Midwest’s Premier Automotive Swap Meet & Car Show
Gary Esse of Madison Classics started working on cars when he was 13 years old at his Father’s gas station in Madison, WI. As his interest in cars grew, he began buying and selling cars and parts on a regular basis. Before he knew it, selling N.O.S. Chevy parts had become the way he supported his family.
One day on the way home from Hersey, PA, Gary started thinking that the Midwest needed a show like those found in Pennsylvania. Being a vendor himself, Gary understood what it took to put together a solid show, and with support of his wife LaRhee and close friends Madison Classics was born. Since then, the Madison Classic’s line of car shows has evolved into some of the Midwest’s largest Auto Swap meets, drawing crowds from all over the United States.
Gary Esse & Scott Bockover envisioned Madison Classics as something larger than just a swap meet. They believed that Madison Classics could help carry on the tradition of classic cars on to the next generation.
Being a family business, Gary, wife LaRhee and their three sons, Paul, Erick, and David each played key roles in the growth of Madison Classics. Together, the family has transformed Madison Classics into a career for all three sons.
In March of 2011, LaRhee passed away after a seven year battle with cancer. She was not only a founder of Madison Classics; she also took great pride in organizing the shows. She is dearly missed and will be remembered by many.
Gary & sons, Paul, Erick and David will take the torch and plan on operating the swap meets well into the future.