There is an old saying that “all good things must come to an end.” Unfortunately, that familiar line may be hitting a little too close to home for the Mopar Muscle of Central PA’s annual car show at Muncy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, formerly Kaiser Brothers CDJR.
For decades, the event has been a familiar stop on the Central Pennsylvania Mopar calendar, bringing together owners, enthusiasts, and plenty of Chrysler muscle. But this year was different. The show drew its smallest car count in decades, leaving far more empty spaces in the parking lot than anyone wanted to see.
No single reason explained the disappointing turnout. The weather was questionable, the registration process had changed, and the entry fee had increased. Factor in higher gasoline prices, and owners had plenty of reasons to leave their cars in the garage rather than make the trip.
That is the troubling part. Any one of those factors probably would not have made much difference. Put them all together, however, and they may have been enough to keep a significant number of Mopar enthusiasts at home.
The decline is particularly noticeable when you consider what Muncy, Pennsylvania, once offered. The town previously hosted Corvette, Ford, and Chrysler shows on the same day, turning the area into something of a small-town automotive festival.
Corvette eventually pulled out after running into permitting issues tied to closing the town’s main street, while Ford ended its show because of declining attendance. That left the Chrysler show standing alone for the past two years.
Despite the circumstances, 85 cars did make the trip this year, and the variety was certainly not lacking. The field ran the gamut of Mopar models, with A-, B-, and E-bodies joined by C- and F-bodies, trucks, race cars, and even a beautiful Forward Look-era Mopar.
A healthy contingent of late-model Challengers, Chargers, Magnums, and 300s also brought several generations of Mopar enthusiasts together on one dealership lot.
As in previous years, the show also featured a special display of cars. While there did not appear to be a specific theme this year, the display honored a longtime member of Mopar Muscle of Central PA who passed away after last year’s show.
Among the featured cars were a Petty Blue Superbird wearing its familiar 43 on the doors, a Plymouth Volare Street Kit Car with the A43 package, a pair of unrestored B-bodies, one powered by a Hemi and the other by a 440 Six Barrel, and a stunningly restored Super Bee.
So, while the parking lot may not have been nearly as full as in years past, the cars that did make the trip showed that interest in Mopars certainly has not disappeared. The bigger question is what happens next.
Was this year’s 85-car turnout simply the result of a perfect storm of questionable weather, higher costs, and other changes? Or does it indicate that the Muncy show, like so many long-time car shows, faces a much bigger challenge?
There is another uncertainty that did not exist in previous years: the change in dealership ownership. Will the new ownership group be as receptive to providing space for the annual show and the club’s monthly meetings as the Kaiser Brothers were?
Only time will tell. But after decades of seeing this event fill the dealership lot with Mopars, it was hard to ignore how much empty pavement there was this year.
Hopefully, there will be the 28th annual Mopar Muscle of Central PA show in 2027. With any luck, it will be held at the same location, and the parking lot will once again be filled with rows of Mopars, just like the good old days.
