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39th NSRA Street Rod Nationals In Louisville Kentucky- 39 And CountingFrom the February, 2009 issue of Street Rodder By Ron Ceridono Photography by Brian Brennan
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The National Street Rod Association wrapped up its thirty-ninth Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. If you are old enough (or listened to your parents) you should have an idea who Jack Benny was; the legendary comedian, vaudevillian, and actor was always telling everyone he was thirty-nine years old. Although he had many more birthdays, he believed that was his prime. The largest rod run in the country, the NSRA Nationals, celebrated its 39th birthday, and while we hope there will be many more, we too believe it is in its prime. The Kentucky Exposition Center was fully operational for this year's event. The 331 Nats exhibitors (including manufacturers, Women's World, Food Court, etc.) were inside (940,000 sq. ft. used), where there was plenty of air conditioning and foot traffic to make all giddy with excitement. And for those who can only "do with" true vintage tin, add another 200-plus swap spaces and any rodder worth his skinned knuckles was thoroughly excited. We should also point out that the Granddaddy of rod runs attracted a reported 10,711 street rods, which neatly filled the 520 acres (the 7th largest facility of its kind in the U.S.). It's the Nats, and everything is on a grand scale. The Nats are all about cars and car stuff. Let's move away from the written word and take a look at what the staff of Street Rodder brought home via the camera. There was a lot to see and this is just a sampling. For even more photos of the NSRA Nats go to the SR website (www.streetroodderweb.com) and really get a feel for what was there. The 75th Anniversary At The 39th Annual
Last year street rodders paid homage to the 75th anniversary of the Deuce, so this year we decided to take a look at the diamond anniversary of another of Ford's favorites, the Model 40. If you can't find what you... If you can't find what you need amidst 375 exhibitors spread out over 750,000 sq. ft., then what the hell are you looking for? Unlike single-year offerings, '33 and '34 Fords were both designated Model 40s, and while they were similar, there were some obvious differences that set them apart. But this was also a period when all cars had a look of their own. As we perused the grounds of the 39th NSRA Street Rod Nationals found a wide variety of '33s and 34s of all makes on hand and decided to include them too; here's a look at a few. Commercial Way
One of the special displays at this year's Street Rod Nationals was Commercial Way, an area dedicated to those once hard working vehicles that now live a more leisurely street rod life. It proves yet again that anything goes when it comes to building a street rod; the variety ranged from pickups to tank trucks. Swap Meet
As in years past there was a swap meet at the 39th NSRA Street Rod Nationals. Noticeably smaller than those held previously, we heard a number of people say there was nothing there. The fact is a swap meet is a treasure hunt of sorts, and many of those who took the time to look thoroughly went home with a needed part, a new project, or in some cases, another street rod. Mopar Country
Mopar lovers had their special parking area, too. Again, if the body or engine (or both) were Mopar, the vehicle qualified, and there were plenty of combinations of them all. Vintage Air sponsors the 29 Below program that spotlights the young street rodders attending NSRA events. This year's group of participants displayed some outstanding cars.  As is the custom, every year...  As is the custom, every year Road Tour chauffeur rounds up his Road Tourians and gathers them at the Street Rodder booth in front of the current Road Tour car.  Larry and Sara Sneed from...  Larry and Sara Sneed from Nats hometown were on hand with this spectacular '39 Ford four-door convertible. Nice touch with the Caddy caps.  We thought this Deuce sedan...  We thought this Deuce sedan looked familiar. Turns out Cale and Carlee Kern of Bedford, IN, also took home the Goodguys 2008 Hot Rod of the Year honors at Indy. Congratulations to the Kerns for building a great looking and drivable hot rod.  This nifty looking '32 highboy...  This nifty looking '32 highboy roadster looks the part. We found Jim Wise of OH, cruising the fairgrounds and enjoying the great weather.  Scott from Sherwood, AK, brought...  Scott from Sherwood, AK, brought out his '35 Chevy four-door sedan looking good with Rally wheels, wide whites, and (look closely) a flattened red paint giving a "primer" appearance.  Louie Luttrell of Mt. Oray,...  Louie Luttrell of Mt. Oray, OH, brought out his '38 Ford coupe; we don't see enough of these lookers, and it runs a Tuned Port SBC for power.  Jim and Pat Talaga from Plainfield,...  Jim and Pat Talaga from Plainfield, IL, were on hand with their very cool-looking '47 Ford Sportsman complete with 4.6L Lincoln V-8 and AOD tranny. Did we mention this had some of the finest woodwork we have seen in a long time?  Rick Frey of Hebron, KY, was...  Rick Frey of Hebron, KY, was on hand with his early-model Hemi powered '32 three-window highboy coupe. Can you say hot rod?  Rick Bonenberger of Evansville,...  Rick Bonenberger of Evansville, IN, and a member of the Evansville Iron car club was on hand with his Brookville bodied '30 Ford roadster pickup sporting a Deuce grille and a louverless three-piece hood.  We couldn't resist running...  We couldn't resist running two photos of Tim Troutman of Elizabeth, IN, '40 Ford sedan. Look closely: One side is outfitted with steel wheels, spider caps, and trim rings, while the other side sports full face cape; two different looks, same car.  Dale and Peg Janssen's 1939...  Dale and Peg Janssen's 1939 Packard sedan is cool and powerful with a supercharged Ford V-10 for power. The '39 was a hit in the Builder's Showcase; look for a feature in an upcoming issue of Street Rodder.  Tom Lischke of Xenia, OH,...  Tom Lischke of Xenia, OH, was on board with his 1928 Ford closed cab pickup featuring a dropped headlight bar, primer paint, big 'n' littles, and a 100 percent hot rod look.  Don Zebrin of Taber, Alberta,...  Don Zebrin of Taber, Alberta, Canada brought down his '36 Ford three-window coupe to enjoy the Nats. Wouldn't this make a great daily driver-simple, yet incredibly good-looking.  Mike and Arlette McCrackin...  Mike and Arlette McCrackin of Altoona, WI, brought out their 1936 Ford sedan convertible, which we see all too few. Great looking car.  The NSRA Vehicle Safety Inspection...  The NSRA Vehicle Safety Inspection was on hand once again to go over any rodder's car, checking 23 safety items, pointing our areas of improvement, or giving you a clean bill of health-for your car, that is!  Jerry Eckholdt of Ofallon,...  Jerry Eckholdt of Ofallon, MO, (member of the X-members car club) was on hand with his unchopped highboy Deuce five-window (don't see enough five-windows) powered by an early Hemi outfitted with dual carbs.  The Michigan Hot Rod Association...  The Michigan Hot Rod Association (MHRA) was on hand once again, making it 37 years of service to all fellow rodders who need a helping hand in their time of need.  UPS was present once again...  UPS was present once again with a free service that gives you the weight of your street rod per axle and total. UPS also has a great on-the-grounds freight service, should you find yourself rounding up more than carry on luggage will allow.  Bob Oney also chose the highboy...  Bob Oney also chose the highboy approach with his '33 Ford three-window, although he left the lid stock height. Note the Electroline headlights.  Ford's Model 40s make great...  Ford's Model 40s make great highboy hot rods, as Jack Hawkins '34 three-window proves. Louvered hood side panels, five-spokes and a hammered lid all add to the look.  Wayne Mutert owns this '33...  Wayne Mutert owns this '33 Ford roadster. Note the shape of the grille and the narrow surround, single hood handle and curved hood louvers.  Jerold and Brenda Durham own...  Jerold and Brenda Durham own this black full-fendered '34 Ford three-window. The billet grille is patterned after the '33 design and the headlights are the commercial variety.  Curt Albertie's '34 wears...  Curt Albertie's '34 wears a Du Vall windshield and uses a small-block Ford backed by a five-speed. Compare the shape of the grille bars and the width of the surround, the straight hood louvers, and double handles with the '33s shown.  Classy is the best way to...  Classy is the best way to describe Paul Evans' '33 Ford Cabriolet. Dual horns, cowl lights, and Greyhound radiator cap are all part of the resto-rod package.  Joe and Carla Stephanie own...  Joe and Carla Stephanie own this '34 Ford three-window coupe. The use of late-style mirrors is a unique touch. Check out the rear of the window openings; the lip allows the door glass to move back for ventilation as well as down. This is a feature unique to Model 40s for '34.  A Chrysler Hemi equipped with...  A Chrysler Hemi equipped with Hot Heads aluminum heads and two four-barrel carburetors powers Dave Johnson's '33 Ford roadster.  One of the unique body styles...  One of the unique body styles offered by Ford in '33 was the Victoria; Dave Klatt owns this primo example. Note the doors lack the lip in the window openings that '34s have.  Ford made some pretty cool...  Ford made some pretty cool pickups in 1934; Ron Sutzer owns this example. Getting a truck this straight can be tough due to the abuse most suffered.  Tommy Brewer owns one of the...  Tommy Brewer owns one of the more unique automobiles available in 1934, the Chrysler Airflow. The love-it-or-hate-it styling was ahead of its time.  Mopars are popular in the...  Mopars are popular in the south. Charlie Stone and his '34 Dodge four-door hail from Brandenburg, KY.  John and Roberta Thomas came...  John and Roberta Thomas came from Cadiz, KY, in their '34 Chevy Master. The sedan's roof has been filled with a ribbed insert, a real chore with that big of a hole to fill.  There were lots of non-Ford...  There were lots of non-Ford '33s and '34 at the Nats. Rick Dennis drove from Kokomo, IN, in his chopped '34 Chevy sedan delivery.  Thanks to the wood framework...  Thanks to the wood framework in the bodies, solid '34 Chevys, like Steve and Kathi Crawford's five-window coupe, are rare. A Mustang II replaced the solid axle, and a V8 Chevy now resides in the space originally occupied by a straight six.  Riley Buttry is the third...  Riley Buttry is the third generation of his family to drive this '34 Chevy. Originally built by his grandfather and father, the coupe uses a 350 Chevy engine backed by a 350 trans.  Speaking of big, that pretty...  Speaking of big, that pretty well describes Vaughn Summit's '33 Buick. The sedan rolls on Boyd Coddington wheels. The driving lights are Dietz headlamps; they look small compared to the stock lights.  Wendell Vincent from Shively,...  Wendell Vincent from Shively, KY, was on hand with his '38 Ahrens-Fox fire truck. It's red, a roadster, and can haul a bunch of street rodding buddies.  This '34 Ford is a rolling...  This '34 Ford is a rolling advertisement for General Welding in Louisville, KY. Stock-looking at a glance, check the location of the handle on the door that is now hung suicide-style.  Another super-size street...  Another super-size street rod is Rex Pinkhard's '33 Chrysler ragtop. Those individual windshield frames swing out for real wind-in-the-hair motoring. Under that long hood is a late Mopar small-block V8.  No, it's not a nine-cylinder...  No, it's not a nine-cylinder engine under the hood of the fire truck, but rather an inline six with two plugs per cylinder (a few are hidden here). Instead of performance, the concern was reliability.  If you're going to drive from...  If you're going to drive from Santa Clarita, CA, to the Nats, you might as well go in something big and comfortable. Tom and Donna Spencer made the trek in their trick '47 Chevy Suburban.  If Rob Compliment's pickup...  If Rob Compliment's pickup looks unusual for a '40 Ford, it's because his is the seldom-seen 3/4-ton version. While the half-tons used sheetmetal similar to passenger cars, the larger trucks hand their own distinctive styling.  Dodge pickups are often overlooked...  Dodge pickups are often overlooked as candidates for street rodding. Bill and Sue Martin's Lisbon, OH-based '48 is a good example of why they shouldn't be.  Looking for something to haul...  Looking for something to haul all your buddies, or go on tour with a rock band? This stretched Chevy could be for you.  Ken and Marilyn Grimes of...  Ken and Marilyn Grimes of Wellsville, OH, have been Nats regulars since the first one. This year they drove their well-traveled '29 Ford pickup; it uses a small-block Mopar for power.  How much does it cost to fill...  How much does it cost to fill this thing up? This owner of this '34 Ford tanker probably got tired of that question by the end of the weekend.  A reasonably solid '39 Ford...  A reasonably solid '39 Ford Standard Tudor was up for grabs for 6.5K. A Mustang II and updated rear suspension were in place, and probably more importantly, it had a clear title.  Barn finds like this '39 Ford...  Barn finds like this '39 Ford Deluxe Tudor keep popping up. When considering a project car like this, keep the total investment in mind. While there's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from building one from the ground up, buying a finished car that you can modify to your own taste may cost less in the long run.  On the subject of A sedans,...  On the subject of A sedans, this '29 had an asking price of 11K. A perfect candidate for a chassis swap, this would make a great family street rod.  Here's an interesting pair-the...  Here's an interesting pair-the '36 Pontiac on the left had 12.5K asking price, the '32 Chevy four door had a 13,900 sticker. Both were solid cars with lots of potential.  Like we said, there was some...  Like we said, there was some cool stuff in the swap meet; this stall had the makings of a tall T coupe and an A sedan.  Looking like a traditional...  Looking like a traditional street rod starter kit, this chopped '30 Ford coupe body had a clear title and a 5K asking price.  The seller claimed this '49...  The seller claimed this '49 Chevy had racked up a mere 77K miles since new. Judging by the overall condition of the two-door, that was a believable number.  There were some weird and...  There were some weird and wonderful intake manifolds in this collection, including a couple of mechanical injectors that were good candidates for electronic conversions.  Louisville resident Phillip...  Louisville resident Phillip Hill didn't have far to come in his '36 Dodge. With subtle bodywork, a billet grille and the running boards on the ground the bright red 1/2-ton attracted lots of attention. Power comes from a small-block Chevy.  Jeremy Bach from Bellville,...  Jeremy Bach from Bellville, IL, drives the Mike's Speed Shop '36 Fargo. A Mopar Performance small-block V8 replaced the original flathead six.  Early Mopars make great street...  Early Mopars make great street rods; the bodies are all steel, the frames are stout and they are among the most affordable of the early cars. This slick '34 Dodge belongs to John Bernard of Muskegon, MI.  We're seeing more late-model...  We're seeing more late-model Hemis under the hoods of street rods. John Willoughby, of Franklin, TN, slipped one into his '33 Dodge sedan.  Carl Zellner's '40 Ford is...  Carl Zellner's '40 Ford is unique, as it has been fitted with '39 headlights; usually it's the other way around. It also has a Hemi under the hood.  Zellner's Hemi has been fitted...  Zellner's Hemi has been fitted with skillfully adapted GM tuned port injection system. A five-speed stick backs it.  If you've ever asked yourself...  If you've ever asked yourself if traditional street rodding had a future, the answer is yes, and here's what they look like.  Jon Chalberg from Savannah,...  Jon Chalberg from Savannah, GA, used some old-time creativity building his '29 Model A Ford pickup. Check out the discarded theatre seats he installed, the aluminum door panes, and homemade armrest.  You'll probably see Jon's...  You'll probably see Jon's name on a magazine masthead one day; he's studying for a career in graphics. His truck has a great stance, but don't believe everything you read on the valve covers.  Nothing fancy yet, but the...  Nothing fancy yet, but the Flathead in Chrishon's coupe runs like a watch, something he couldn't wait to prove to us. Right now the updates have been limited to a rebuilt carburetor, an alternator, and an electronic ignition conversion. There's a lot more to come.  Nothing fancy yet, but the...  Nothing fancy yet, but the Flathead in Chrishon's coupe runs like a watch, something he couldn't wait to prove to us. Right now the updates have been limited to a rebuilt carburetor, an alternator, and an electronic ignition conversion. There's a lot more to come.  We were really impressed by...  We were really impressed by Matt Nemeth's '39 Chevy truck. So far he's installed a Chevy LS6 engine and 4L65E overdrive automatic transmission, along with Corvette C4 suspension on both ends.
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