(August 1, 2012) WILMINGTON, Del. — If you want to see a collection of vintage pickup trucks, then Wilmington, Del, on Sept. 16 is the place for you. The 17th annual Hagley Car Show promises to bring back all of the family favorites enjoyed every year — a fabulous field of antique and classic automobiles—and a few new surprises to delight the crowd.

This year’s show feature is an American icon — the pickup truck.

Legend has it that the inspiration for the pickup truck came from Down Under when an Australian farmer wrote to the head of Ford Australia in 1932 asking them to create a vehicle that could "take her family to church on Sunday and the pigs to market on Monday."

Though that request did lead to the design of a utility vehicle with an enclosed cab and a utility bed, the reality is that earliest vehicles resembling today’s pickup trucks were produced for the military during World War I and that both Chevy and Dodge were producing pickup trucks for the public by 1918. This year’s feature section of the show field will include examples of these earliest American pickup trucks.

In addition to pickup trucks, the car show is expected to include nearly 600 classic vehicles from every era, video racing and pedal car course for the kids, a vintage juke box display, highlights from the newly catalogued Vinson Collection of Automotive History, a variety of food vendors, and the rock-and-roll music of earlier days spun by DJ Bob Burke.

If you want to get a good look at the show, or you just want to reminisce about last year’s wonderful event, visit www.myclassiccar.com, where you can see an entire episode of that popular show dedicated to the 2011 Hagley Car Show.

Advance registration is required for vehicles to be in the show. If you have a vehicle that is at least 25 years old and you’re interested in displaying your car at the show, contact Diana Carre at (302) 658-2400, ext. 305, or dcarre@hagley.org.

Pre-event wristbands are $8 adults and $4 for children 6 through 14. Wristbands purchased at the car show will be $10 adults and $5 children 6 through 14. Admission is free for Hagley members and children 5 and under. The event will be held rain or shine.