Included in this group is the new entry and first time seen in the Lehigh Valley INEOS Grenadier, 4WD SUV. It looks like a tough off-roader that can double as a war fighting vehicle or one you’d see in a Hollywood movie. The Grenadier was the brainchild of Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire who, according to Car & Driver Magazine, tried to buy the tooling for the Land Rover Defender. He wasn’t successful but the final product looks a lot like a mix of the Defender, Mercedes G Wagen and Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs. Under the hood, Radcliffe powers it with a BMW 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder. Its interior resembles the cockpit of a Gulfstream corporate jet with hard switches, knobs even a multitude of overhead switches on the headliner. Grenadier is a must-see at the show.
There’re loads of other interesting exhibits to see such as club displays from the Ford Thunderbird/Mustang and Chevy Corvette clubs, a Tuner display of over 70 custom tuned and modified cars that will be on display along with prizes awarded for Best of Show and other criteria.
In addition to vehicles, Miss Pennsylvania and players from Lehigh Valley Phantoms will be on hand plus the Marketplace Marvel returns with unique shopping choices from local businesses and daily wine, distillery and brewery tasting events.
To get a first-look at the show, the annual VIP Gala, that benefits Good Shepard’s Rehabilitation Pediatric Unit, gets underway on March 19 beginning at 5:30 p.m. and will include food, drink and entertainment provided by Kendal Conrad, the Silver String Philadelphia Mummers Band, Cunningham and Associates rock-and-roll band and more. Gala tickets are available through the show’s website as are show tickets (www.lehighvalleyautoshow.org). Show tickets can also be purchased at the door.
Ticket prices are adults ($10), Seniors ($8), Children 6-14 ($8), Children 5 and under are free. Veterans are free with I.D., any day. And parking is free. Best of all, patrons can peruse the vehicles without pressure from salesman.
Show hours are Thursday, March 20: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Friday, March 21: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 22: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 23: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
