Every year for the past couple of decades, Chrysler Performance West (CPW) has put on a series of car shows specific to the Mopar crowd called the Spring Fling and the Fall Fling. CPW began in 1985 when a group of Mopar lovers in the San Fernando Valley got together and formed a club, and soon after they began to host their shows at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, California. The shows have become so big that it’s not unusual to see celebrities there, like Jay Leno, or celebrity cars, like the Joe Dirt Daytona, the Blues Brother’s police cruiser, or even Leno’s Tank Car in years past.

Some reflections from the show… which is your favorite?

The car shows are huge, with the Spring Fling taking place over the weekend, preceded by a cruise on Friday. There’s a show and shine on Saturday followed by a cruise to a local hangout, and a judged show on Sunday. The Fall Fling takes place on a Saturday, with a cruise for lunch on Friday, and the relaxed, non-judged show and shine taking place all day. At each of the shows, there are plenty of Mopar specific vendors, like TTI Exhaust, and bigger vendors that have specific Mopar parts and catalogs, like Classic Industries.

Each year, we make the trek to Woodley Park to check out the show, and while it is an exclusive Mopar only show that includes Chrysler vehicles, AMC and even Jeep, it’s not unusual to see some one-off vehicles that might be powered by a HEMI – one such entry has often been the HEMI-powered air raid siren. The show primarily focuses on classic Mopars and AMCs, but there has also been a great showing of modern Mopars and RAM trucks, all of which draw their own unique crowd.

Everyone is Welcome

There’s one thing to be said about a Mopar car show, and that is that everyone with a Mopar is welcome. Although it’s called a car show, and is judged in the Spring, it isn’t required that your car be “show worthy”. The only thing that is required is that you pay $35.oo at the gate to show your car, and that you want to be there. It’s rare that you would find a beat up classic Valiant with a built small-block, complete with weathered interior and scratched paint, sitting next to a trophy-winning big-block ‘Cuda with a mile deep paint job and spotless interior.

Across the lawn from these two opposites-attract Mopars you’ll find a custom 1940s Mopar with custom paint and suicide doors parked next to a classic Mopar truck that comes from the decade before. Even the “Forward Look” cars designed by Virgil Exner make a grand appearance, from a Christine lookalike to a modern Hemi-powered Desoto.

Every once in a while, you’ll find one of those multi-million-dollar Hemi Cuda convertibles at the show, and a couple representations of the famed winged warriors – Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbirds. Last fall, a bit of a celebrity car showed up when Bob Spillman brought out his unique 1972 Road Runner from the indie film White Mule.

When was the last time you saw an SRT Viper parked next to a 1970s Dodge Van at a car show?

There’s a little bit of the “everything for everyone” type of atmosphere at these shows, because if you like the modern Mopars, you’ll find them. If you’re into the classic big fin cars with football-field-sized trunks, they are represented. And for those who simply want to see the insane creations, or insanely-powered beasts, the Spring Fling and Fall Fling shows will not disappoint you. On one side of the aisle you’ll find a blown Hemi packed into a Road Runner, and across the way a PT Cruiser with a big-block stuffed under the hood.

Most classic car shows wouldn’t be complete if you couldn’t find someone selling something for your car, and at Woodley Park you’ll also find dozens of people looking to part with some of their stash from the past few decades – for the right price. If you’re looking for a complete car that needs restoration, a fender for your E-body, or a dash pad for an early B-body, it’s likely that you’ll find it at one of these shows.

Rare intake manifolds and valve covers, sure-grips, Hemi heads and hard to find trim and lights are also found among the numerous plots in the swap meet area, but only if you’re willing to take the time to find them. There are so many parts laid out that it sometimes takes two or three passes to find what you want, because it’s easy to overlook a part only to find it later.

The next show coming up will be Spring Fling XXVIII on Saturday April 5th and Sunday April 6th, 2014. You may or may not see Jay Leno at this show, but you’ll definitely see fellow Moparians showing off their favorite ride. If you’re a Mopar fan, or even a fan of classic musclecars parked on the lawn with just about anything from the Pentastar crowd, you won’t be disappointed! Spend some time checking out the massive gallery below from the 2013 season of CPWs Spring Fling and Fall Fling car shows at Woodley Park, in Van Nuys, California. Which car is your favorite? Let us know below!