If you've ever caught a glimpse of a perfectly restored BMW E30, a neon-liveried Mitsubishi 3000GT, or a cassette player blasting vintage Beastie Boys at a car show, there’s a good chance you were at RADwood. But what exactly is RADwood and why has it become one of the most talked-about automotive events in the U.S.?
RADwood is a celebration of all things automotive from the 1980s and 1990s, blending car culture, period-correct fashion, and retro music into a full-sensory throwback experience. Born in 2017 as a passion project among a group of car lovers, RADwood quickly struck a nerve with a generation of enthusiasts nostalgic for analog dashboards, boxy designs, and VHS-era charm.
In 2023, Hagerty, the automotive lifestyle and classic car insurance brand, acquired RADwood, signaling its growing relevance and potential. With Hagerty’s support, RADwood has scaled from a niche West Coast event into a national circuit, hosting shows in major cities and drawing massive crowds who live for the analog era.
Unlike traditional concours events that focus on million-dollar restorations, RADwood is all about accessibility and authenticity. You'll find everything from pristine Acura Integras and Mazda RX-7s to daily-driven Saab 900 Turbos and Chevy Berettas. If your car was built between 1980 and 1999 and still looks like it belongs in an MTV Spring Break ad, you’re welcome.
But the cars are only half the story. Attendees show up dressed in full retro outfits; windbreakers, bucket hats, Reebok Pumps, and all. Awards are given not just for best cars, but for “Raddest Dressed” and most era-authentic styling. It’s part car show, part fashion archive, and part cultural time capsule.
RADwood also plays an important role in shaping trends in the collector market. Cars like the Toyota MR2, VW Corrado, Nissan 300ZX, and even obscure gems like the Isuzu Impulse or Dodge Stealth are gaining attention and value. As younger collectors enter the scene, RADwood is helping shift the definition of “classic” to include models once overlooked.
For those buying or selling cars from the 80s and 90s, RADwood has become an influential pulse check on the future of car collecting. Platforms are now seeing increased demand for RADwood-eligible cars, driven in part by their spotlight at these events.
At its core, RADwood is about connection between people, design, and an era that shaped today’s car culture. It’s a place where nostalgia and appreciation collide, and where a clean Toyota Supra can turn as many heads as a modern supercar.