Inspired by a 1950s cult classic sci-fi film, the Invasion Car Show returns to Dallas on Oct. 26 for the 16th time with hordes of registered vehicles by the hundreds rolling in—and thousands of spectators admiring the classic rides across Deep Ellum.
The free-to-the-public event offers a balance of both “subcultural & family-friendly vibes,” with community involvement, a vendor area, a pin-up contest, car awards, and an official after party with live music.
Car enthusiasts from across Texas and beyond will ‘invade’ Deep Ellum with pre-1965 rides
Photo: Invasion Car Show
Since 2007, THEM! Texas Car Club has hosted the event that invites car enthusiasts from across the state and region to “invade” the historic Deep Ellum neighborhood east of downtown. The show is the only one of its kind in Dallas—and Texas, too, organizers say—in which streets are closed off in a major city to showcase vintage and classic cars against the unique backdrop of an urban entertainment district.
Closing just under a quarter of a mile of Elm Street (from N. Malcolm X Boulevard to N. Good Latimer Expressway) and centered around the hub of the live music venue Trees (an event sponsor), the event will feature vehicles of various makes and model, all made before 1965.
Organizers said that while the show is free to public spectators, car show participants must pay to register and park in the official car show. Gates officially open at 10 a.m., with cars usually lining up early, creating a dynamic rumble of engines as cars stream onto Elm Street to park for the day.
Photo: Invasion Car Show
“Hosting the Invasion Car Show started out just for fun with friends, but 16 years later it’s become part of our legacy and a labor of love—bringing together generations of enthusiasts to connect and share in our love of hot rods and custom cars,” Rusty Davis, THEM! Texas Car Club President, said in a statement.
Founded in 2003, THEM! Texas Car Club has nine members who, along with their families and a dozen volunteers, put on this car show every year. The club said that strong support from the car and local community have bolstered its efforts to continue hosting the Invasion Car Show.
With indirectly related chapters in other states and dating back to the 1950s Texas Hill Country, THEM! Car Clubs were named for the cult classic sci-fi film about the atomic age—and an invading gang of supersized ants.
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