The 11th annual Laguna Beach Classic Car Show returns on Sunday, Oct. 5, with 140 vintage and antique cars on display from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the city parking lot opposite the Festival of Arts on Laguna Canyon Road.
Hundreds of car enthusiasts will attend this invitational event organized by Laguna Beach Rotary Club to attract the finest examples in categories such as: antique cars through 1931, mini cars under 1500cc through 1969, foreign and domestic sports cars and survivors, pre and post World War II. Woodies, hot rods and muscle cars will be on display attended by their proud owners.
They include retired optometrist Udo Stoeckmann, of Dana Point, who will be showing off his rare 1971 Mercedes 280 SE Coupe 3.5, which he says is the last of the hand-assembled models and the first with an eight-cylinder engine.
Stoeckmann bought the vehicle a year ago from a car consignment shop. He has yet to restore it as parts are hard to find; only 3,200 of the cars were made between 1969-71.
Stoeckmann opened European Optical in Laguna Beach in 1974 when “hippie” clients bartered artwork for services. He retired in 2009 and his daughter continues to run the well-regarded shop.
Half of those who attend the car show are locals, but the event draws car fans from as far as Pasadena and Ventura. Breakfast burritos and food truck fare will sustain visitors throughout the day.
Proceeds from the car entry fees of $45 and the $10 admission tickets will benefit 60 local nonprofit organizations.
