The Chevrolet Montebello Car Show brought together car enthusiasts, families, and community members from across the Eastside of Los Angeles for a celebration of classic cars, culture, and local pride. Hosted at Chevrolet of Montebello, the event highlighted the strong connection between local businesses and the surrounding community while showcasing the region’s long-standing love for classic and customized vehicles.
The idea for the car show began when the dealership looked for ways to become more involved with the Montebello community. General Manager Peter Fice, one of the driving forces behind the event, worked with dealership leadership to find opportunities that would bring people together. Eric Kern, representing the dealership, reached out to several local organizations in Montebello for ideas. One suggestion quickly stood out: hosting a car show. Kern then connected with the local car club, Old Memories, a group known throughout East Los Angeles for organizing community car events. With their experience, the club helped plan and organize the event in just two months.
Although this is the first year the dealership has hosted the show, the response from the community was strong. Around 100 vehicles participated in the event, ranging from restored classics to custom lowriders and vintage rides that reflect the culture of East Los Angeles car clubs. According to Alvaro Ontiveros, one of the many people who attended the event, many participants and visitors came from East Los Angeles and surrounding Eastside neighborhoods, areas where car culture has long been part of local tradition.
To accommodate the large number of vehicles from the car clubs, the dealership rearranged its lot by moving new vehicles to the second story of the building and to a lot across the street. This created space for the display of cars and allowed visitors to walk through the show and interact with car owners and vendors.
The event was designed to be welcoming and accessible for everyone. Admission was free to the public, making it a family-friendly gathering for people of all ages. In addition to the cars, the show featured food vendors and clothing vendors, adding to the festival-like atmosphere and giving local small businesses a chance to participate.
Students from Schurr High School and Montebello High School (ROC) also volunteered to help with the event, demonstrating how the show brought together different parts of the community from local schools to businesses and car clubs.
The car show also reflects the vision of dealership owner Chris Teague, who purchased the dealership in 2010 and rebranded it as Chevrolet of Montebello. Events like this help strengthen ties with the community while celebrating the culture and memories that make the Eastside unique. For many attendees, the show was more than just about the cars; it was a chance to reconnect with old memories and bring together a community.
