Fields of Dreams at Iola 2014

As usual, tiny Iola, Wis., explodes with energy, variety and lots of great iron…

The Kaiser Frazer Owner’s Club International gathered at IOLA ’14, and among the more unique four-door examples was club member David and Lorrie Gneiser’s 1952 Kaiser Virginian Traveler with an opening rear window and tailgate.

The Studebaker Drivers Club was also on hand at Iola with its own display. Trevor Yoho’s 1965 Studebaker Wagonaire did double duty in the Theme Area where it was shown with its sliding rear roof opened. Note the tailgate ladder that eased access to the rear, especially for little ones.

The candyapple red paint dripping off the sensuous curves of Syl and Shirley Szucsko’s 1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible guaranteed the drop top to be as popular as Marilyn Monroe at a pool party.

Sporting a fresh restoration, Milt McMillen’s 1960 Dodge Matador D500 was a family hauler that hauls more than groceries. The Matador D500 was the Super REd Ram version, which displaced 383 cubic inches good for 330 hp with twin Carter four-venturi carburetors on a cross-ram intake manifold setup a la the Chrysler 300s.

Grazing in the postwar showfield was this mini hauler, a 1947 Crosley station wagon. Its condition and small 44-cid four made it a great cruiser with today’s fuel prices.

Owner Nathan Britz didn’t have but a half hour to drive his local gem to IOLA ’14. His recently purchased 1966 Ford F-100 stood tall in the postwar showfield with its blue-and-white paint scheme.

When more than a couple thousand collector cars gather, there’s usually at least one Nomad in the bunch — if you’re lucky. Charles Lang’s Matador Red ’57 is a beaute and is as clean and tasteful as they come with standard Bel Air wheel covers and without the rocker trim added to so many 1957 Chevrolets.

This looong Cadillac came a looong way to enter the Iola Old Car Show car corral, but the trip was worth it. The 16,000-mile 1977 Fleetwood limousine was offered at best offer, and someone offered enough greenbacks to pry it from the owner’s hands.

This 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Rally Sport had just two owners, less than 16,000 miles, matching numbers and a $52,000 asking price. By the end of the show, it met its third owner.

Very few 1956 Studebakers appear at shows, making this 1956 Studebaker a rare treat at IOLA ’14. Wayne Krause’s President Classic was featured in the “Four for All in ’14” theme area, and was the third-highest-priced Studebaker model that year, beat in price only by the Pinehurst two-door station wagon and the Sky Hawk.

AMC is well-represented at the Iola Old Car Show, as a Wisconsin-based show should be. Among the many American Motors products at IOLA ’14 was Robert E. Wunrow’s orange 1976 Hornet two-door sedan with a 304-cid V-8, which made it one of only 789 built by the factory that way.

Finned MoPars are big, especially at the Iola Old Car Show, and adding its part to the fin fun at IOLA ’14 was John Zastrow’s glowing gold 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury two-door hardtop with several ‘50s goodies, such as skirts, twin rear antennae and dual mirrors.

The Clumpner family displayed their 1955 Pontiac Star Chief convertible front and center in the Blue Ribbon Concours of IOLA ’14. The car, nicknamed “Big Red,” is accessorized with a continental kit, wire wheel covers and a front bumper guard.

Retired Old Cars Weekly staffer Ken Buttolph often displays about a dozen cars from his collection, which includes this all-original 1932 Chevrolet sedan with less than 30,000 miles. Kenny drives his cars, too, and drove this home to central Wisconsin from Akron, Ohio, where he bought it several years ago.

Domestic cars rule at Iola, but there are several imported gems scattered throughout the show field, including this stunning 1962 Triumph TR4 owned by John Myers. This car was originally licensed in Germany and later raced in SCCA events before it was restored in 2002.

One of the many rare treasures on the show field of IOLA ’14 was this rare 1955 Hudson Hollywood Hornet two-dor hardtop owned by Phil Smith. The largely original car is one of just 3,324 built in all of the Hornet series.

Another import to IOLA’14 was this cute little 1971 Saab 96 two-door sedan owned by Mark Illinski of nearby Stevens Point, Wis. The Swedish compact was shown in the Blue Ribbon Concours,

Alvin and Marle Elmore came all the way from Iowa with their sweet 1939 Studebaker Champion coupe. Fortunately for spectators, this gem often appears in the Blue Ribbon Concours of the Iola Old Car Show.

Yes, there were four-door Thunderbirds, at least for a while (1967-1971). Steve Mitchell brought his one-of-21,925 1968 edition of the four-door Thunderbird Landau to Iola from Chaska, Minn.

A true survivor, Garrett and Michael Ryan’s 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda wears its original Rally Red paint, interior and 340-cid V-8 Six Pack engine with an automatic transmission. It is one of 1,604 automatic AAR Cudas out of just 2,724 built.

A pair of Panther Pink Challengers graced this year’s Iola Old Car Show Blue Ribbon Concours in coupe and convertible forms.

There were seven 1958 Pontiac Bonnevilles pre-registered for the 2014 Iola Old Car Show Blue Ribbon Concours, and these three found a spot next to one another.

These days, Arthur Elman’s 1940 International only hauls ogling eyes and trophies. The rare rig is a 3/4-ton Model D painted yellow with black fenders.

Jim Rugowski’s 1953 Nash-Healey roadster always draws a crowd. With all of its international ties (English body and chassis with Italian styling and an American powerplant), the car was at home in Wisconsin, where Nash was headquartered.

Roger Daniels’ decked-out 1956 Ford Crown Victoria hails from the rarer of two years of production; just 9,209 were built in 1956 compared to 33,165 in 1955. The ’50s accessories start with a continental kit, fender skirts, dual spotlights and a rear antenna.

Looking pretty in pink, this 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 Fiesta station wagon also sported a white roof. This pillared version with sedan door frames was the rarest Olds station wagon in 1957 with just 5,052 built.

Joe Bortz brought along the 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne GM Motorama dream car, which was displayed in the Teamed to Learn tent of IOLA ’14. Over the weekend, Bortz gave presentations and answered spectators’ questions from the display.

Unlike the Biscayne, the 1955 LaSalle II sedan remains in as-found condition, offering insight into the legend of Warhoops, the salvage yard where the cars were junked by GM in 1958.

Cloaked in General Motors’ corporate green paint, Ron Slagle’s Impala Custom two-door hardtop reflects how well the full-size 1969 Chevrolet styling held up, and proves that Chevrolet bilt more than just Camaros and Corvettes that model year. It’s powered by the final-year 327-cid small-block V-8.

Paul Garlick’s six-cylinder 1960 Ford Fairlaine sedan restoration was absolutely stunning; the car wore all the under-hood stickers and assembly marks rarely found on racier Starliner and Sunliner restorations. The car was parked in the “Four for All in ’14” theme area.

There are millions of parts for sale in Iola’s swap meet. The owner of a Tucker (not the pictured Tucker) found this new front bumper piece in the Iola Old Car Show swap meet; it cost several hundred dollars.

Dave Mitchell’s outstanding 1934 Cadillac Series 452-C Fleetwood Town Cabriolet is pictured upon its arrival in the “Four for All in ’14” theme tent. The car is largely original with only rechromed bumpers, select exterior repainting and a new roof covering.

Built for the market north of the border, this Canadian 1958 Pontiac Parisienne was built on the Chevrolet chassis and as such, has a four-venturi 348-cid V-8. Its further optioned with an automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes.

Biscayne Bortz car show concept car dream car four door Iola Iola Old Car Show Joe Bortz

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