Chicago Auto Show's Chi-Town Alley Celebrates City's 'Hidden' Car Culture

New exhibit features sleek vehicles owned by local enthusiasts, including finalists vying to be crowned the Chi-Town Alley Showcase winner.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The 2026 Chicago Auto Show is featuring a new exhibit called Chi-Town Alley that showcases the vibrant but often overlooked car culture in the city. The exhibit includes vehicles owned by local enthusiasts, including six finalists competing to be named the Chi-Town Alley Showcase winner. Participants say the attraction helps put a much-needed spotlight on Chicago's thriving car scene, which they feel is not widely recognized outside the region.

Why it matters

The Chi-Town Alley exhibit aims to celebrate and bring greater visibility to Chicago's passionate car community, which participants say is often overshadowed by the coasts. By highlighting the talent and creativity of local enthusiasts, the exhibit helps challenge stereotypes about Midwestern car culture and foster a stronger sense of community around a shared passion.

The details

The Chi-Town Alley exhibit features a variety of vehicles owned by Chicago-area car enthusiasts, including a 1975 Datsun, a 1995 Porsche 911 RWB Sandstorm, and a collection of Mustangs and lowriders from local clubs. One of the finalists in the showcase contest is Matt Conger, who has owned a Toyota MR2 Turbo since 1995 and is thrilled to have his car on display. The exhibit was created to encourage community-building and celebrate the city's vibrant but often "hidden" car culture.

  • The 2026 Chicago Auto Show kicked off on Saturday, February 8, 2026 and runs through February 16, 2026.
  • Matt Conger has owned his Toyota MR2 Turbo since 1995, after first spotting a similar model at the Chicago Auto Show in 1991.

The players

Matt Conger

A 54-year-old car enthusiast from West Chicago who has owned a Toyota MR2 Turbo since 1995 and is one of the finalists in the Chi-Town Alley Showcase contest.

Sung Kang

A 52-year-old actor known for his roles in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, who made an appearance at the 2026 Chicago Auto Show.

Alan Castro

A 37-year-old car enthusiast from Elgin, Illinois, who is another finalist in the Chi-Town Alley Showcase contest with his 1998 Nissan R34 Skyline.

Ryan Rivera

A 37-year-old car enthusiast from Portage Park, Illinois, who is also a finalist in the Chi-Town Alley Showcase contest with his 2024 Acura Integra.

Marcel Sutkowski

A 21-year-old college student at Purdue University who manages the social media for the Chicago Auto Show and was inspired by the city's car culture as a teenager.

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What they’re saying

“I am so humbled. Winning, to me, is just being here, taking part in all this and helping start a new exhibit. I hope it stays.”

— Matt Conger (suntimes.com)

“We are very passionate about our cars, but I have enough friends on the West Coast and the East Coast who think we're just simple Midwesterners. They don't know what we bring and the status of our cars, because they just think we live in cornfields. [The culture] is very strong, but hidden.”

— Matt Conger (suntimes.com)

“Chicago is awesome because it's very diverse. There's such a mixture of different ethnic groups. The car culture is not just one color. Everyone came together to celebrate this common love of cars.”

— Sung Kang (suntimes.com)

“It got me out of trouble. Instead of doing other things, I'd rather build cars. You can just sit for hours in the garage thinking, 'What should I do next? When's the next event?'”

— Alan Castro (suntimes.com)

“I kind of want to sit on the floor when there's nobody here and just look up and take in the moment.”

— Ryan Rivera (suntimes.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Chi-Town Alley Showcase contest will be announced once the 2026 Chicago Auto Show closes on February 16, 2026.

The takeaway

The Chi-Town Alley exhibit at the 2026 Chicago Auto Show highlights the vibrant but often overlooked car culture in the city, challenging stereotypes about Midwestern automotive enthusiasm and fostering a stronger sense of community around a shared passion for vehicles.