Truly Nolen's Community Car Show

Save the Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 10 AM – 2 PM

Join us for the 7th Annual Truly Nolen Community Car Show at our Tucson Leadership Campus. This year’s event will feature more cars, more nonprofits, new additions, and returning favorites. Whether you're a car enthusiast, a community supporter, a veteran, or just looking for a fun day out with the family, there’s something for everyone. Admission, as always, is FREE.

If you’re interested in registering your car for the event, you can do so by clicking HERE.

The Story Behind Truly Nolen’s Community Car Show: Where Automotive Passion, Advertising Legacy, and Community Spirit Unite

Hosting a car show with Truly Nolen’s collection of antique cars floated for years. When the corporate office moved to its new “Leadership Center” – designed for community to come together – it offered the perfect location.

“The last conversation I had with my father before he passed in April 2017 was about creating an event that brought his cars together,” Michelle Nolen recalls. “He loved the idea — he said people always wanted to sit in them and take pictures.”

Honoring a Legacy: The First Show

The inaugural show took place in October 2017 at the newly opened Truly Nolen Corporate Leadership Center in Tucson, Arizona. More than 50 antique advertising vehicles were brought in from across the Southwest—Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona. Each car was carefully cleaned, serviced, and displayed with pride. Truly Nolen’s grandson, Max Nolen, researched and wrote descriptions of each car with historical facts.

Local nonprofits joined the event, setting up alongside the vehicles to create a unique blend of automotive history and community engagement. Hundreds of attendees came to celebrate Tucson’s heritage and the advertising legacy that began in the 1950s, when Truly Nolen turned cars into rolling billboards.

Building a Tradition

The show expanded in 2018 with the addition of local car clubs and a holiday toy drive, which encouraged the public to “Stuff the Mouse Limo.” The event moved to November for cooler weather and continued to grow in 2019.

After a brief pause during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the show returned in 2022 and has been held annually ever since.

What started as a tribute to a father’s passion has evolved into a vibrant celebration—a living museum, a block party, a community resource fair, a tribute to veterans, and a family-friendly festival all rolled into one.

The Story Behind Truly Nolen’s Community Car Show: Where Automotive Passion, Advertising Legacy, and Community Come Together

Truly Nolen's Community Car Show began in 2017 after co-founders Michelle Nolen and Ray Rico presented the idea to Truly Nolen himself. What if we hosted a car show honoring decades of advertising on classic vehicles that once sat on street corners in the communities we serve—brought together in one place, for one day, for one show?

Instead of having to drive all over to see these beautiful classics, we envisioned an event showcasing the antique fleet at our new Corporate Leadership Center. Michelle and Truly had a meaningful conversation that led to Truly saying, "Add the community by adding nonprofits next to the cars, and I like the idea. Let's do it."

The First Show: A Tribute to Legacy

The inaugural Truly Nolen Community Car Show was held in October 2017 at the new Truly Nolen Corporate Leadership Center in Tucson, Arizona. Fifty-eight antique advertising vehicles were transported in from Texas, New Mexico, California, and all across Arizona. Each car was meticulously cleaned, serviced, and prepared for the show.

Nonprofit partners were invited to set up alongside the cars, creating a space where automotive history and community impact walked hand in hand. Hundreds of attendees came to honor a piece of Tucson's heritage and witness the advertising legacy that began in the 1950s—when Truly himself transformed vehicles into moving billboards.

Sadly, Truly Nolen passed away in April 2017, just months before the event. The car show was one of the last projects he personally blessed, making the inaugural year emotional and meaningful for everyone involved.

Growing the Tradition

In 2018, the show evolved. Local car clubs joined the event, bringing in even more diverse rides. A holiday toy drive—“Stuff the Mouse Limo”—was added, and the event moved to November for cooler weather. Aligning with Veterans Day weekend, the show began honoring military service members with antique military vehicles, military branch flags hung respectfully in our courtyard, and a National Anthem ceremony.

More nonprofits, more families, and more fun cemented the second annual event as a true staple in the community.

By 2019, the event opened its doors wider to include customers, employees, and Tucson’s broader car enthusiast network. Over the years, the show has welcomed everything from Monster Trucks and a Big Red Wagon (yes, a car!) to lowrider bikes, semi-trucks, race cars, and even the Tucson Police Department’s community-built lowrider.

Truly’s vision of blending advertising, cars, and community had grown into a full-blown celebration—and a lasting tradition.

A Community United by Wheels and Purpose

Aside from a brief pause in 2020 and 2021, the show has returned annually—each year bigger and better. What began as a tribute to vintage advertising has become a living museum, a block party, a community resource fair, and a family-friendly festival all in one.

This year, on November 8, 2025, we proudly celebrate the 7th Annual Truly Nolen Community Car Show once again at our Tucson Leadership Campus. With even more nonprofits, more cars, new vehicles, and returning favorites, the event promises something for everyone—car lovers, community advocates, families, veterans, longtime fans of our Mouse Limo and toy drive.

At its heart, the Truly Nolen Community Car Show is more than just a car show. It’s a showcase of history, a platform for community partnerships, and a reflection of the legacy Truly left behind—a legacy that rides on four wheels and has community at its heart.

We invite you to be part of the story. Celebrate with us this November and experience where Truly Nolen’s history, advertising innovation, and community spirit come to life.