including the V8 Esprit above. As an Automotive Gentleman of a Certain Age, I am obliged to point out how much more Lotus-y this one is. I didn't dislike the new ones (other than maybe the SUV, and that just on principle) but seeing this one doesn't make me more inclined to buy any of the current models.

Once we got to the actual Car Show Proper, it was extremely crowded and difficult to get pictures of the more interesting cars. This one above is an example of the new Patina trend, which is a very creative re-branding of "couldn't be bothered to restore the bodywork or paint it."

There were endless rows of replica Cobras and then this one real one above. There were also entire streets devoted to Porsche 911s and Corvettes.

Above: my favorite era of Corvettes, and it really isn't close.

I mean, just look at the utterly deranged interior. 

The apartment trunk located behind the rear seat of a 1950s Cadillac.

This 1959 Levosky Indy roadster was owned by my grandfather and a few of his drinking buddies, who collectively called themselves Racing Associates. In '59 it was driven by Johnny Thompson who qualified on the pole and finished third. The next year it went under the name Adams Quarter Horse Special, Adams Farms being the family business. Again it was Thompson behind the wheel, qualifying a disappointing 17th and finishing 5th. It raced a few more years under different team banners then went the way of all roadsters when Jim Clark and Colin Chapman showed up with a pocket full of Future Tech. 

This much more famous car, driven by Parnelli Jones, was the last roadster to win at Indy. It's been mid-engined formula cars ever since. Jones just passed away in June of this year so this was a kind of tribute to one of the all time great drivers.

Rather a lovely Jaaaaagg.

A bit nicer version of my first car, a 1966 Impala. This one is a convertible and came equipped with the Big Motor option, so by any real standard a much more desirable model than the one 16 year old me drove around in. The one feature of my car that to me is far preferable to this beauty above was its Artesian Turquoise paint.

Yes, Mercedes, you have a very well known brand. I am not sure displaying it this enormously really suits it, though.

A Bug-Eye Sprite, making sure everyone in attendance knows how it got its name.

Byron's favorite was this Challenger. I cannot argue with his taste. The color is of course over the top, but over the top is on-brand for a Challenger.

The Carmel Fire Department had its collection on display. Above: a fire engine made by Stutz, a since-departed Indianapolis based automobile company.

Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend.