4Wheel & Off-Road Homepage 4-Wheel & Off-Road
Facebook Newsletter

2nd Annual Piston Power Show

No Hybrids!

By , Photography by
The biggest piston-popper was of course “The Movie” Memphis Belle, the B-17 bomber that sports four nine-cylinder radial engines, each producing 1,200 horses. Awesome indeed.
The biggest piston-popper was of course “The Movie” Memphis Belle, the B-17 bomber that sp

If there’s one thing gearheads love, it’s the sound of a real engine, a piston-powered engine. Oh sure, some like the quite whir of an electric motor, and some love the roar of a jet, but there’s nothing like the sound of combustion in a cylinder pushing a piston down a bore. Nothing. For some, this celebration of sound and power culminates in racing, while others just like driving, flying, working, or even just sitting around listening to an old one-lunger go pook-pook-pook.

The Piston Power Show in Cleveland is a celebration of speed. While it’s rare to have any fired-up engines inside the expansive building during the show, you can only imagine the noise that happens when it’s time to move all these rigs out after the show.

The second annual event was held at the IX Center by the airport. The building was built as a General Motors bomber plant in the ’40s and made tanks and equipment for years, but has been incredibly renovated to be a first-class exhibition hall.

At the show there is everything from tiny boat engines from the ’20s to modern dragster fare, one of which fired up in the middle of the show. From antique farm equipment and 18-wheelers to airplanes, boats, motorcycles, and muscle cars, if it had a piston it was probably there. Of course we were most interested in the 4x4 rides, and there were enough around to whet our whistle.

Next fall you should check it out as well on October 5-7. For more information visit www.pistonpowershow.com. And remember what they say: “If a piston makes it go, it’s in the show!”

  • We’re suckers for a clean old GMC pickup, and this is one of the first factory 4x4s GM offered. Napco made the front axle and Spicer made the transfer case for this original ’56 model.
    We’re suckers for a clean old GMC pickup, and this is one of the first factory 4x4s GM off
  • It wouldn’t be a car show if it didn’t have some surf wagons, and a Willys at that. While not something we’d take out in the dirt, it was a fine example of quality craftsmanship.
    It wouldn’t be a car show if it didn’t have some surf wagons, and a Willys at that. While
  • When was the last time you saw a Euclid? Never? At this show there was more old construction equipment than you see in black-and-white movies—and most of them were in perfect condition!
    When was the last time you saw a Euclid? Never? At this show there was more old constructi
  • The only true dirt example was a Ramcharger on 42s. It came complete with rust, mud, and an attitude that even said, “I was built for mud!” Cool. Lots of attendees didn’t get it, but we did.
    The only true dirt example was a Ramcharger on 42s. It came complete with rust, mud, and a
  • How about a ’63 crew cab Dodge? No Ram here, this baby was built to last and is still truckin’ around Toledo. Check out the vintage turbine aluminum rims.
    How about a ’63 crew cab Dodge? No Ram here, this baby was built to last and is still truc
  • Next to all the real construction equipment was a fond memory for many guys, the sandlot. It looked like all our old Tonka toys were still grading gravel and digging holes.
    Next to all the real construction equipment was a fond memory for many guys, the sandlot.
  • A bone-stock early Jimmy is hard to beat. It looked perfect down to the Uniroyal tires. The bikini was not original though, but made it right.
    A bone-stock early Jimmy is hard to beat. It looked perfect down to the Uniroyal tires. Th
  • Any show deserves to have a WWII jeep in it, and the CAF (Commemorative Air Force) had one with their flying entry too. This one is a ’43 GPW, made by Ford during the war.
    Any show deserves to have a WWII jeep in it, and the CAF (Commemorative Air Force) had one
  • Scouts somehow hold a special place for us, especially the early ones. Cornbinders like this ’68 are rarely in this pristine a shape, considering this is in the Rust Belt.
    Scouts somehow hold a special place for us, especially the early ones. Cornbinders like th
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!

*Please enter your username

*Please enter your password

*Please enter your comments
Comments:
Not Registered?Signup Here
(1024 character limit)
4Wheel & Off-Road