DEL MAR - From the classic Model T to the modern Ford GT, the San Diego County Fair's car show features some of the most influential cars in American history.

The "American Legends" car show at the fair's Surfside Race Place covers 100 years of car history, including everything from the country's first production car to one of today's most coveted sports cars, the Dodge Viper.

The show, held in conjunction with the San Diego Automotive Museum, opened to the public Wednesday and runs until June 24.

"They are amazing is what they are," said Michael Johnson, of San Marcos, who was admiring the cars with his family. "They seemed to take more risks (in designing the cars), and there was more diversity back then."

Most of the cars belong to owners and members of car clubs in the county. One of the cars is a 1931 Model A, which was restored by Arnie Mapes, of El Cajon, and his family.

Others are movie stars; one was featured in a Batman flick and another was featured in "The Majestic," a 2001 film starring Jim Carrey.

For some of the visitors, the cars brought back memories.

"It's something else," said Jose Villalpando, a 75-year-old Escondido resident, who remembered the Packards of the 1940s and 1950s that he saw in his native Mexico City. "Beautiful cars."

The cars are also a tribute to American ingenuity, said Jay Orband, president of the Corvette Owners Club of San Diego. Members of the club displayed several Corvettes in an outdoor exhibition adjacent to the Surfside Race Place, near the Arena Gate.

"The Corvette put us on the (race car) map," Orband said. "It helped us beat the English and the Italian (cars)."

The fair's outdoor car show will feature classic rides from car clubs each day the fair is open, including Triumphs, Model Ts, Woodies, Camaros and Jaguars.

Another show, called "Too Kool," features old-school hot rods, rare collector cars and one-of-a-kind custom cars.

Indoor car exhibitions are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

From June 26 to July 4, the fair will feature "Motorsports Week," with motorcycles, demolition derbies, dune buggies, antique car races and monster trucks. A full schedule of events is available at the fair's Web site, www.sdfair.com.

- Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.