History of the Old Car Council of Colorado, Inc.
The Old Car Council was founded in 1965 when two car collectors decided that the five
organized clubs which were in existence in the Denver area should have a way to
coordinate club events. There was also a need to unite in the face of restrictive legislation.
The first meetings were held in different members' homes. The OCCC has come a long
way from those first beginnings. There are now over fifty member clubs. Today, OCCC
meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Forney Museum, 4303
Brighton Blvd., in Denver. A representative from each member club attends and takes
information back to his or her respective club members. The fellowship and exchange of
ideas promote each club's activities and encourage vehicle enthusiasts to interact with a
common cause.
The Horseless Carriage and Collector's Series license plates, which acknowledge our
automobiles as distinctive collectibles, were suggested by the original group of OCCC
members to keep their vehicles from being labeled "old junkers" and towed away by
overzealous city/county officials. Little did the founders know when they suggested
distinctive license plates for their collectible vehicles that one of the purposes of the OCCC
would eventually be to influence state legislation affecting the collector vehicle hobby.
The primary purpose of the OCCC is to support sound legislative and regulatory actions
and to defend vigorously the rights and privileges of the old car and special interest auto
hobbies to use the public highways, byways, and streets in Colorado. Other purposes are
to protect sound licensing provisions in local ordinances and state laws; to preserve the
special interest car (tomorrow's antique and classic) from premature destruction and ill
advised regulatory moves of Home Rule cities in Colorado; to publicize our hobby; to bring
favorable public reaction to bear on the hobby; to negotiate and promote needful reforms
and consolidation of automotive insurance protection and coverage; and to make
legislative authorities and the general public aware of the existence of the hobby and its
historical value and to promote its preservation.
The OCCC retains a lobbyist and has a Legislative Committee which monitors legislation.
The committee also presents the legislature with a unified voice which represents the
motor vehicle hobby.
The annual "Mountain States" swap meet began in 1968. The Antique Automobile Club of
America sponsored the meet, known as "The Biggie". They requested help from the
OCCC in putting it on, and eventually the OCCC took over its administration. Primarily, the
proceeds of the meet help support our legislative efforts, and the remainder is returned to
the member clubs to benefit the hobby. The swap meet is held at the Adams County
Fairgrounds.
In 2007 the OCCC organized and promoted the first Colfax Avenue Cruise in mid
September. This is a free annual event for classic cars, street rods and customs. Festival
sites are organized at a number of locations along the 25+ miles of Colfax Avenue in
Denver, Aurora and Lakewood where entertainment and food are available and the show
is provided by cars cruising through.
The Old Car Council was founded in 1965 when two car collectors decided that the five
organized clubs which were in existence in the Denver area should have a way to
coordinate club events. There was also a need to unite in the face of restrictive legislation.
The first meetings were held in different members' homes. The OCCC has come a long
way from those first beginnings. There are now over fifty member clubs. Today, OCCC
meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Forney Museum, 4303
Brighton Blvd., in Denver. A representative from each member club attends and takes
information back to his or her respective club members. The fellowship and exchange of
ideas promote each club's activities and encourage vehicle enthusiasts to interact with a
common cause.
The Horseless Carriage and Collector's Series license plates, which acknowledge our
automobiles as distinctive collectibles, were suggested by the original group of OCCC
members to keep their vehicles from being labeled "old junkers" and towed away by
overzealous city/county officials. Little did the founders know when they suggested
distinctive license plates for their collectible vehicles that one of the purposes of the OCCC
would eventually be to influence state legislation affecting the collector vehicle hobby.
The primary purpose of the OCCC is to support sound legislative and regulatory actions
and to defend vigorously the rights and privileges of the old car and special interest auto
hobbies to use the public highways, byways, and streets in Colorado. Other purposes are
to protect sound licensing provisions in local ordinances and state laws; to preserve the
special interest car (tomorrow's antique and classic) from premature destruction and ill
advised regulatory moves of Home Rule cities in Colorado; to publicize our hobby; to bring
favorable public reaction to bear on the hobby; to negotiate and promote needful reforms
and consolidation of automotive insurance protection and coverage; and to make
legislative authorities and the general public aware of the existence of the hobby and its
historical value and to promote its preservation.
The OCCC retains a lobbyist and has a Legislative Committee which monitors legislation.
The committee also presents the legislature with a unified voice which represents the
motor vehicle hobby.
The annual "Mountain States" swap meet began in 1968. The Antique Automobile Club of
America sponsored the meet, known as "The Biggie". They requested help from the
OCCC in putting it on, and eventually the OCCC took over its administration. Primarily, the
proceeds of the meet help support our legislative efforts, and the remainder is returned to
the member clubs to benefit the hobby. The swap meet is held at the Adams County
Fairgrounds.
In 2007 the OCCC organized and promoted the first Colfax Avenue Cruise in mid
September. This is a free annual event for classic cars, street rods and customs. Festival
sites are organized at a number of locations along the 25+ miles of Colfax Avenue in
Denver, Aurora and Lakewood where entertainment and food are available and the show
is provided by cars cruising through.
| Please Support Our Sponsors |
| Members, if you find anything that needs to be corrected contact the OCCC Webmaster |
| Old Car Council of Colorado Serving the Hobbyist Community since 1965 |
| History |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
