Fans of rare and exotic cars will want to circle May 19 on the calendar when the Glenview Luxury Imports Charity Exotic Car Show roars into town.
The annual event will feature 55 classic, rare, exotic and even celebrity autos, said show organizer Rich Margaritondo, VIP Sales and Marketing Manager at Glenview Luxury Imports. It runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 19 on Railroad Avenue between Glenview Road and Dewes Street in Glenview.
The band Brass From the Past will provide the entertainment. Kids can explore first responders’ vehicles and equipment and get a balloon animal from Balloon Animals Party. Food from local restaurants will be for sale.
He started the show three years ago as a way to not only kick off the car show season but also to help downtown eateries struggling from the effects of early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also wanted to help out a local charity — the entry fees from the car exhibitors and monies raised from the raffle benefit the 100 Club of Illinois, which provides aid to families of first responders.
He also wanted to showcase cars you don’t normally see at car shows.
“We’re getting there. It was hard the first year because there aren’t a lot of these exotic sports cars around and it’s hard to get these guys interested to bring their cars to a car show,” he said.
“But this year is probably the best as far as that goes. And this year we also have some crazy cars. A guy is bringing his Amphicar. And we’re going to have the Batmobile from the Klairmont Kollections in downtown Chicago. And there’s one guy, he’s been at every show, he has a very old Buick, a 1934.”
Expect to see cars like an Aston Martin, an Audi, a Lotus, a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, a Porsche, a Dodge Viper, an Alfa Romeo, a Ford Shelby, a Corvette, a Camaro and a Bentley.
“Cars you don’t normally see all in one location at the same time,” he said.
The cars are spread out to take up one and a half slots, so people can walk around and properly admire them.
“Cars will be lined up based by the type of car they are and the year,” he said. “I found the spectators liked that.”
“There are couple cars from Australia called Holden Commodores and then there’s a brand-new electric Hummer that someone is bringing,” he said. “We’re also going to have a vehicle you can’t buy here yet in the States, it’s a Lotus SUV called Eletre.”
It means a lot to him to be able to support the 100 Club of Illinois, he said.
“My generation … we were brought up to respect the police and the firemen,” he said. “My dad was a volunteer fireman. It means a lot for me, especially seeing the abuse these guys have been taking.
“And these guys are kids, they’re in their 20s and 30s. They have young families. It means a lot to me to have these guys see how many people really do respect them when they see a couple thousand spectators coming to the show. And these guys are so good with kids. To see them be respected, it does my heart good.
“Hopefully, they never need this charity, if you think about it.”
He hopes people support the car show and its philanthropy and enjoy Glenview at the same time.
“There are good things in downtown Glenview. It’s a fun town,” he said. “Hopefully they’ll come back and frequent the businesses that they see going to the car show.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
The Glenview Luxury Imports Charity Exotic Car Show
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 19
Where: Railroad Avenue between Glenview Road and Dewes Street, Glenview
Tickets: Free
Information: 847-904-1233; glicarshow.com
