Text and photos by Richard Bartholomew –
For over 100 years the LA auto scene has had a gem of a show in the LA Auto Show. Looking at the diagram that they have on the wall at the Los Angeles Convention Center of the shows from the 1920s you can see that there have been many automobile makes that didn’t make it this far but the big three still make the show every year.
Corvette
At every LA show I have to check out the newest Corvette Z06 3LZ and new Mustang. I apreciate Fords I really do but I am a Chevy guy (full dislosure) and even though this is a fact I think I would probably still go for the new Lexus if I had to do the ‘pick one and only one new production car to drive for a year.’ challenge.
I must say that convention centers are a young persons game, the show is so large and so much to see and do that one day doesn’t leave enough time to see everything you want to. Ideally in my day dream I have the cash to get a big hotel room across the street and spend a few days at the show. Do not believe what you hear about Los Angeles or our economy because new skyscrapers abound and people are driving and working. The Interstate 10 freeway fire and closure changed my route slightly but that has since opened.
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart had a nice collection of cars at the show that made me wonder what he was holding back and driving now. The carbon fiber bodied Dodge Challenger was a treat and I tried to capture a good shot of the material used. You can decide in the photo.
Alfa Romeo
The show had a strong neon upbeat party feeling mixed with a survivalist 4X4 go anywhere vibe like the people that try and guess next years trends are taking a very wide berth and the main direction seems to be electric vehicles. It’s a brave new world.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Richard Bartholomew is an artist and photographer based in Southern California. Visit his Facebook page here. He is open to interesting consignments and can be reached at zeroagenow@aol.com
More photos are in the slide show below.
1920s Auto Show
Richard,
I have been going to the New York International Auto Show for the last 45 years, and, at this point (the 2023 iteration last Spring) it is half the size of what it used to be, with a lot of brands opting out: Mercedes, Lincoln, GMC, Buick, Cadillac, BMW, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar /Land Rover were not present. I don’t know how it is done in Los Angeles, but the New York City show is presented by the dealer members of The Tri-State Auto Dealers Association, that is, the auto dealers in the Tri-State Area here (New York, New Jersey, & Connecticut) and I honestly believe they don’t want to spend the money to mount a show, and would rather try to let “social media” do the advertising for them at this point – it’s practically free. It used to take me 8 to 9 hours to get through the whole show, now it takes only about 2 hours. This is not just a phenomenon of the auto show. The New York Boat Show I have been attending for the last 40 years is only about one third of the size it used to be as well. Glenn in Brooklyn, NY.
Richard,
Here are some photos of my wife and I at the Spring 2023 New York International Auto Show, held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center every year.
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY
Her last name from her ex-husband is Willis, so I had to take this one!
Here’s one of me in what I think was a Ford F-150 Pickup Truck. It seemed as long as a barn!
You also must factor in the appalling conditions that NYC has become into any discussion about the decline of attendance. NYC now has returned to the same conditions as late 60’s early 70’s. The Tri State Auto dealership group know this quite well as do the European manufacturers. Very sad to see this happening but we all know that SF, LA, Chicago, Philly are in the same situation.
John,
When my wife and I go to these NYC shows, we go on our day off, Wednesday, and despite the decline in quality of life here, these shows are packed with people on that weekday. Weekends are even busier. The attendance at these shows is high, trust me. I think the decline in exhibitors is simply a cost saving measure. With respect to the very shrunken boat show, exhibitors there told me there that the demand for boats, the perfect pandemic hobby, is so high, there is a waiting list for engines and boats, and there is no need to mount a costly exhibit to get sales – the sales are already there. Maybe there is some truth in that with regards to the cars as well.
Glenn in Brooklyn, BY
Glenn I lived in CT and RI back in the 80’s. I recently discussed the NY & Boston car shows with some of my dealer friends. All said the same thing, no way would I spend my time and money to attend either. Folks in the NY area have much thicker skin than those in the more rural areas and can tolerate the decline in quality of life much easier. Just look at what they elected as a mayor. Manhattan is descending daily into what it was in the 60/70’s.
John,
You go to the show, and it’s packed with attendees. It’s the number of exhibitors that is declining, again probably to save money.
Glenn in Brooklyn, NY