Motors at the Mission

For the first time in its 238-year history Old Mission Santa Barbara hosted a car show.

The Old Mission Motor show had a cavalcade of vintage to modern vehicles gathering on the lawn in front of the iconic image of Old Mission Santa Barbara.

A friar’s blessing kicked off the colorful event that was sponsored by Village Properties realtor Ruth Ann Bowe, Milpas Motors, Montecito Bank & Trust, Firestone Walker, Mission Linen, Marborg, and the Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation.

Ubiquitous DJ Darla Bea provided entertainment.

The 70 sold-out entries included a 1916 Rausch & Lang electric vehicle and a 2023 Corvette. Local car aficionado Dana Newquist won the prize for Best Pre-War Automobile with a 1917 Templar, and Montecito’s Monte Wilson won best European auto with his wife Marie’s 1960 Fiat Jolly – while he won Best in Show with his 1954 Jaguar XK120.

The event raised $25,000 for repairs to the historic mission. Proceeds from the rev-erential bash provide funding for a number of deferred maintenance projects for the historical landmark.