Jimbo Goodpasture was the name on the tag for this little Model A coupe. Chopped and channeled and powered by a small-block Chevy, this hot rod is a testament to how simple a cool car can be!
One thing we really noticed this year was all the pinstriping on cars. With so many talented stripers out there these days, it's easier than ever for guys to get their cars "Dutched."
Ray Dunham's '36 Ford coupe first impressed us when we saw it at the Grand National Roadster Show a few months back. A blown Flatty, whitewalls, two-tone primer/gloss paint, a wicked chop, and channel job earned this Costa Mesa, CA, ride a STREET RODDER Top Ten Award.
We featured Mike Young's AMBR-contending roadster back in the June issue and suffice it to say, we were happy to see the car on the road and being driven at the Del Mar Nats.
There were a lot of traditional-styled hot rods at Del Mar, but Pat Patton's '34 Ford coupe really caught our eye. The gold and burgundy paint scheme offset by the chrome steelies and wide whites really set the tone for the whole car.
"Barn fresh" is how we'd describe this '28-29 Ford. The little jalopy was parked on the far end of the grounds on Sunday and looked liked fun.
Willy Dorsey is a man to be despised, but we still like him. He's the guy responsible for the recently restored Larsen/Cummins Bonneville Record Wrecker '27 modified roadster and we hear he also just picked up the Niekamp Bonneville roadster. If that wasn't enough, he's also got a slew of early Ford stuff, including the '32 roadster he brought out on Saturday and this straight-axled '55 he was cruising in on Sunday.
Mike Collins has been a long-time fixture in the traditional rodding scene with his flamed '55 Buick and it was no sooner that he finished the Buick that he showed up with this equally cool roadster pickup. Based on a '28-29 Ford body, Mike fit a small-block Chevy with a trio of Strombergs and Corvette valve covers.
Michael Cudal of Oceanside, CA, brought out this mean-looking Hemi-powered Model A coupe. Chopped and placed on '32 'rails, the A-bone looks poised for action just sittin' still.
And how about a little stripped-down T-bucket to run around in? Lou Lettino cruised in from nearby Cardiff to enjoy the festivities in his '27 modified and picked up the Goodguys Suede & Chrome pick. Power comes by way of a four-banger with an aluminum head, Mallory ignition, and dual Strombergs.
Out of the handful of kustoms at the Del Mar Nats, this had to be our favorite. Frank Battaglia of San Diego brought out this beautifully hammered '49 Ford. Subtle changes added to the overall effect, including the relatively stock-appearing grille, frenched headlights, and the removal of much of the body chrome. Big whites, hubcaps, pinstriping, and lakes pipes complete the look.
In the long and low category, we have Greg Mettelka's '59 Oldsmobile. Greg's Olds rides on chrome five-spokes and skinny whites and sports a cool two-tone brown paint job.