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One more example of an open... One more example of an open car that's not a roadster is this '36 Ford convertible touring sedan owned by Jesse James. In addition Ford offered the phaeton and the convertible sedan (a flat back with no trunk). Walden's After-Party Party
Though they specialize in making new doorskins and roof panels for most hot rods between 1928 and the late '30s, Bobby Walden's shop can do all levels of fabrication and assembly, from a simple chassis to finished drivers. But their close proximity to the SO-CAL Speed Shop-about a mile away-made it easy for a few rodders to show up on Walden's doorstep four years ago to see what they were working on. Now hundreds of folks stop by between 5 and 10 p.m., check out projects in the shop as well as what's in the parking lot, grab a free ice cream (Walden went through 600 of them Friday night), and soak in the traditional vibe. You can see more photos at www.streetrodderweb.com. So you want a roadster but... So you want a roadster but all you have is a coupe? One cure is to do what the owner of this '35 Chevy did: cut off the roof and make your own. The Swap
The Roadster Show's Legendary Swap Meet
Though the event is usually referred to as "The Father's Day Show," the given moniker for Southern California's oldest annual hot rod function is the L.A. Roadster Show and Swap-a name that puts the swap meet section of the event on par with the car show. And, in this particular case, that equal billing is perfectly warranted. A member of Inliners International,... A member of Inliners International, Gene Finch owns this '33 Plymouth P.D. series convertible. As a testimony to his club allegiance, there's a hopped-up Flathead six under the hood with an aluminum head, twin single-barrel carbs, and a homemade header. For decades this swap meet has been the place to find, buy, and sell whatever you could possibly want, from just a pair of framerails to complete, driveable cars and everything in between. And even though the show didn't officially open until Saturday morning, several hundred vendors were set up early on Friday to take advantage of some of the early birds looking for bargains, with the hearty ones staying well into the sunny afternoon Sunday to make sure they had sufficiently cleared out their garages. Deals are, of course, in the eye of the beholder, but we wandered each and every aisle scanning for items of interest, noting the prices along the way. Some "asking prices" were outrageous, and we didn't check back later to see if they had actually sold, nor did we check on the low-priced items, either. For those who were not able to attend, this is a slice of the swap meet but, for dozens of more images, check www.streetrodderweb.com for more coverage. The last new Model A Ford... The last new Model A Ford design introduced was the '31 400-A convertible sedan. Less than 5,000 were made. This one has been fitted with a Deuce grille shell and bumpers. Specialty Parking
Non-roadsters at the L.A. Roadster Show
2010 L.A. Roadster Show and Swap There's a reason they call it the L.A. Roadster Show. In fact, there are two. One is that it happens in Los Angeles, the other is that it's a show for roadsters. So don't even think about trying to sneak your coupe, sedan, wagon, or pickup into the main event. If it's not topless, it's not getting in. But that doesn't mean you have to go home. The L.A. Roadsters Club reserves the huge parking lot adjacent to the swap meet for pre-'75, non-roadsters, and any roadsters not wearing the shiny paint required in the main show area. They call this section "Specialty Parking" and it draws hundreds of participants every year-not just locals, but rodders from all over California and out of state. And as anyone who's been there can tell you, Specialty Parking draws cars every bit as nice as the roadsters on the other side of the fence. In addition, the L.A. Roadsters have started to use the Specialty Parking area to highlight milestone years, makes, and models. This year's event included a special '35-36 Hot Rod Corral, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the fat fender era. This portion of the L.A. Roadster Show keeps getting bigger, better, and more popular, making Specialty Parking one of the best "car shows next to a car show" in Southern California.  So it's not a true roadster,...  So it's not a true roadster, it's hard to find fault with a '32 Ford cabriolet, as there is a lot to be said for roll-up windows.  That's a surprised Gary Lorenzini...  That's a surprised Gary Lorenzini behind the wheel of the T-bucket he built 35 years ago, which was given back to the rodder by his son, Scott (leaning in), and the rest of his family after it was relocated and purchased for Gary. He is planning to finish up the bucket the way he wanted to back in the day, including a fuel injection system.  Joe and Ryan Mapes (father...  Joe and Ryan Mapes (father and son) and Mike Kerwin drove their slick Deuce sedans to the party from their homes in Tucson, AZ. The Mapes own the hoodless Tudor, while Kerwin pilots the purple Deuce.  One of the best facets of...  One of the best facets of the SO-CAL party is you get to see vehicles that you probably won't see out at the Roadster Show. Lots of heavy flake in this customized hauler.  Model A coupes are still hot,...  Model A coupes are still hot, as is this purple 'n' scalloped Ford.  You can make a four-door look...  You can make a four-door look great, too, just like this sedan, which was customized with a unique headlight/driving light treatment, a decent chop, and big-inch wheels.  Eric Barajas, from Chula Vista,...  Eric Barajas, from Chula Vista, CA, brought his original Hemi-powered '32 coupe to Waldens for new doorskins, a filled roof, and more.  Since his move from Texas...  Since his move from Texas to Pomona, CA, a few years back, Walden has enjoyed a reputation for building finely crafted hot rods, and his large shop is full of metalworking machines amateur metal benders dream about.  Customs were well represented...  Customs were well represented at Walden's party, too, with this pair offering a contrast in build styles.  The owner of this Model A...  The owner of this Model A calls his coupe "Live Wire," and it's equipped with a '52 331 Cadillac and a '56 Pontiac rear.  We hadn't seen this unpainted...  We hadn't seen this unpainted roadster before, but we like it! Cowl steering, polished Flathead, and Model 40 wheels all added to the look.  Ray Forbes (with his son,...  Ray Forbes (with his son, Rory, following in an equally cool roadster) is from the Reno, NV, area and they drive their rods all over the place. Ray's heavily chopped '34 is equipped with a Nailhead engine.  Non-lowered roadsters exude...  Non-lowered roadsters exude a true '40s hot rod appearance, evidenced by this duo of Model A's.  A bit ragged around the edges,...  A bit ragged around the edges, but this large (about 36 inches) vintage Texaco neon sign had a price of $2,800 on it.  How 'bout a Do-All bandsaw...  How 'bout a Do-All bandsaw for the shop? This one worked, and the asking price was $2,000.  Ultra-rare Kinmont brakes...  Ultra-rare Kinmont brakes are always pricey when we find them, and this set was available for $12,000.  Five-spoke Americans look...  Five-spoke Americans look great on anything, but this set was a vintage one made from Magnesium, and was offered at $4,500. Vintage Halibrand smoothies could also be found, but were a bit higher at $8,500.  Gauges, by themselves as well...  Gauges, by themselves as well as a set into inserts, were everywhere. You can't get much better than an Auburn dash with five vintage gauges ($2,800), while some of the smaller inserts were going in the $450-$650 range. The complete dash and gauge setup (out of a '34 Lincoln) was $2,800 while the '32 Lincoln gauge-filled insert was $1,800.
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