On a weekend with 24 shows in southern Alberta there were plenty of choices but I let the weather forecast determine my destination. It looked like it was going to be a pleasant day in Fort MacLeod so that was where I headed. It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day and not a drop of rain while I was there. I left around 2 pm so I don’t know if anything transpired thereafter.
In addition to the good weather, historic Fort MacLeod is the perfect location to hold a classic car show. It feels like you’re walking through history.
Anyone who has been to Fort MacLeod knows the iconic American Hotel. Seeing it sit quiet and empty always makes me wonder about the stories those brick walls could tell.
The neon is glowing, the windows are lit, and the cars and people from 1950 have returned.
With the classic car show in town, I couldn’t help but let my imagination wander. I used photos of cars that were at the show, and some digital tools to hit the rewind button and imagine what it would look like if the hotel woke up, turned on its neon signs, and hosted one more epic sunset party with some beautiful vintage rides.
All the cars pictured in the photos were at the show. If you could park any classic car in front of the American Hotel today, what would it be?
Back to reality, I was thrilled to see Greg’s spectacular ’51 Merc. This generation of Mercurys(1949 – 50 – 51) became notorious for their customization into “lead sleds” but I prefer to see them stock and unchopped just like this one. It still has the original 255 V-8 which was rated at 112 horsepower. The car was originally intended to be the 1949 Ford but Ford executives opted for a smaller, “shoebox” design, so the larger design was reassigned to the Mercury.
Fort MacLeod may not be the largest show on the circuit, but it is undeniably one of the finest. What sets it apart is the location and the genuine quality of the field. Roughly 90% of the vehicles are what I would define as old cars—authentic, nostalgic, and brimming with character, and with historic main street as the backdrop, its one of the best places for a classic car show. Thanks to Bill Jenkins and the crew for a fabulous show.
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