While the gathering of early American roadsters is the main event at the L.A. Roadsters Show, it's hard to ignore the ever-growing car show that gathers each year in the specialty parking area. Adjacent to the roadster exhibition, and co-existing with the swap meet, this is where you'll find any pre-'75 rod, custom, or classic that came to take in the sights. The show within a show has steadily grown within the past few years and has definitely become another highlight of an already overwhelming event.

Talk about patina! This is...

Talk about patina! This is the kind of neat stuff you'll find in the specialty area.

A pair of full-fendered beauties...

A pair of full-fendered beauties in the form of a '34 Ford five-window coupe and '40 Ford Deluxe coupe are perfect examples of the early-style iron that can be found in the specialty sideshow.

Longtime Rod & Custom readers...

Longtime Rod & Custom readers may recognize current SRM Tech Editor Jim Rizzo's Budget Beater from his days as editor at R&C.

Jack Carroll's dark brown...

Jack Carroll's dark brown '32 five-window has been showing up all over Southern California lately, and a crowd always surrounds it.

This channeled, bare-metal...

This channeled, bare-metal Model A roadster pickup was too cool for words.

The sideshow was also a great...

The sideshow was also a great place to check out some uncommon powerplants.

There were also plenty of...

There were also plenty of cars for sale, including this gorgeous orange and cream F-100 pickup and a pair of '40 Fords.

It wasn't just the hot rodders...

It wasn't just the hot rodders having their day at the specialty parking area; the custom guys were in full effect all weekend as well, represented by this dark blue Merc and green-on-green Chevy.