I Don't Want To Grow Up: The Oblivion Experience

Writing about Oblivion – Ontario, Canada’s 1980s to 2000s-themed car show – inevitably stirs up a wave of nostalgia. Fortunately, the event’s meticulous curation of vehicles, venue, and music is designed to evoke exactly those feelings.

As a proud child of the ‘90s, I have a deep fondness for everything from that era. The vehicles, toys, cartoons, and movies of the time significantly shaped my passion for car culture.

Despite our reluctance to admit it, those of us from that era are now quite a bit removed from it. However, seeing these vehicles – no matter how mundane – instantly transports me back to identifying headlights during long road trips.

Cars from back then had more personality. Their shapes were distinctive, and their designs were bolder.

Many even had unique engine sounds – even if was a mechanical protest of being pushed to highway speeds. Turbocharger use was quite liberal, and manual transmissions ruled the roost.

With recent discussions about Need for Speed games in its 30th anniversary year, I’ve been wondering what racing titles will look like as performance cars become less prevalent. Could we see an NFS ‘Retro’ title in the future? One can hope.

It’s an odd thought, but as long as events like Oblivion continue, I can indulge in nostalgia and worry about the future reality later.

Oblivion is a fantastic event for kids, and I’ve been attending for the past four years with my son. At 10 years old, he’s become quite perceptive and notices the differences between cars from then and now.

He often comments on the shapes. To him, wedge-shaped vehicles are new and exciting – a stark contrast to the trucks and SUVs he usually sees in traffic today.

And he’s not wrong. Wedge shapes were once everywhere, but car designs have gradually become rounder.

This shift was gradual, so it wasn’t immediately noticeable. As car shapes evolved, performance models either carried a high price tag or disappeared altogether.

I’m currently hunting for a replacement for my aging first-generation Mazdaspeed3, but the number of fun-to-drive, turbocharged, manual, and reasonably priced vehicles is dwindling fast.

Perhaps I should start looking at cars that are unexpectedly nimble, like the first-generation Dodge Neons.

The ACR models are well-known for their impressive performance, but even the base models punched above their weight class. A few upgrades, like the 225-section tires fitted to the example above, made them even more potent. These characteristics have given them longevity that few predicted.

Similar statements could be made about the Ford SVT Contour. With 200 factory-rated horsepower under the hood and a multi-link independent rear end, this car surprised reviewers who were expecting another bland sedan from the American automaker.

Sadly, today’s norm is rear beam suspensions, diminished performance, and more screens. Yes, Mazda, I’m looking at you.

Putting aside my pre-geriatric rants, I’m happy to report that Oblivion 2024 provided plenty of ‘damn, that’s cool’ moments.

One standout was a mini Mercedes-Benz 500 SL style junior go-kart. While made for children, these rare karts featured a 2-speed manual transmission mated to a 2.2hp Honda four-stroke motor, so I wonder how many kids could actually drive them. Most children who would comfortably fit inside were already dangerous enough behind the wheel of a Power Wheels.

This one was in proper working order, and seeing it in action was a real highlight. Even Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus enjoyed it when she wasn’t giving tours of the Milton, Ontario facility.

As in previous years, Oblivion 2024 blended Comic-Con and car show vibes—perfect for those of us with crossover interests.

Era-correct motorcycles were also welcome.

With AI advancing rapidly, I wonder how close we are to having a wise-cracking computer in our cars, like K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider. 

For everyone’s sake, let’s hope we don’t start bringing dinosaurs back to life.

Without fail, Oblivion always features at least one vehicle I’ve never seen before. One year, it was a one-of-300 Subaru Impreza S201.

The following year, a Jaguar Don Law Racing Jaguar XJ220.

This year, the standout for me was a Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso.

As a fan of the De Tomaso Pantera, it was thrilling to see one in person, despite its minimal connection to the Italian automaker.

In 1976, the De Tomaso Group acquired Innocenti, and while the cars initially continued to use BMC A-Series engines, they eventually turned to Daihatsu for a powertrain for their Innocenti Mini De Tomaso variant. The De Tomaso Charade model celebrated this partnership.

Compared to the standard fourth-generation Charade, the JDM-only De Tomaso model had a larger 1.6L engine, a limited-slip differential, Recaro seats, and disc brakes. They also featured a unique De Tomaso-designed bodywork (front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and rear wing), along with distinctive graphics.

With Level 6 of Oblivion now complete, it’s amazing to see how the show keeps getting better each year, even as the newest cars are now half a century old. I can’t wait to do it all over again in 2025.

Dave Thomas
Instagram: stanceiseverythingcom

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