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Billetproof Car Show - Back To BilletproofNumber 13 Was As Big As Ever And Still No Billet From the February, 2010 issue of Street Rodder By Tim Bernsau
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When Street Rodder attended Billetproof, in 2002, it was such a good time that we've always wanted to go back. The show's changed since then-and even more since 1997, when the first Billetproof hosted a handful of cars in a bowling alley parking lot. Now, Billetproof is a big show (registration cuts off at 1,000 cars), held at the fairgrounds in Antioch, California, but has managed to keep the atmosphere and energy of a parking lot meet. The reason is probably the rules. Billetproof is open to '64-and-earlier rods, customs, bikes, and trucks, with a few strict limits. Sniff if you want at the "no this" and "no that" restrictions, but keeping the emphasis on traditional style and traditional workmanship (pronounced "homebuilt") is what has let this thing get big and stay unique. Only one car can be the Best... Only one car can be the Best of Show, and this year it's Steve Lininger's '51 Ford convertible, selected by the Dragoons Car Club. Club involvement is another reason for the success of this show. Promoters Alan and Melissa Galbraith recruit local car clubs to provide custom-built trophies and pick the winners. This year's host club, the Dragoons from Antioch, did a good job getting everybody in and keeping them happy. This was the first year the show-previously a one-day deal-stretched across the whole weekend. In addition to the cars, there were live bands, a pinstripers panel jam, a swap meet, a model car contest, a beauty contest, dozens of indoor and outdoor vendors, and even an on-site barber cutting hair like they used to. There's some legendary work... There's some legendary work on the car, including the Joe Bailon handmade grille and scoops, the Bill Hines folding top mechanism for the chopped cloth top, and the Eddie Martinez interior. Northern California is known for traditional customs and the turn-out in Antioch reflected that. STREET RODDER has also changed since we were at Billetproof in 2002, and customs have worked their way into these pages-so we get to highlight some of our favorite postwar cars from the weekend along with earlier iron. Billetproof will be back in Antioch in September, plus there are other Billetproof shows all over the United States throughout the year. You can find out about 2010 events at www.billetproof.com.  This '51 Chevy Fleetline was...  This '51 Chevy Fleetline was built in the garage by owner Scott-Anthony Coppock with help from Carlos Rodriguez and other friends. Kyle Martin and Coppock shot the paint. The Chevy got a 6-inch chop, along with a Buick grille, '51 Caddy front bumper, Caddy sombrero caps, and real Appletons.  "Filthy Phil" Bell made the...  "Filthy Phil" Bell made the 700-mile, 13-hour trip form Boise, Idaho, to Billetproof in his '47 Chrysler Royal. In three years he's done all his own work, shaving badges and adding '39 Ford taillights. A 383 stroker small-block replaced the factory Spitfire six.  Travis Kennedy got his '31...  Travis Kennedy got his '31 A coupe on the road just in time for a trip to Bonneville this summer. The frame is from Vern Tardel's shop, where a lot of work was done. Split 'bones, suicide perch, friction shocks, and rear buggy springs meet Travis' goal to keep it "old school." The seats are chopped up MG buckets.  Builder/painter George Borba...  Builder/painter George Borba from Geo's Chop Shop does some Saturday morning detailing on Hunter Bender's custom '61 Cadillac, finished with 26 coats of Candy Gold, and 32 coats of heavy metalflake on the top. Side trim is on the way. Billetproof promoter Alan Galbraith picked it for the Big Flake award.  A blown Rat motor, full 'cage,...  A blown Rat motor, full 'cage, suicide frontend, cheater slicks, drilled and sleeved 'rails, and overall attitude make Ed Umland's '31 coupe a bona fide hot rod. The radiator was relocated to the rear and the interior was finished in tooled and hand-stitched leather.  You can't look at cars all...  You can't look at cars all the time, right? The Beauty Queen contest, sponsored by Mitzi & Co., was held on Sunday. The winner was Jessica D. (far left), but every contestant could've popped right out of a George Petty or Gil Elvgren pinup. Gambino Customs helped with the trophy and T Bonz created the art for the contest.  A 235 I-6 Chevy with an Edelbrock...  A 235 I-6 Chevy with an Edelbrock split manifold, dual 1V carbs, and Maund scoops powers P.J. Pullen's channeled '31 five-window. The hand-fabbed interior includes red metalflake buckets. Pullen's son Tyler built the car from his dad's ideas, then gave him the car when it was done.  One of the most attention-getting...  One of the most attention-getting cars at the event was this unmodified, unrestored 1909 Overland Model 31, owned by Fraser from Antioch. Even the seat stuffing, busting through the split fabric of the worn-out old survivor, is original and cool.  The newest creation from Art...  The newest creation from Art Himsl, is "Miss Behavin'," his wild '37 Packard roadster. Stromberg Aerotype carbs feed a Buick straight-eight engine. Himsl is one of Northern California's best-known hot rod and custom painters, and added the "riveted" body panels with a paint brush.  This chopped, shaved, and...  This chopped, shaved, and slammed '50 Ford sedan, belonging to David Aguilar, wears traditional sled trim from wide whites and spots to shaved side panels, white tuck 'n' roll, fishtail exhaust tips, '59 Cadillac taillights, and some elaborate pinstriping on the deck.  Brad Masterson from Masterson...  Brad Masterson from Masterson Kustoms (and the Beatniks Club) chopped his '51 Chevy Fleetline with help from legendary custom builder Bill Hines. The grille is filled with a '54 Pontiac bar. During the five years that he's owned it, Brad's Chevy has served as his daily driver.  Gary Morales wanted his '54...  Gary Morales wanted his '54 Chevy 210 to look like it could've come out of Barris Kustoms-and Lucky 7 Customs in Antioch helped him accomplish that. The roof was chopped 4 1/2 inches and slid forward 5 inches. The Chevy won the Frank DeRosa Pick.  No window sticker, but the...  No window sticker, but the license plate identifies Babs as the owner of this '59 Dodge. The trim was left intact (except for nose and deck), the grille was cleaned up, and copper metallic scallops carefully follow all those body lines. The top is metallic copper with cream scallops.  We'd seen Jack Rudy's unchopped...  We'd seen Jack Rudy's unchopped '52 Chevy sedan (which he's owned for 24 years) at the Grand National show in January. Jack retained the chromed Chevy trim, matched with what looks like Buick trim. Brad Masterson shot the paint-his first 'flake job. Good start, we'd say.  The Road Knights picked Mickey...  The Road Knights picked Mickey Himsl's '27 Ford Touring for the Best Hot Rod trophy. Himsl paid $1,000 for the car and built it with all old stuff. The '48 Flathead with two 97s and Edmunds air cleaners on an Offy manifold is tied to a '39 box. Himsl's brother Art contributed paint and pinstriping.  The flathead in Ron Carter's...  The flathead in Ron Carter's flamed '27 T roadster has been replaced by a Pontiac 195ci slant-four. Now Ron says he wants to add a 3-71 blower, like Mickey Thompson did to the same engine on a '61 Monte Carlo show car. The T rides on Deuce 'rails with 12-spoke American mags. Ever seen a hot rod Hudson?... Ever seen a hot rod Hudson? Dan Wathor's channeled '31 coupe is packed with a Super Red Ram Hemi with three deuces. Gray tuck 'n' roll and a custom dash dress up the inside. The outside features some nice 'striping on the firewall, deck, headlight housings, and grille shell. Santa Cruz Speed & Custom and the Crime Scene Choppers awarded it Best Orphan.  He's owned it for 30 years,...  He's owned it for 30 years, but Phill Lacy's '50 Chevy coupe has been finished for about five or six. The low-key custom is shaved of all but just the right amount of brightwork, with some surprises like '55 Chevy headlights and '41 Stude taillights. The Style Kings gave it the Big Shot trophy.  Twenty-two-year-old Mario...  Twenty-two-year-old Mario Meza-Murillo sold his '59 El Camino to buy this bulletnose '62 Thunderbird in February. He bagged it and added the five-spokes, and John Christensen shot the screamin' green paint and darker green scallops, followed by a panel of lace painting on top.  John Parker's slammed '51...  John Parker's slammed '51 Ford business coupe has been a custom for years and was once owned by the Bean Bandits. In fact, BB member Julio Hernandez chopped the top-not easy when starting with a post car. Matt Egon put the solid green flames over the gold candy paint.  Billetproof was the first...  Billetproof was the first trip out for Robert Miller's '31 Ford pickup, small-block powered and channeled over a handbuilt box-tube frame. Miller's Chop Shop is the hobby shop in Reno where Miller and his brothers build their own "bugs in the radiator" style of rods, before driving 'em all over.
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