TUPELO – Chat with Harold and Christy Sullivan even briefly and you’ll quickly discover how excited they are to have the World of Customs Auto Show in Building V of the Furniture Market this weekend.
This is the ninth year for the annual car show, the largest indoor auto show in Mississippi. And Harold, with the help and support of his wife, has worked tirelessly to make it happen.
The New Albany couple brought the World of Customs show to Tupelo because there was nothing like it here.
“They have shows in Chicago, Detroit, Birmingham — big cities,” Harold Sullivan said. “But there was nothing similar in the town of Tupelo.”
There are vendors taking part in the massive car show that don’t sell anywhere else.
World of Customs opened Friday and will continue from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available online at worldofcustoms.com or at the door.
“Nine years, and it still fills up every year,” Sullivan said of the event.
The planning never ends. Soon after this year’s show ends Sunday afternoon, the Sullivans will set a date for next year’s show and initial prep work will begin.
“I had a call one year from a big-time car guy from Austria,” Sullivan said. “He wanted to come to the United States to show his car. He put the car on a boat to the U.S. and entered his car in five big shows, including the one in Tupelo. And he loved Tupelo.”
Sullivan, who drove a truck 29 years, always has loved cars. He retired a decade ago and started building Trans Ams.
“I entered one of my Trans Ams in a regional show and won first place,” he said. “Then in the nationals, I also won first place. I was hooked.”
The show has more than 100 vehicles featured. This includes a variety of International Show Car Association custom cars, trucks and motorcycles, as well as restored and antique vehicles.
There are also local car enthusiasts showing their vehicles in the show.
This year’s Tupelo show has as a couple of special guests: Von Hot Rod, a world-renowned pinstriper, and Erik Estrada, known for his role as Francis “Ponch” Poncherello on “CHIPS,” a TV series that aired from 1977 to 1983.
As part of the World of Customs Auto Show, high school students are invited to attend on Friday morning.
“We give them model cars and Von will custom stripe their models at no charge,” Sullivan said.
Von Hot Rod said he was born into the car business.
“And I’ve been turning wrenches my whole life,” he said with a laugh Friday morning. “I always tell my wife there is no Plan B.”
Estrada, a buddy of Von’s, was busily setting up his booth Friday morning. He’ll be selling autographed photographs, selfies and other merch during the car show.
“I enjoy meeting fans who grew up watching the show,” Estrada said. “And meeting police officers and firefighters. I’ve done a lot of trade shows with law enforcement."
