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This year, we found ourselves on the shores of Mobile Bay in Mobile, Alabama, for Battle In Bama Hot Rod, Truck, and Bike Show on April 30 through May 2. The show takes place on the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park grounds, which provides a remarkable backdrop for folks to show off their rides. I mean, where else can you eat tacos on a battleship? That's right; the Friday night welcome party hosted on the ship's deck is complete with a taco buffet.
A little rain on Thursday and Friday left the grass a little soggy in places, but it didn't affect the thousands of participants. Saturday turned out to be perfect 80-degree car-show weather with a breeze blowing across the bay. The best part about Battle in Bama (BiB) is the variety of vehicles on display. It doesn't matter what you are into; there is something for everyone: Pro Street behemoths parked next to Minitrucks, sky-high 4x4s parked next to down-in-the-weeds Lowriders, Motorcycles parked by Duallys, Rat Rods parked next to Street Rods, and Imports parked by Hot Rods. You are sure to find something you like at BiB.
Saturday was a packed house with some having to wait over an hour to enter, while the food vendors were overwhelmed with customers. However, attitudes were good — people were just happy to be outside at a car show once again. Clothing and parts vendors seemed to have a pretty brisk business as well, as people were looking for their next must-have items for their car, truck, or person.
Although BIB has some of the most incredible custom-painted and pinstriped torpedo-shaped awards you will ever see, it's not about the trophies. BiB is much more than a car show; it is about hanging out with family — whether blood-related or your car club friends. Mark your calendars for the first weekend in May 2022 to make the pilgrimage to the Gulf Coast and the USS Alabama; you are guaranteed to have a good time!
Providing an epic backdrop for a car show, the USS Alabama was home to 2,500 courageous Americans during WWI. The 45,000-ton war machine’s adventures culminated with it leading the American Fleet into Tokyo Bay on September 5, 1945. Nine Battle Stars for meritorious service were awarded to the “Mighty A” during her brief three-year tenure as the “Heroine of the Pacific.”
There is something for everyone at Battle in Bama — from classics to new iron, domestics to imports, stock to custom — you’re sure to find something to oogle over!
Built by Chad Martin of Chad’s Custom Dreams, this 1936 Chevy Sedan wide-dually pickup named “Brutally Sexy” debuted at SEMA 2018. This true dually, all steel, suicide-door custom is powered by a 24 valve twin-turbo Cummins diesel with 750hp. It is an incredible build!
Talk about a wild build! The license plate on this Pro Street 1994 Geo Tracker says it all — NVR Enough. With 24x15 wheels on the rear, it sports one of the wildest paint jobs you will see and every kind of power-adder you can imagine!
We really dug the paint scheme on this OBS pickup. Awesome custom tribal graphics on one side (even the window) and plain yellow on the other. Something different you don’t see done every day!
The owner of this step-side Scottsdale liked What-A-Burger so much, they painted the truck to match (ok, we know that isn’t the case, but it DOES match)! How cool are those artillery wheels?
Mark Osborne of Sherwood, Arkansas, went to Lou Glutz Motors and picked up a Family Truckster to bring to the show. It may very well be the most authentic recreation of a movie car, right down to Aunt Edna on the roof and the dog collar hanging off the bumper. It had a crowd all weekend!
Man, this little Volkswagen Squareback stole everyone’s heart. The sweet turquoise ride is bagged with artillery wheels and chrome caps, complete with a roof rack.
Talk about a CLEAN engine bay! This C10 has one of the prettiest we’ve seen, with an LS disguised as a small block topped with a Holley EFI intake and fuel rails painted to match the exterior.
Check out the wild flip-flop paint on this Ford F150 riding on Forgiato wheels.
Four of the greatest cars that look killer lowered are a ‘57 Wagon/Nomad, early ‘50s Chevys like this ‘54, any Cadillac (such as this ‘65), and a second-generation Impala like this ‘59 version.
A former Battle in Bama t-shirt feature car, “Evil Ethyl,” roamed the grounds all weekend. Joe Kossen and his son Henry (among many other passengers) made it a rolling car show with the killer blower-surging chopped ‘30 Model A Coupe.
