You really don’t need a ton of gear to show a restomod at car shows. But, it’s really nice to have a few specialized products that will help you highlight your car in high quality and professional manner. And a few products to help make the day more enjoyable.
The five things I recommend that every restomod owner brings when showing their restomod at car shows:
- This complete detailing kit on Amazon.com. PLEASE do not make the same mistake as me and use any combination of detailing products without a torqx dual action polisher. Many kits require 100% manual effort and leave you choosing to buy the right polishing tool. And, choosing the wrong one can quickly hurt your restomod’s paint job.
- This folding chair on Amazon.com. You can always use just any folding chair but sometimes you have things to store and a cold beverage to care for. This is the perfect chair for a restomod car show.
- This canopy tent on Amazon.com. Having shade at a car show is important. And, this one is a very practical recommendation that may prove to be your favorite. Especially, in the dog days of July and August.
- This cooler on Amazon.com. If you enjoy a frosted beverage you need a dependable cooler. Simply put this is the Apex predator of coolers – there’s not even a close second.
- This car show display sign on Amazon.com. A display sign is really a requirement to properly and professionally show your car. This is by far and away one of the most unique, well thought out signs I’ve seen.
Complete Detailing Kit
One of the best pieces of car show gear I can recommend is a complete detailing kit. It’s critically important to make sure your restomod is properly detailed and prepared. Especially, if your car show has actual judges – not all of them do – the but the big ones almost always do.
The detailing kit I recommend is the Chemical Guys Buf_209x complete detail kit (click to see it on Amazon). It’s perfect for restomods. The kit includes 17 items and the perfect kit for a die-hard restomod enthusiast or an automotive professional.
Included with the kit is the torqx dual action polisher which is perfect for polishing paint, carpet cleaning, and spreading the perfect coat of wax. The versatile 8 mmm dual action orbital throw is a perfect balance of power, fast action, and heat management to prevent burns.
Note: If you don’t prep the car yourself, the kit is a great gift for the person who does.
Folding Chair
Admittedly, I spent too much time researching a folding. chair. But, plantar fasciitis and an occasional sore back fueled my enthusiasm. Not only is a folding chair a great item for car show gear. This multi-use chair is great for sporting events, camping, or even the beach.
The folding chair I recommend is the ALPS mountaineering king kong chair (click to see the price on Amazon.com). This is the megastar chair for a car show and the reason its one of Amazon’s most popular chairs.
This chair has a powder-coated steel frame, sturdy to an unreal 800 lbs. The chair has a cup holder in each armrest and two side pockets for maximum storage. You take conveniently use the shoulder strap for hands-free portability.
Canopy Tent
A canopy tent comes in as a highly practical piece of car show gear. The tent provides much-needed shade in the dog days of summer. In addition, if you have grandchildren, or friends with you, you can always provide relief from the sun. And, you can bring out a folding table to do a puzzle, play a board game, or eat lunch.
The canopy tent I recommend is the ABCCANOPY Pop up Canopy Tent (click to see the price on Amazon.com). What I like the best is that setup and tear down are incredibly fast. And, the canopy tent has a roller bag for easy portability.
The canopy tent is 10 x 10 and can cover up to four tables or ten people. The fabric is 100% waterproof, a good UV blocker, and has a UPF 50+ sunscreen rating.
Note: Some car shows will not allow the use of a canopy tent. They are still nice to have as you can walk over to an area that allows them. But, don’t make the mistake I did and buy one thinking you can automatically place it next to your vehicle and enjoy it all day. In the event your car show will not allow a canopy tent, I recommend this folding chair with canopy on Amazon.com.
Cooler
There are a plethora of coolers and they are great for car shows. In addition, just like with many of the car show gear recommendations, the cooler can be used at tailgates, backyard parties, and the beach. Some of these coolers can cost a fortune but are they really worth it?
The cooler I recommend is the Yeti Tundra 45 cooler (click to see the price on Amazon.com). As I alluded to earlier, there really isn’t a close competitor in terms of its ability to keep things cold, even up to 48 hours!
Admittedly, I thought Yeti was just an expensive trendy name-brand product. I was actually appalled at the thought someone wasted $40 on a Yeti tumbler. The gift was the result of my diet coke addiction and my opinion of Yeti changed while attending a high school football game. I realized my beloved tumbler was left locked up in my vehicle. Despite it being a summer day, and after about 30 minutes, I returned to find my drink completely filled with ice. It was over 90 degrees, that’s incredible.
This cooler on Amazon.com is a great choice for someone on a budget. The price is amazing and so are the features. For example, the cooler is a little taller than usual so it makes a convenient stand for an iPad, cell phone, or magazine. And, it has four self-draining cup holders to keep a cold drink well within reach. All this for less than $70, this is a find.
Car Show Sign Display
Like we discussed above, a car show sign display is a professional and organized way to highlight your show quality restomod. But, there are a plethora of signs. After recently attending Autorama 2020 in Detroit, MI, I have been obscenely ridiculous signs. And, combined signage from the Ridler award vehicles that cost more than $100,000.
The car show sign display I recommend is the AutoShowArt car show display sign (click to see it on Amazon). It’s perfect for restomods car show enthusiasts given its unique design. All you do is provide your photos and specifications. Then, before you know it, a 24 x 36 framed reader board with a retractable stand and carrying case arrives.
Disclaimer: I have not actually used one of these display signs. However, I saw a few at the Detroit Autorama and decided to order one. I will post an update on the entire process, including a picture, once the sign is complete.
Conclusion
I hope this post was helpful to you and that you have an even better experience taking your restomod to car shows! Check out the other sections of my blog for more tips restomods.
Related Questions – Classic Car Restomod Car Show Gear
Billed as the world’s largest automotive extravaganza, the Charlotte AutoFair is a four-day event held in April and repeated in September. Held at the famous Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, this show features auctions, a classic car corral and thousands of merchant spaces.
The biennial Frankfurt Motor Show is the biggest in the world, with 11 halls packed with new vehicles from 1000 exhibitors and an incredible 800,000 visitors over its 11-day run. And, for the first time, it had an entire hall dedicated to classic cars and some gorgeous restomods.
An auto show (i.e. motor show or car show) is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. The five most prestigious auto shows, sometimes called the “Big Five”, are generally considered to be held in Frankfurt, Geneva, Detroit, Paris, and Tokyo.
