RADwood began in San Francisco back in 2017 when a group of friends realized their favorite ’80s and ’90s rides didn’t really fit in at the classic shows. They wanted a space for neon-trimmed BMWs and Porsches and launched RADwood as a playful homage to the era’s cars and culture, giving those “automotive misfits” a true home. Media buzz and growing demand quickly turned it from a Bay Area experiment into a national highlight, and Hagerty’s support helped RADwood join major concours weekends. Its first run at The Amelia was a 60-car “let’s-see-if-this-works” field, and the response made it clear: ‘80s and ’90s cars belonged here as much as anywhere. In just three years, Amelia’s RADwood has nearly tripled in size, and its blend of nostalgia, accessibility, and celebration made it a true fixture.

The RADwood event at The Amelia 2025, held on March 8 at Amelia Island, Florida, marked a significant cultural milestone in automotive lifestyle. Now in its third year at The Amelia, RADwood is a celebration of 1980s and 1990s cars and culture, drawing a growing crowd and over 200 vehicles by 2025. This event connects enthusiasts who embrace these once-overlooked eras, often viewed as automotive misfits, and provides a vibrant platform amid the prestigious setting of The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, which celebrated its 30th anniversary the same weekend.

Leading into the event, expectations centered on RADwood continuing its rapid growth and broadening cultural impact, moving beyond just a car show to emphasize lifestyle elements like music, fashion, and pop culture from the '80s and '90s. The event aimed to complement The Amelia’s classic and luxury car showcases by spotlighting vehicles that traditionally received little respect, despite their passionate following. Co-founders highlighted the timing and generational appeal as key to RADwood’s rise, aligning with financially stable enthusiasts seeking to celebrate their youth and the era’s idiosyncratic vehicles. Expectations were high for a packed, dynamic program blending the nostalgia of old-school automotive charm with modern curation and community energy.

The reality delivered was an immersive, lively festival atmosphere distinct from the elegance of the main Concours. RADwood kicked off smoothly at 9 a.m., unaffected by the Concours’ schedule change linked to weather. The event featured a diverse lineup, including a standout safari-ready Porsche 911 in Martini Racing livery with detailed Rennline accessories, embodying the attention to quirky automotive craftsmanship enthusiasts prize. The participant cars ranged from the well-preserved Toyota Supras to Pontiacs reminiscent of pop culture icons, weaving a narrative of passion over pristine perfection. The mix of music from the era, laid-back dress codes, and a younger, enthusiastic crowd reinforced RADwood’s unique corners in the old-meets-new classic car world. Attendance grew dramatically, packing the RADwood fairway with more than 260 vehicles and around 17,000 overall event attendees for The Amelia weekend as a whole.

Weather played a decisive role in the weekend’s schedule, pushing the main Amelia Concours from Sunday to Saturday, but RADwood, held separately on its own field, ran as scheduled without interruption. The mild weather on March 8 favored both participants and spectators. The asphalt of the golf course’s motor exposition area provided a friendly, less formal arena for these nostalgic machine showcases. From a technical perspective, these older vehicles showcased diverse materials and packaging choices, which contrast starkly with newer engineering trends—a reminder of how durability and heat management had different priorities then, something that subtly resonates with modern paint protection film challenges in preserving vintage finishes.

Reflecting on RADwood from my paint protection film perspective, it was fascinating to see how the era’s materials and paint finishes, often less refined than today’s, require bespoke protection solutions. The bold graphics, special coatings, and even the wear patterns tell stories that blend art and engineering, a testament to why niche accessory markets like PPF have an important role in conserving these rolling memories.

Ultimately, RADwood at The Amelia 2025 exceeded expectations by flourishing as a vibrant, distinct counterpoint to the traditional Concours atmosphere. It delivered high attendance, a diversified vehicle roster, and a palpable sense of community honoring the automotive culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s. The weekend’s box score was impressive: over 260 RADwood cars on display, 240+ at the main concours, and about 17,000 total attendees, confirming RADwood’s status as a mainstream yet refreshingly unconventional automotive lifestyle event within the elite Amelia lineup.

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Wessen Char is UPPF’s petrolhead who still mourns the loss of Saab (and drove her 9-5 NG till 2025). She travels between US and Europe to cover auto events. She acknowledges the chic tech of EVs but wonders if the inexorable move to everything digital is ultimately all-better. Analogue had more soul somehow :)

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