While some car shows across the country are suffering from lower attendance than in prior years, one club in San Diego, California, is boasting more cars than in previous years. The 18th Annual All-American Car Show, hosted by Mopar Club San Diego (MCSD), hit well over 200 cars in attendance this year, and while the theme of “if you’re an American, you can enter the show” might be part of it, you can’t deny that the location and weather are definite factors that bring back the enthusiasts and the crowds.

Now in the coastal town of Cardiff, the show has seen several locations across Southern California, from as far inland as Alpine, and as close to the coast as Carlsbad. But after a couple of years in Cardiff at the Mira Costa College Campus, it seems the club has found its home. With plenty of room for the cars in attendance and even more parking for spectators, it’s a win-win for both club and enthusiasts.

Some of the visitors to the show are merely passing by and stopped in to see the cars, maybe grab bite to eat or participate in the raffle, and others hung out nearly all day soaking up the tunes and the gorgeous SoCal weather.

Last year they were unfortunately tagged by a little precipitation that didn’t go over so well with some of the finer show cars in attendance. But this year the weather was perfect: not too hot, a cool breeze, and plenty of variety from imports to domestics, street driven to track cars, and from low-riders to rollbacks.

As we did last time we covered the event, we once again chose our favorites from each of the big three. It was difficult to select, and our choices by no means imply that the others weren’t just as worthy, but when it came down to making a choice we pretty much had to spin the wheel and throw the proverbial dart and see where it landed.

Our Favorite Ford Vehicle

It’s pretty hard to resist a classic Mustang that looks like it did on the showroom floor, and it’s even harder to resist when it’s a Boss 429. This beautiful Royal Maroon 1969 Boss 429 Mustang belongs to Michael Dodge, and he listed it as a 22,000 mile survivor.

Completely filling the engine bay, that Boss engine is pumping out an impressive 711 horsepower and 749 lb-ft of torque, and it’s been massaged a little bit to get those numbers. Now reaching 545 cubic inches, this Boss Mustang is no slouch.

Behind that behemoth powerplant is a four-speed transmission, and all that power reaches the ground on Goodyear Polyglass GT tires in a modest G60-15 sizing. Do you remember when we ordered our tires by letter code, width ratio, and rim size?

If the car looks a little too perfect here, it’s because it basically is perfect. Stepping up to the car, you feel like a teenager again checking out the local musclecar scene back in the early 1970s, because this is exactly what a musclecar looked like back then.

Not much has changed on this car other than the cubic inches. And check out that sticker price on the replica window sticker. Kind of makes you wish you had saved up a little more money when you were a kid, huh?

Our Favorite GM Vehicle

When it comes to Chevrolet, there are a number of what we call cookie-cutter cars that you see all the time, at every show. Sometimes it gets to a point where you feel like you’ve seen it all and you just don’t want to see another one.

The 1969 Camaro, Tri-Fives, any first- or second-gen Chevelle, and even the Nova can easily fall into that category of ‘seen one, seen them all’. But Pete Jiminez brought out his second-owner 1967 Chevrolet Nova and it literally stopped us in our tracks.

It’s not the most potent first-gen Nova on the planet, but with the original, numbers-matching status of this 327 powered Bow Tie it is pretty special in its own right. There are plenty of custom touches on this beauty, and they’re just right – nothing over the top, nothing ignored.

From the perfect stance (it is all about the stance, right?) to the ghosted flames on the hood, it’s the epitome of the subtle musclecar and that makes it a perfect cruiser. Pete even retained the three-on-the-tree shifter for his Nova, and the custom chrome and polish under the hood is just right, too.

The spartan dash is highlighted by a custom billet steering wheel and a period-style radio with not much else to look at, save for the sliding controls for the ventilation. We’d say when it comes to cookie-cutter Novas, Pete colored outside the lines a little with this one.

Our Favorite Mopar Vehicle

Being a show hosted by a Mopar club, you can be sure that there were lots of very cool Mopars in the parking lot. This was probably the toughest choice because we did have our sights set on an E-body, but this 1968 Dodge Charger was the epitome of mixing classic lines with modern muscle.

Owner Ray Garner has custom touches all around the car, including spoilers, modern emblems, and carbon fiber panels in the interior and engine bay.  If the bright green color didn’t get you, there was something else that drew people in.

The one item that just jumped right out at us was the additional pair of cylinders filling the engine bay. When you see red under the hood of a Mopar in the form of long, flowing runners, you can be sure that a Dodge Viper gave it’s heart and soul to this match made in Mopar Heaven.

Slowing the beast is a set of Wilwood multi-piston calipers, with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 245/45 and 285/40 rubber front and rear. Even with the hood closed, you couldn’t miss the multiple cues as to what powers this B-body. SRT-10 emblems are used on the fenders and rear of the car, and even under the hood.

The Viper mill is pumping out about 527 horsepower, and is backed by a Tremec transmission. With all that power, a wide set of steamrollers, and the reliability of Wilwood brakes, you know this is a car that is meant to tame the curves, and wouldn’t you like to sit behind the wheel of Ray’s Viper-powered ’68 Charger and find out just how badass it truly is? We do.

The Best Reason To Have A Car Show

Of course, this show wouldn’t be a success without the great help and the tremendous donations provided by the participants and spectators. As always, MCSD All American Car Show benefits our military and its families through charitable organizations such as: Paralyzed Veterans of America, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, Wounded Warrior Homes, USO San Diego, and Homefront San Diego.

There were a few vendors on hand, like JBA Speed Shop, and plenty of good food and great music. It’s hard work to cover a show like this, but someone has to do it. We chose our favorites above, but you can check out the huge gallery below and see if you agree with our choices… or if you have your own favorites you’d like to see more of.