We share many photos of the 2019 Classic Car Parade (Desfile de Autos Clasicos), which is one of the most popular events during Feria de las Flores in Medellín.
The 2019 Classic Car Parade (Desfile de Autos Clasicos) was on Saturday, August 10, in Medellín. This is one of the two biggest events of La Feria de las Flores (Festival of Flowers) in Medellín. This year was the 24th year for the classic car parade.
It was estimated that approximately 1 million people saw the 2019 Desfile de Autos Clasicos. This car parade typically has more attendees than the flower parade (Desfile de Silleteros), as the car parade is spread out along a much longer route.
Note, the above photos are from the parade this year. And we have many more photos from this year’s car parade in this article. In addition, you can see our photos from the last two years: 2018 Desfile de Autos Clasicos and the 2017 Desfile de Autos Clasicos.
1900 De Dion-Bouton – the oldest car in the parade
The oldest car in this year’s Classic Car Parade was a 1900 De Dion-Bouton, seen in the photo above. But the car wasn’t being driven. Instead it was pulled by a 1929 Ford Model A. In 2017, the same 1900 De Dion-Bouton was driven in the parade.
De Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer from 1883 to 1932. 1900 was one of the first years this company made a four-wheel vehicle. And the company built a total of only 400 cars in 1900. It also built powered tricycles. The 1900 vehicle has a 402-cc single-cylinder engine under the seat. Furthermore, in this car the passenger interestingly faces the driver.
1929 Ford A pulling a 1900 De Dion-Bouton
2019 Classic Car Parade (Desfile de Autos Clasicos)
Colombians have some very old cars that are in excellent condition. And each year Colombians come from all over the country to participate in the car parade. This year in the parade I saw cars that came from Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Manizales, Pereira and several other cities.
Every year, Colombians dust their cars off, dress up in costumes and go for a drive in the classic car parade in Medellín. Reportedly over 300 vehicles participated this year along the 15 miles (24 km) route.
The vehicles in Desfile de Autos Clasicos are in several categories, including
- Old vehicles – cars which are at least 35 years old. And they must retain their original specifications.
- Classic vehicles – cars which are at least 50 years old. And they must retain their original features and specifications.
- Street rod vehicles – cars which are at least 35 years old and retain the completely original exterior and all accessories, emblems and mirrors. Inside parts and mechanicals can change but these should not be noticeable from the outside.
- Hot rod vehicles – cars that were completely changed in the mechanics, suspension and body. This includes finishes such as paint and upholstery typically very different from the original. There is a limit of 25 cars in this category selected by a committee.
- Vehicles produced, assembled or distributed in Colombia – cars included in this category must be at least 35 years old and at least 95 percent original.
In addition, there is a special category for military Jeeps and Volkswagens.
How to Participate in the 2019 Desfile de Autos Clasicos
To participate in the 2019 Desfile de Autos Clasicos, a driver would have needed to pay a fee of 178,600 pesos from April 1 to June 15, or 297,000 pesos from June 16 to July 15 or 595,000 pesos from July 16 to July 31. So, there is a benefit for signing up early to participate.
In addition, each vehicle in the parade needs to be accepted by a committee. Also, drivers needed to attend a meeting before the parade.
The parade organizers scheduled four of these meetings in July and August. And it was required for drivers to attend one of the meetings to learn about the parade.
My Experience at the 2019 Desfile de Autos Clasicos
The classic car parade during Feria de las Flores is an extremely popular event every year. I saw many families this year as usual, as this is a family friendly event. And the weather was very nice.
In addition, there were many vendors walking along the route as usual selling cold sodas, water, beers, ice cream, chips, candy and other snacks, plus hats and sunglasses
In several past years, I normally went to the Industriales metro station and found a place along the route near the big Bancolombia headquarters building. And the past two years I went to the Ayurá metro station and found a place along the route on Avenida Las Vegas with shade that would be a good to take photos.
But this year the route was different and passed by the huge Viva Envigado mall in Envigado. This year, I went to the Envigado metro station and first went to the east side of the mall but found it had way too many people. So, I went to the west side of the mall that had much fewer people, which made it easier to take photos.
Normally the classic car parade runs pretty smoothly in my experience. This year it started on schedule like the past few years.
Photos from the 2019 Classic Car Parade (Desfile de Autos Clasicos)
Here are over 25 more photos from the 2019 classic car parade in Medellín, which show many of the vehicles in the parade.
1927 Overland
1928 Hummer T
1929 Studebaker
1930 Ford A
1930 Ford A
1932 Oldsmobile
1934 Ford
1934 Ford
1936 Ford
1936 Oldsmobile
1938 Chevrolet Maxter Deluxe
1939 Ford
1939 Chrysler
1940 Chevrolet
1948 Cadillac
1950 Studebaker Commander
1952 MG TD
1953 Willys M38
1953 Ford F100
1954 Volkswagen
1955 Packard Clipper
1955 Buick Roadmaster
1955 Ford Fairlane
1956 Dodge Power Wagon
1957 Ford
1961 Fiat Neckar
1961 MG A
1974 Volkswagen Safari
1980 Pontiac Trans Am Pace Car
Westfield Seven, labeled as a Ford Seven
The Bottom Line: 2019 Classic Car Parade (Desfile de Autos Clasicos)
The bottom line is this is an event that is worth going to every year. And this was the 10th year I have been to Desfile de Autos Clasicos.
Each year I have seen many new cars that haven’t been in the parade before. Typically, up to about 30 to 40 percent of the cars are new. So, you can see new cars in the parade every year.
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