A scene from the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, the nation’s largest.
Here at E3 Spark Plugs, we’d rather be at an auto show than just about anywhere else in the world – except for behind the wheel of a fast car, of course. If you’re an enthusiast, too – whether of sleek new looks, futuristic concepts or vintage rides – we’ve listed the five biggest auto shows in the United States.
- Chicago Auto Show: Debuting in1901, it’s the nation’s largest and longest running auto show occupying 1.2 million square feet of the McCormick Place complex.
- North American International Auto Show: Often referred to by its original name, the Detroit Auto Show, this one has run since 1907, except for a 10-year stretch during World War II, when the manufacture and sale of cars to the masses was temporarily halted to support the war effort.
- San Francisco International Auto Show: It’s the largest show of any kind in North California and the second largest car show in the Western US. It debuted in 1958 in a bit of a protest against foreign auto dealers being rejected from participating in the local domestic auto show. So, a few rebels got together and created the Import Car Show, renaming it in 1982.
- New York International Auto Show: This one has the distinction of being the nation’s first automotive exhibition, opening in 1900.
- Grand National Roadster Show: Thousands of hot-rods, custom cars and Roadsters deliver one of the coolest spectacles around for automotive enthusiasts. A top feature is the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Award.
Mark your calendars. And if you attend, be sure to post your stories and pics on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page.
