2010 L.A. Roadster Show And Swap

For $3,000 you could have picked up a complete front and rear suspension system out of a '95 ZR1. The seller would also split the pair: $1,000 for the front, $2,000 for the rear.

Heading up the "what?" category was this aluminum belly tank advertised as coming from a P-38. The price? How does $15,000 grab you?

Original steel bodies are always at the top of a "Want List," but at the L.A. Roadster swap meet, anything goes. From one-man, Indy-type roadsters ($500) to '32 five-windows, it's all out there. The rough, but fairly complete Deuce on the trailer was $11,000, while the less-rusty version on the ground was $25,000.

Interested in a fleet sale? These pedal car bodies were $25 each, but you probably could have gotten the whole group at a discount.

One of the best deals might have been this '31 five-window Ford, which still had its original four-banger motor and late-'30s spoked wheels. The original hood and fenders were also part of the deal, all for $6,900.

Both of these roadster pickups were runners. The '25 T on the trailer was offered at $9,500 while the red '28 had a $10,500 price tag on the windshield.

You don't see many tall T tudors around nowadays, but in the '70s they were all the rage. This '26 had a new frame, Jag rear, TCI Engineering Super Bell front end, and two hoods for $6,900, OBO.

The Weiand-blown small-block Chevy probably moved this '27 roadster pickup around town just fine! The owner was asking $15,000 for his ride.

One of the better deals might have been this '27 roadster. With a 425 Nailhead, 400 trans, and a 9-inch rear, the roadster had less than 1,000 miles on the odometer, so $9,500, OBO, didn't sound bad.

For $17,000, you could have picked up this all-steel '31 Ford roadster, and it looked like it didn't need anything.

Ken Reister's Foose-built '36 Ford roadster was the '05 Ridler winner and '06 America's Most Beautiful Roadster at the Grand National Roadster Show, and showed up in the '35-36 Hot Rod Corral at the L.A. Roadster Show.

John Lawson has one of the most impressive collections of hot rods anywhere, and traveled from Fresno, CA, to the Fairplex to show off this beautiful black-on-black, Cadillac-powered '36 roadster.

Not quite as famous as the Pierson Brothers' '34 coupe, Bob Pierson's '36 Ford coupe used to haul the historic '34 and was quick in it's own right, running 121 mph at Bonneville in 1950. Frank and Mary Nay now own the '36.

"El Abuelo" is the nickname of this suede tail-draggin' '36 coupe. In addition to its low altitude, the truck grille, wide whites, and wheel covers add to the attitude of the small-block-powered car. (The nickname means grandfather in Spanish.)

We love the look of this proud, nose-in-the-air Gasser. From the straight-axle to the Cragars, blower, and fender-filling headers, the only thing missing from this bright red Willys is a cloud of white tire smoke.

Lots of work and all-new wood went into Steve Early's '51 Ford woodie wagon. It's got a ZZ4 underhood, plus a Fatman IFS and Currie 9-inch rear. The '58 Thunderbird center console features a DVD screen. Surfboard-shaped armrests carry out the West Coast woodie theme.

We like seeing combinations of contemporary and classic when the combo is as successful as Ralph Sear's tomato red '35 cabriolet. The car manages to mix modern elements (especially in the leather interior) with '30s-era taste and some hot rod flavor, too.

We also love '32 roadsters, like this squash-colored highboy with split wishbones, and a dark stripe down the beltline. On the inside, there are some low-key, Tommy the Greek-style graphics decorating the dash and accenting the Stewart-Warner gauges.

Al Curletti took the opposite direction with his beautiful '34, going the resto rod route by keeping the interior original looking, including a mohair bench and stock steering wheel and dash. The engine is a '59 AB Flathead. The paint was shot in 1978. Curletti paid $182 for the coupe almost 50 years ago.

Surprise! How often do you see a full-fendered, unchopped '31 Model A five-window coupe packing a 1,000-plus horsepower, 415ci Dart small-block with an 8-71 blower and big Mickey Thompson rear meats? Roger Liberator from Riverside, CA, sees one every day.

This '30s lakester survivor, originally built by Alfred Churchill, ran 104 at Muroc in 1940. "Meteor" was built from junked cars, a truck, tractor, motorcycle, and plane. The body was hand formed from mil-spec aluminum-surplus scrap from Douglas Aircraft. George Nakamura bought it and drove it before sticking it in storage where it stayed for 60 years. His son, Walt, now owns it and is seeking information about Alfred Churchill. Please email him at walter@thenakamuras.com.

A red grille and 'striping to complement the off-red upholstery set off this full-fendered Deuce five-window. There aren't any radical sheetmetal modifications-doesn't need 'em-but some assorted hot rod elements (five-spokes, drilled I-beam, tuck 'n' roll interior) got our attention.

The late-Larry Watson's customs provided inspiration for Jim White's air-bagged Lincoln Continental. Jeff Roberts (aka "Von Father") applied the graphics, which include panel paint, metalflake, fades, gold leaf, and some elaborate 'striping along the roof. Bellflower exhaust tips add to the period-custom look.

The flames on this smooth "power everything" '47 Ford convertible were painted by owner Pat Kelley, who also painted and 'striped the car and built the interior using late-model Nissan bucket seats. The engine is an injected Ford 351 Cleveland.

Derek Meacham's '47 sedan is Chevy-powered, with a 350 engine. Custom mods include shaved sheetmetal, frenched Cadillac taillights and, on the inside, Classic Instruments gauges in the stock dash, a Budnik banjo wheel, and Grand Am bucket seats.

Slim, from Slim's Fabrication, calls his rear-engine '64 Chevy G-10 a "street-legal wheelie machine." The Chrysler engine is reverse-mounted with a V-drive gearbox, motorboat style. The top was chopped 13 inches and modified with an Olds Vista Cruiser glass roof.

Few people guess that the engine in Eddie Perez's '31 sedan is a 425ci Cadillac. They do recognize the seats built out of metal car ramps and the speaker covers made from drilled Ford step plates. Eddie's low '31 has been on the road since May, gets driven every day, and sits so low the rear license plate drags.

The Chevy truck grille is a great custom addition to W.R. Story's '56 Ford Park Lane wagon. The same goes for the Olds headlights and '65 Mustang rear glass. Front and rear Cadillac buckets are finished in leather. The engine is a Ford Racing 5.0L. Story calls the paint color "moldy pearl."

These two '32 sedans drove together from Tucson. Ryan Mapes' homebuilt Fordor is still waiting for an interior, but features a 500ci Cadillac engine, hairpins, and Pete & Jakes rear ladder bars. Mike Kerwin's plum-colored Tudor, also homebuilt, runs a 350 Chevy, wishbones front and rear, and a 3-inch chop. In keeping things traditional, Kerwin chose a mohair interior and sanded and buffed the Hot Rod Flatz paint to look like lacquer.

This phantom roadster was built by Paul Stinson, starting with a '41 Ford COE truck. The front fenders became the rear quarters and most of the body was hand-fabbed. The Flathead engine runs dual 97 carburetors. The suspension includes hairpins in the front and a four-bar in the rear.