Premier California Car Gathering: Del Mar 2025

— 24th running of the Goodguys Del Mar Nationals
— Picturesque 370-acre San Diego County fairgrounds venue
— Ample variety of new and old Mopar_® muscle attended

COASTAL SAN DIEGO VENUE

Hot rodders were welcomed with open arms at the Del Mar Nationals, where the scenic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean set the tone for a picture-perfect weekend filled with clear blue skies and comfortable temps. For three days, the San Diego County Fairgrounds came alive with a blend of indoor and outdoor car displays, while classic and custom rides cruised up and down the main drag. Every step around the grounds offered something new — high-quality muscle cars, vintage hot rods, and everything in between. The Del Mar Nationals is more than just a car show…it’s an automotive festival. With a bustling swap meet, For-Sale Car Corral, manufacturer displays, and AutoCross action, there was no shortage of energy or excitement. Mopar enthusiasts had plenty to smile about too, as a solid lineup of both new and classic Dodge rides represented the Brotherhood of Muscle proudly. Simply put, Goodguys Del Mar rocks!

E-BODIES MADE THE SCENE

Shane Smith, a proud member of the Mopar Club of San Diego, showed off his well-preserved 1970 340 ‘Cuda — clean, classic, and full of character.

Alexa Barlow proudly brought out her cherished 1974 ‘Cuda — a true survivor with a 318 and automatic, still driven daily!

Brian Witheriski’s 1970 V-code (440+6) ‘Cuda took home the ‘Mopar Muscle Pick’ award, thanks in no small part to its eye-popping Limelight Green High Impact Paint that lit up under the California sun. And yes, it’s a Shaker car too!

BRING ON THE A-BODIES

A rare 1965 Plymouth Valiant Signet convertible, equipped with “Commando 273” V8.

This clean ’73 Duster packs a 340 small block under the hood, dressed with Weld Wheels and a bold six-pack scoop to match.

’72 Dodge Dart Swinger, bumble bee stripe, 340 engine and still wearing the original blue with orange letter California plates!

B-BODY SELECTION

Dodge’s answer to the Road Runner came in the form of the Coronet Super Bee, equipped with the same 383 wedge standard — but offered at a more budget-friendly price than the Charger R/T or Coronet R/T. This particular example, sporting American 5-spoke wheels and beefier rubber, is a standout.

BEEP-BEEP X 3

A trio of 383 Birds, including a not often seen convertible. Road Runners are always well appreciated by the muscle car community!

Amid all the action was a sharp ’69 Plymouth Satellite that, from a distance, could easily pass for a Road Runner — aside from a few subtle differences. Back in the day, these were bona fide family cars with just the right touch of muscle.

SUPERCHARGED HEMI^® ENGINES ON NITRO

Among the weekend’s highlights was the thunderous firing of vintage nitro-burners, including a lineup of classic FEDs (Front-Engine Dragsters). A standout was the fully restored ‘MagiCar’ AA/Fuel Dragster from 1964, originally owned by Ron Winkel and sponsored by Ernie Chavez of Astro Enterprises. Built by legendary chassis builder Kent Fuller and now in the hands of Bill Pitts, this Gen I supercharged 392 HEMI-powered beast has long been a crowd favorite at Cacklefest events — loud, legendary, and pure nostalgia.

HEMI VETTE

“In the early days of AA/FC, it didn’t matter what fiberglass body shell you ran—one thing was consistent: the Chrysler HEMI engine reigned supreme. Case in point: the ‘Hell Fire’ Corvette Funny Car, packing a 426 HEMI engine between the frame rails. This beautifully restored AA/FC is a true blast from the past, and owner Jim Shue has every reason to be proud. It still wows the crowd with that unmistakable Mopar thunder.

OLD SCHOOL DODGE

Easily the oldest Mopar on the grounds, this 1937 Dodge D5 stood out with its distinctive split grille, one-piece steel roof, and 115-inch wheelbase. The ’37 model year was notable as the first to feature fully insulated rubber body mountings — a major refinement for the era. Under the hood, it ran on an 87-horsepower, 217-cubic-inch inline-four, showcasing the engineering roots of vintage Dodge performance.

IMPERIAL CROWN

The 1963 model year marked the final appearance of Imperial’s iconic free-standing headlights. This elegant 4-door Crown model rides on a 123-inch wheelbase and is powered by a 340-horsepower 413 engine. A period-correct 1963 service manual inside adds a nice, authentic touch. Notably, this was also the year Chrysler Corporation introduced its groundbreaking 5-year/50,000-mile warranty program.

SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY!

Goodguys events follow a classic format. Literally. On Friday and Saturday, only vehicles from 1999 and earlier are allowed, staying true to the ‘classic era’ theme. But come Sunday, it’s open season: All years, American made or American powered are welcome. That’s when this standout two-tone Prowler joined the party, complete with a custom grille upgrade. Originally introduced as a Plymouth in 1997 and later rebadged as a Chrysler for the 2000 model year, this particular ‘Black Tie Edition’ is especially rare — just one of 163 produced.

David Brecht’s 2016 Viper ACR (American Club Racer) earned an All American Sunday Award, and for good reason. With its aggressive aero package and a monstrous 645 horsepower from the 8.4L V10, this beast blurs the line between street-legal machine and full-blown track weapon.

ALL AMERICAN MOPAR PICK AWARD

Showroom condition Sapphire Blue 2001 Viper R/T with Cognac Leather interior walked off with the All American Mopar Pick award!

MODERN MUSCLE AWARD

Chad Kollar’s 2020 Charger SRT^® Hellcat Widebody took home the Goodguys ‘Modern Muscle Award’ —and it’s clearly more than just a boulevard cruiser. With rear beadlock Bogart wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson ET Street rubber, this beast is built to hook and haul. A serious performer, no doubt.

HEMI PURSUIT

The California Highway Patrol was onsite with a recruitment tent and a standout display vehicle: a 2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit, equipped with a HEMI engine and rear-wheel drive. As the last American police sedan in production, this pursuit-rated Charger is loaded with duty-specific gear: 220-amp alternator, engine oil cooler, heavy-duty suspension, HD front and rear disc brakes, LED headlamps, Secure Park feature, police-optimized front seats, rear-door and window deactivation, HVAC cabin air filter, a 160-mph certified speedometer, and more. Under the hood, the 5.7L HEMI V8 delivers 370 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 395 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm, paired with an 8-speed AutoStick automatic and 2.62:1 rear gears — built for performance and purpose.

A PLACE FOR APPAREL

Be it Ed Roth creations or simply Goodguys hats and shirts, this annual gathering in Del Mar is always a resource for finding cool apparel items. We also found a Mopar clock!