Classic car culture is a huge staple of the Midwest, and Wisconsin is no different. Wisconsin annually hosts the second-largest classic car show in the US with some 600 show-ready cars and not-show-ready cars on display. Dozens of smaller regional car shows happen on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. The Chippewa Falls Pure Water Days parade and car show are no different. These annual events showcase many of the small town businesses, organizations, and churches and are capped by a car show with around 50 cars. Any classic-car owner could bring and showcase his car up and down the mains street of Chippewa Falls. Owners range in age, from first-hand buyers who got their cars back in the day to new owners restoring the old cars they love.

Some of the cars are unfinished, beaten, and ragged; others are in perfect condition. With sweet jet-age lines and a sense of quintessential motoring, these classic cars bring the automotive culture alive. Monuments to a time that has long since passed, classic cars embody a more imaginative time that's the foundation of modern cars today. The drive to bring these cars alive is the cornerstone of classic car culture and is exemplified by the Chippewa Valley. So, here are the Top 20 Classic Cars of the Chippewa Valley.

20 1958 Corvette Convertible

Jim Lowe, a resident of Chippewa county, restored a 1958 Corvette Convertible from a rusted-out bucket. The ‘58 Corvette Convertible is a much sought-after classic, and not many are left today. A 1958 Corvette Convertible originally cost just under $4,000 brand new, and today, one in the condition Jim’s is in can cost up to $300,000 on the open market. Jim’s ‘58 has a Chevy small-block V8 327, which produces around 340 bhp and has a max speed of 140 mph, along with a four-speed manual transmission. For its time, it was the dream sports car, and today it's a magnanimous piece of automotive history.

19 1959 Buick Electra

This schmoo car has all the lines and designs one expects of this era. With short rear wings and a tapered crest running along the body into a deep front V that makes it look angry, the 1959 Buick Electra was aptly named. It's an electrifying and exciting sedan with a clear full round view, curves for miles, and plenty of seating for the family. Remnants of the rocket age and the jet age are merged together in unique styling not found on any modern car.

It originally came with a 6.6-liter 401 V8, which produced 325 bhp and was rear-wheel drive, and this version was produced from 1959 to 1970.

It was equipped with a three-speed automatic Dynaflow transmission. It originally cost, brand new, between $3,800 and $4,500. One in mint condition today can be purchased for around $30,000.

18 1955 Ford Thunderbird

The original-series Thunderbird is another classic car that's greatly sought after. With an original price under $3,000, a mint ‘55 Thunderbird goes for up to $60,000. It originally came with a 262 Y-Block V8, which produced 215 bhp and had a top speed of just 130 mph. However, its sleek design and Ford-o-Matic 2-speed transmission made it fun to drive and fairly fuel efficient for the time. The Thunderbird was Ford’s answer to the Chevy Corvette, and it's clear there are similar styling choices made by Ford to make the Thunderbird as appealing as the Corvette at the time.

17 1962 Dodge Dart III

Probably not one of the more popular classic cars, the Dodge Dart III still has great lines and styling, considering it's one of many Dodge cars built around the B-body.

The 1962 Dart III was actually the only year it was a full-size car before being made into a compact in the following years, making the ‘62 a rare car indeed.

However, they’re not as rare as some of the previous cars listed, and today, a good-condition 1962 Dart III 330 can be found for around $20,000. Ron Keefer’s Dart III has the 413 Max Wedge, which produces between 410 and 420 bhp.

16 1941 Chevy Master Deluxe Coupe

When I think classic car, this is one of the cars that come to mind. The 1941 Chevy Master Deluxe Coupe was, for its time, the everyday man’s car. It was mass produced and sold in direct competition to Ford’s coupe, which had similar styling and features. Yet today, few still exist in a restored condition, and the cost to restore one to the level pictured here is hefty, upwards of $60,000. A fully restored 1940s era Chevy Coupe can fetch as much as $120,000, although many decent-condition versions of the coupe go for closer to $20,000.

15 First-Generation Ford Mustang 1963

Oh, is this a sweet car... The original Mustang marked a huge shift in the US automotive industry. One of the first mass-produced true sports cars, it was marketed as the everyday man’s race car and also a family car. A much-sought-after classic, these cars are ironically a dime a dozen, ranging in price from as low as $5,000 and as high as $60,000. Nonetheless, this piece of US car history set a tone for future all-around sports cars that fit multiple facets of the everyday driver’s needs and wants in a car.

14 1966 Dodge Charger

Another Dodge B-Body vehicle, the Charger is the more famous little brother of the Dart. Introduced by Chrysler to compete with the Ford Mustang and Thunderbird, this car became an iconic luxury sports car and family car. Interestingly enough, the first-generation Charger is considered the first fastback car. With its unique styling in relation to the other sports cars and luxury cars at the time, it stood out from its competitors.

It originally came with a 5.3-liter V8, although later versions had the option of a 5.9- or a 6.3-liter four-barrel engine.

For this version, Dodge also offered a 7.0-liter Hemi, one of three different transmissions, two different manual options, and an automatic option. All in all, the original Dodge Charger is an iconic classic car. Due to its popularity, these first-gen Chargers can be found for as little as $3,000 and as much as $100,000, depending on condition.

13 1974 Dodge Hang 10 Dart

It’s forgivable if this car is a mystery to most readers. The 1974 Dodge Hang 10 Dart was a limited-edition B-Body car produced by Dodge for the California surf scene. Only 700 were made back in 1974. This ultra-rare car has less than 56 registered versions left in the US (and presumably, worldwide, only 39 from the 1975 run). Resembling early Dart models, the Hang 10 was styled to reflect surfing culture at the time. The red and white exterior matched the interior, which was lined with leather and brocaded door linings. It originally came with a 226 V6 or a 318 V8, but the one pictured here had the upgraded 360 4-Barrel V8 which produced around 350 bhp and came with a 3-speed automatic transmission. Estimated values for this car today are around $30,000, but for serious collectors, the limited number that exists may raise this value to far above this estimate.

12 1974 VW Beetle

Oh, the Beetle... the often-maligned big brother of the Porsche. The 1974 VW Beetle is as well known as the band the Beatles. Many a song, film, and TV series has featured this usually low-powered car. However, a deep love and following of this iconic car exist nationwide, and restoration projects and buggy projects, transforming the Beetle into any number of cars, exist galore. This is why it’s refreshing to see a fully restored Beetle in all of its tiny glory.

The 1974 VW Beetle came with a four-cylinder 90 bhp engine, was small, was easy to park and drive, and was fairly safe.

It was originally designed to survive a rollover, which was featured in several commercials. The one pictured has a supercharged engine, which produces over 100 bhp and is otherwise in original condition.

11 1967 Plymouth Satellite

The ‘67 Plymouth Satellite Coupe first generation was a beautiful car, with chrome trim, bumpers, and grille; room for five; and the same sporty sense as the Mustang without the cost. It came in several engine variants ranging from a 273 V8 with a 3-speed manual or automatic transmission all the way up to a 426 V8 Hemi with a 4-speed manual transmission. The one pictured here has the 383 V8 with a 3-speed automatic transmission. A base model originally cost around $2,800, about a grand less than a Mustang of the same year model, and today, they’re still fairly inexpensive due to some 20,000 of them being produced. Anyone with $20k to spend on a classic car could easily find one of these in great condition at or under this price.

10 1956 Chevy Bel Air

Another quintessential classic car, the Bel Air was the car for classic movies like Back to the Future, Hidden Figures, and dozens of other films and period TV series.

It's commonly turned into roadsters and dragsters, and it was a fantastically styled car.

The hood ornament is a remnant of the jet age, and the big flared rear wings are a signature from this era. It came with a big-block Chevy V8, four-on-the-floor manual and originally cost just over a grand. Today, a well-maintained or fully restored ‘56 Bel Air goes for between $45,000 and $90,000.

9 1970 Boss 302 Mustang

The successor of the Gen-1 Mustang, the 1969-70 Boss 302 Mustang is a lesser-known variant of the line of Mustangs from the end of the 1960s and the early 1970s. It was bookended by the Mustang Mach 1 and the Boss 429. The Boss 302 is uniquely styled with eyelet headlights and the swift-back windshield and trunk. The 302 is arguably the basis of the styling of most modern Mustangs today and stands testament to the Ford idea of what a muscle car is supposed to be. It was designed to meet the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) rules regarding track-day racing, while at the same time being an everyday driver. The Boss 302 engine is actually an interesting story by itself.

8 1967 Ford Mustang Dragster-refit

The Mustang, the original pony car, started the revolution of the muscle car in the US. First- and second-gen Mustangs are known for their speed and raw power. So, it's no surprise the owner of this ‘67 Mustang refit it for drag racing. The cool lines of the classic Mustang are offset by huge lifted rear wheels, a side exhaust, and the classic fuzzy dice hanging off the rearview mirror.

7 1962 Chevy Bel Air Station Wagon

Many a childhood memory was made in this station wagon for thousands of kids across the US. It was the family car, the road-trip staple, and the venue for the first kiss at the drive-in theater for this generation. It came in multiple models, including a six- and nine-seater version and originally came with a 409 V8, which produced between 400 and 425 bhp. Originally sold for around $4,000, one in a clean good condition goes for around $30,000 today.

6 1956 Buick Special Hardtop Sedan

If there's one car that stands out as a true US classic car, it’s the Buick Special. The 1950s saw a huge influence on cars coming from the jet-set age, and the Buick Special is no exception. Chrome fenders and trim, a jetliner hood ornament, and around curves that shaved away the hard edges of its otherwise boxy design are all cornerstone design features of this era.

It might not have been the fastest or most powerful of cars, but it was and still is beautiful.

It’s a picture into a bygone era, similar to other cars on this list; its design is refined and yet subdued. Not overstated yet iconic, its design is recognized the world over.

5 1948 Ford F100

The F100 truck was the cornerstone of the everyday worker, farmer, construction crew, and mover in the late '40s. It was mass produced by Ford, cheap, dependable, and deployed by civilians and the US military alike. Despite it being in production from 1947 to 1952, being Ford’s first generation of trucks post-WWII, and having thousands of them being built, few remain today in functional condition, which makes the F100 at this car show an amazing find. It's clean, nearly rust free, fully drivable, and a glimpse of Ford’s history. We see features in this truck that were carried forward to this day in modern trucks by Ford, including an all-steel truck bed, a bench-seat single cab, a wide square front end, and an easy-access engine bay. Sadly, some features weren’t carried forward, like its iconic grille, goofy “eyes” headlights, and wide wheel wells. This granddaddy of many future Ford truck generations set a standard for its era and for generations to come.

4 1963 Buick Riviera

Another lesser-known car, at least to me, is the Buick Riviera. Buick designed and produced the Riviera in 1963 as a luxury coupe. In many respects, it was meant to compete against Rolls-Royce and other luxury cars but at a lower cost. It was produced from 1963 to 1999 and came as both a hard top and a convertible. It was produced as a two-seater and a four-seater and came with a 425 V8 and a 4-speed automatic transmission. The body is a sleek long cutter reminiscent of other sports cars of this time, but the front end sported an angular M cut, which takes cues from the previous era’s cars. It’s a beautiful car from the 1960s, and it illustrates the intermediary shift from the 1950s jet age to the aerodynamic fuel-efficiency era of the 1970s.

3 1965 Galaxy 500 Police Car

In terms of recognition, this car is probably the best known from the 1960s. It’s appeared in a number of films, from Acapulco Gold to Valley of the Dolls to Remember the Titans. It was probably made most famous by the TV series Starsky and Hutch. The 1965 Galaxy 500 was used as getaway cars, police cars, and front cars for years because it was inexpensive, mass-produced, easy to modify and, above all else, recognizable. It came with a 352 V8 4-speed automatic, and it was generic. Nonetheless, this recognizable car fits a formula and form factor that was solidified by the 1970s and the 1980s. The irony of this classic car is the influence it had on many other generations of cars that came after it. Look at any four-door sedan that came after this car, and you'll see similar lines, design elements, and length. Its mundanity is the protogenesis of all mundane four-door sedans that came after it.

2 1955 Oldsmobile Holiday

The 1955 Oldsmobile Holiday is a brilliant example of the flare of the 1950s. It became very popular and was produced to compete against the Chevy Bel Air. It's also one of the most exported cars from the era, and Cuba has several dozen of them still running and used every day, from taxis to people’s private cars. Their chrome trim and bumpers are reminiscent from this era, but interestingly enough, the jet-age stylings we see in other cars from the 1950s are muted with this car. Except for its hood ornament, it doesn’t have wide wings along the boot, and the front end is fairly flat and has a short wide grille. These design elements set it apart making it unique for this time period. One of these restored costs about $20,000.

1 Ford Model-T Go-Karts

Okay, so it's not a true classic, at least not in the sense of the other cars on this list, but it's still noteworthy. These tiny 5-8 bhp go-karts capture the essence of the Ford Model-T. Popularized by the Shriner Circus and used in various acts going back to the turn of the century, they’ve remained popular hobbyist cars ever since. The Shriner Fraternity in Chippewa Falls (unrelated to the Shriner’s Circus) maintains a small battalion of these go-karts, and they’re actually 1974 replicas. They’re fun to drive and amusing to watch. The Shriner Fraternity uses these in parades around the state in their efforts to raise money for the Shriner’s Hospitals. Unfortunately, the original manufacturer has ceased making parts for these beloved Mini-Ts, so keeping up with their maintenance is difficult. They have a top speed of around 15 mph and could be made street legal. There are various versions, including the Tin Lizzy go-cart. One can be purchased for around $3,000.

Special thanks to the Chippewa Falls Shrine Club for answering my questions about these hilarious Mini Ford Model-Ts.