For more than 50 years, car enthusiasts have enjoyed the O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels car show in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This event has great history and always brings out a nice selection of hot rods, customs, muscle cars, classic trucks and more. Local businesses support the event with sponsorship and vending opportunities, and of course, the event always features special celebrity guests to draw an even bigger crowd of spectators.
For 2024, the World of Wheels offered several classes of vehicles, with a variety of makes and models from the 1920’s through the modern era. In the muscle car world, the standouts were a Polar White 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge, an A12 Dodge Super Bee, and a Hemi-powered Dodge Daytona, but there were several notable restorations on hand. Mixed in with the muscle cars were a few Pro Street builds with towering superchargers and giant rear tires, and dozens of restomods that together provided show-goers with a multitude of ideas for their project car at home. World of Wheels events are always family friendly. Kids tickets were only $5 and there were lots of activities for young car enthusiasts, including Hot Wheels racing and special attractions.
Indoor car show season gives car enthusiasts a break from the monotony of wintertime, and we enjoyed the weekend of action at the Chattanooga World of Wheels event. Take a look at some of our highlights from the event and check out your local car show calendar to find a show near you.
Thousands of spectators come out to the three-day O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels Custom Auto Show, held at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
It’s not often you see a 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II on the custom car circuit, and this one is unforgettable. It’s owned by Brian Gantley from Keithville, Louisiana and it features an Art Morrison chassis, an LS3 engine and a slick two-tone paint job by Nobody Customs & Restorations.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
Janice Sutherland and Larry Snow displayed this immaculate 1969 Dodge Daytona, which is one of only 70 built with a 426ci Hemi engine. As if the pointed nose cone and 23-inch-tall rear wing weren’t obvious enough, this one is coated in Bright Green paint to grab your attention.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
Third-generation Camaros are hot, especially when they’re preserved originals or tasteful restorations and this example has a combination of original and custom details. The 1986 Camaro Z28 is owned by Sonny Cooper, who has upgraded the engine, interior and paint for a better-than-original appearance.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
Although it isn’t your typical Mopar muscle car, Jim Reif’s 1977 Dodge Charger has the perfect ‘80s Street Machine vibe, thanks to Weld Prostar wheels, giant rear tires, exhaust cut-outs and lots of chrome surrounding the 400-cu.in. big-block under the hood.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
This slick 1963 Studebaker Gran Turismo was part of an “orphan car” exhibit. It represents the company’s attempt to attract new customers during its final years in operation. Richard Spry of Elberta, Alabama is the proud owner of the rare Studebaker.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
Jeremy Wooten always regretted selling his 1972 Monte Carlo he had as a teenager, so he set out to buy a suitable replacement 20 years later. This 1970 Monte Carlo is the result – it’s a rock-solid car with a slick Astro Blue paint job and a 300-horsepower small-block under the hood.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
The only hardcore drag racing machine on hand was Dan Beagan’s Plymouth Duster. This car has significant history in the Chattanooga area, as it was local legend Robert Nance’s final drag car, and it’s the only surviving car to bear the “Mr. Plymouth” name.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
Sitting front-and-center in the Chattanooga Convention Center was a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner, coated in FJ5 Lime Light green, and powered by a 440 Six Pack, complete with the Air Grabber hood. The car was ordered without a vinyl top, side stripes or Rallye wheels, giving the Plymouth a stripped-down appearance despite the vibrant paint.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
With lacquer paint that has survived more than 50 years, Jerry Ginn’s 1965 Corvette coupe still presents very well. The small-block powered Sting Ray rolls on knock-off wheels and Coker gold-line tires for the perfect contrast against the C2’s Nassau Blue.
Photo: Tommy Lee Byrd
