About

Preserving the antique & classic car culture for future generations

We meet the last Monday of every month, 5:30pm

OCTOBER AACA Meeting

Stay tuned for location

BRASS BEAR

3302 McCaw Ave

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Stay tuned for location!
Stay tuned for location!

About Our Club

We are the Santa Barbara region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). Our mission is to promote the preservation, restoration, enjoyment, and collection of antique automobiles in Ventura, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Paula, and Santa Maria. We are involved in the community and drive and present our vehicles in numerous shows and parades throughout the year.

We have a dedicated club house for meetings, parties, and other club functions at The Brass Bear, 3302 McCaw Avenue (off Las Positas Road), Santa Barbara, CA 93105.

Come join us at any of our events to meet our members, or become one yourself!

Become a Member by clicking here.

You don't have to own an antique car or vintage car to be a member.

AACA National Website

Website

AACA National Events

Events

Our club is for both young and seasoned car lovers.

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About the Antique Automobile Club of America

The AACA is the largest and oldest automobile history society in the nation. It was established in Philadelphia in 1935, and today, more than 60,000 people from all over the world are members. The AACA organizes both competitive and noncompetitive meetings and activities across the nation. By fostering interest in and preservation of vintage cars, as well as by encouraging sportsmanship and goodwill among all AACA members, the AACA aims to preserve the pioneering days of automobiling. The term "automobile" is used by the AACA in a broad sense to refer to all self-propelled vehicles intended for passenger usage (cars, race vehicles, trucks, fire vehicles, motorcycles, powered bicycles, etc.). Similar to that, the phrase covers a range of energy sources, including electric, steam, diesel, and gasoline. Activities are open to all types of motor vehicles that are at least 25 years old.

The group publishes "The Antique Automobile," the leading publication in the nation for automotive history, twice a month through its national office. Both the National AACA, which costs $40.00 per year, and the Santa Barbara Region of the AACA, which costs $30.00 per year, must be members in order to join the Santa Barbara chapter. Membership is open to everyone, regardless of car ownership.

Visit www.aaca.org for more details about the AACA, including membership applications.

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A Message From Our President

Dear members of AACA Santa Barbara,

This fine club started in the mid 70’s. Since then, it has seen tremendous growth and also tremendous attrition. When I became President almost 20 years ago, I sat at Harrys with 6 active members. Jeremy Hass was then President and lost focus in the club mostly due to his advancing age. The rebuilding of AACA needed a plan, immediately!

My plan was simple:

1. Plan activities for our members

2. Find interesting speakers with diverse messaging was important

3. Involve the Women

The club grew exponentially. Then Pandemic hit!

Now it’s time to rebuild again since loosing nearly 40 members. Our car hobby is far from “dead”. It is in transition! Also, many of the “old timers”, I’ll include myself, will not be here forever! So, it is important to reach out to youth to carry our club forward.

I’m doing that. Tonight you will meet an amazing group of young car guys that are the future of this Club!

Dana Newquist