The wildest and wackiest rides at the Montreal Auto Show

There’s no shortage of wild and wacky classic cars at the 2026 Montreal Auto Show, which runs until Jan. 25. Here are five of our favorites tucked away in the corner of the show:

1951 Chevrolet Bel Air

It’s impossible to miss this massive 1951 Chevrolet Bel Air, especially when its painted vibrant orange. Even the custom hardtop roof gets the same treatment in glossy psychedelic shades of pink, orange and purple all intertwined together. Shiny chrome accents cover its big body. Look closely to spot the standout design details such as the intricate engravings carved onto the metal parts of the brakes. More than 2,000 painstaking hours went into handcrafting this ride. Inside, the custom interior mimics the bold exterior’s accents and colour scheme. As does the orange trunk with the bedazzled hydraulic pump. Under the hood is a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.

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1953 Buick Special

This Buick rat rod should have had a cameo in the movie Cars. Inspired by jets, this 1953 Buick Special’s design was futuristic with sweeping lines, chrome details and a dizzying colour combo of blue, black and white on the exterior and upholstery. Produced by General Motor’s Buick division, it was the cheapest model in the family at the time. It was offered as a coupe, sedan and later a station wagon. It had pneumatic suspension and 383 cubic-inch stroker engine. In the 1960s, GM’s modern V6 made its way into the Buick Special and remained a staple engine in the lineup for decades.

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1970 Chevrolet Pickup

This 1970 Chevrolet pickup resembles a hot wheels truck. It has been souped up significantly on the performance side with its prized possession proudly on display. Under the hood is a supercharged 496 cubic-inch engine that delivers a whopping 1,200 horsepower. The C-10 pickup was rear-wheel drive; while the K-10 pickup was four-wheel drive. This model was the top-of-the-line CST-10, which was short for Custom Sport Truck. On the outside, the truck is impeccably restored with a funky purple coat covering its single cab and short bed. Funky exhaust pipes peek from its side profile, nestled in front of the rear wheels. At the rear, the Chevrolet name is spelled out in large letters across the tailgate – a big trend that current manufacturers are using in modern vehicles.

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1990 Nissan 300ZX

This 1990 Nissan 300ZX looks like it raced off the set of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The Japanese automaker’s Z sports car was groundbreaking when it hit the road. And this one is unique thanks to a single-turbo 2JZ engine swap that pumped out 1,000 horsepower. A wide-body kit stretched its body by seven inches; while inside, the iconic Z emblem was embroidered into the well-bolstered sport seats. This right-hand drive coupe had a five-speed manual transmission. After more than 30 years, the 300 ZX still looks as sleek and sexy as it did in 1990.

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1996 Cadillac Fleetwood

There’s no denying, this is a big blue boat. The 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood was one of the longest production cars ever built at almost six metres. For context, the extended version of the new Escalade is only a few centimetres longer. And judging by its dimensions, it wasn’t easy to drive, park or do a three-point turn. Under the long, menacing hood was a Corvette LT1 5.7-litre engine. It had hydraulic suspension with dual pumps and tiny 13-inch wheels. And inside, there was plenty of space for six adults. Likewise, the trunk was massive – it could hold more cargo than a minivan. But the Fleetwood went of our production in late 1996 – making it the last monster Cadillac car on the road.

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