The Awesome 80s
September 25 and 26, 2026
The Cadillac LaSalle Club Museum & Research Center will hold its annual Cadillac Fall Festival and Car Show Competition at the picturesque Gilmore Car Museum campus in Hickory Corners, Michigan.
The 1980s marked an era of notable transformation in design, size, performance, and technological advancement across all General Motors brands, producing numerous memorable vehicles. Noteworthy examples include the performance-focused Buick Grand National and GNX, Chevrolet Z28 and IROC-Z Camaros, Pontiac Turbo Trans Am, Oldsmobile 442s, and the groundbreaking 1984 Corvette. Other highlights from the decade comprise the downsized Buick Riviera, Oldsmobile Toronado, and Cadillac Eldorado, which featured touch-screen controls. Unique models such as the Cadillac Allanté and Pontiac’s mid-engine Fiero also contributed to the diversity of offerings. While some of these vehicles achieved commercial success and others did not, each warrants recognition. Accordingly, dedicated classes for the 1980s of each marque are included in 2026.
Some of the extra attractions already confirmed include:
- Collector car rides in selected Cadillac Museum collection cars on both days
- The annual Museum Garage Sale
- Four 1980s GM concept cars will be on display accompanied by GM Design ambassadors.
- 8 concept cars of the 1950s and 1960s courtesy of the Joe Bortz Collection are on display in the Gilmore Heritage Center including: 1953 Buick Wildcat, 1953 Pontiac Parisienne, 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special, 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne, 1955 LaSalle Roadster, 1955 LaSalle Sedan, 1960 Pontiac X400, and the 1964 Pontiac XP833 Banshee.
- Harry Warholak, Jr will share his memories as owner of Warhoops salvage yard where some GM Motorama concept cars rested 30years between 1958 and their rescue 30 years later by Joe Bortz.
- A Hospitality Tent near the Cadillac Museum and Garage Sale will provide a place to gather featuring snacks and custom Cadillac-named alcoholic beverages and snacks courtesy of the West Michigan CLC chapter.
- Driving Tour on Thursday 9/24 to the private Jackson Car Museum and Ye Ole Carriage Shop in Jackson, Michigan.
- Author Heidi Lewis will be present Friday and Saturday to introduce her new book, Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car that tells the story of his 1952 non-stop roundtrip from California to NYC and return in a much modified 1947 Cadillac Sedan.
- Friday & Saturday entertainment – DJ Mike of Music Madness from Washington, D.C.
- Car Show prizes – First Place and Second Place in each of the 20 classes plus Best Cadillac and Best in Show
Other attractions are being planned and will be added as confirmed.
1985 Buick Wildcat
Photo Credit GM Media Archive
1988 Cadillac Voyage
Photo Credit GM Media Archive
1992 Oldsmobile Aerotech
Photo Credit GM Media Archive
1988 Pontiac Banshee
Photo Credit GM Media Archive
Bill Mitchell’s Custom 1971 Cadillac Eldorado “Blue Boy”
Bill Mitchell’s 1956X Buick Century Convertible
2026 Great 8 Cadillac 1968 DeVille Convertible
2026 Fall Festival Registration
Pre-register below for the annual Cadillac Fall Festival and all GM car show. With or without a show car, your party of two can pre-register to attend both Friday & Saturday for $35.
Some optional activities require additional payment and can only be guaranteed through pre-registration as space is limited.
There is no pre-registration for visiting Gilmore on the day before (Thursday, Sept. 24) – standard Gilmore entrance fees apply at the Heritage Center entrance.
Those that choose to not pre-register can pay and enter, with or without a show car, at the show car entrance the morning they arrive.
Standard daily fees (not $35 for two) will be charged if entering through the Gilmore Heritage Center.
If you prefer to register through a paper form, you can download that here.
Vehicle Classes
1 – Pre-war Cadillacs
2 – 1946 – 1970 Cadillac
3 – 1971 – 1999 Cadillac, including Allante (excluding Class 5 cars)
4 – 2000 – 2026 Cadillac
5 – All Cadillacs 1980 – 1989
6 – V-Cars (2004 – 2014) – CTS-V (2004 – 2014), XLR-V (2005 – 2009), STS-V 2006 – 2009)
7 – V-Cars (2015 – 2026)
8 – Buick, all years, (excluding Class 9)
9 – All Buicks 1980 – 1989
10 – Oldsmobile, all years, (excluding Class 11)
11 – All Oldsmobiles 1980 – 1989
12 – Pontiac, all years, (excluding Class 13)
13 – All Pontiacs 1980 – 1989
14 – Chevrolet, all years, (excluding Class 15)
15 – All Chevrolets 1980 – 1989
16 – Corvette (excluding Class 15)
17 – Pickups, all years, (excluding Class 19)
18 – Suburbans, Blazers, all years (excluding Class 19)
19 – All Trucks 1980 – 1989
20 – Professional Vehicles, campers, buses
Questions?
For more information, contact Ian Macartney, Event Coordinator
Kalamazoo
What you’ll find in Kalamazoo will surprise you. A vibrant downtown minutes from expansive nature trails and sandy shores. Top-notch colleges and universities with arts and entertainment galore. Big city fun with a small town feel. High-quality venues at affordable prices. And warm, welcoming people who are eager to share all of it with you.
Accommodations
The recommended hotels are:
Delta Hotels, Kalamazoo Conference Center, 2747 S. 11th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 | Phone (269) 375-6000
Book Online at tinyurl.com/3tmc25hv
However, there are a wide variety of hotels in the Kalamazoo area (16 miles to Gilmore), the Battle Creek area (18 miles to Gilmore) and the Grand Rapids area ( 49 miles to Gilmore). The below link will provide you easy access to help you select a hotel best suited for you.
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