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2010 L.A. Roadster Show And SwapThink Of It As Street Rodding In High Definition From the January, 2011 issue of Street Rodder By Eric Geisert, Ron Ceridono Photography by Chuck Vranas, Ron Ceridono
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Chuck "High Wire" Vranas risked... Chuck "High Wire" Vranas risked life and his lunch to get this shot of some of the 850 roadsters in attendance at the 46th Annual L.A. Roadster Show and Swap 2010. Some of the finest roadsters in the country can be found here each year and they all get the same award: a pewter mug Father's Day is certainly special-but it can be disappointing. More than likely you'll get new underwear or socks along with a card full of heartfelt sentiment instead of that big-screen HD TV you really wanted. Of course, if you want to avoid disappointment tell your loved ones what you really want is trip to the Los Angeles County Fairplex for the L.A. Roadster Show and Swap Meet. This year marked the 46th such event and by all statistics it was a huge success-there were 850 roadsters, 2,500 specialty cars, 1,140 swappers, 200 vendors, and 15,000 walk-ins, but numbers like that only tell part of the story. For those driving '36 and earlier roadsters, entry for the driver and a passenger is free, however, the car must be finished, which means paint and upholstery, with no flat finishes allowed. But that doesn't mean unfinished, primered roadsters, closed cars, and customs aren't welcome. All those and any specialty car with model year up to 1974 have a designated parking area. The end result makes for some interesting comparisons. The roadster area contains some of the best topless cars you'll ever see, it's like a car show with palm trees, while the specialty parking area contains the most eclectic collection of cool rides you're likely to find. It's not unusual to see a full-on custom, a flat-black beater, and a high-dollar restoration all in a row. We've said it before, but... We've said it before, but we'll let Denis DeVol's roadster say it again, less is more. Clean and simple with the perfect stance sums up his '32 roadster. Of course one of the big draws at this event is the swap meet, and with well over 1,000 vendors it's always a good one. But be aware, while this is an event where you're likely to find the rare and unusual parts, pieces, and complete cars you're looking for, most of the vendors know exactly what they have and what it's worth. This is not to say prices aren't fair, for the most part they are as reasonable as any such event, and vendors are there to sell. It's just that cool stuff always comes at a price. For those looking for new parts there are plenty to choose from as many of the premier vendors display their wares. Most of them offer show specials and in some cases cash and carry deals can eliminate shipping costs as well. Along with the cars, swap meet, and the vendors, Father's Day at the Fairplex draws a good size crowd, which makes it a great opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones as well-and there are always a number of street rodding's celebrities in attendance, too. All things considered, we can't think of a better way to spend Father's Day weekend than attending the 47th L.A. Roadster Show and Swap Meet. And it's more fun than sitting in front of a big-screen TV. John Mumford has a fleet of... John Mumford has a fleet of street rods built by Roy Brizio. This '33 Ford roadster is one of them. As with everything the son of Rod Father lays hands upon, the fit and finish is perfect and it will go coast to coast at speed without a hiccup. The 14th Annual SO-CAL Party
Once, a weekly Wednesday night get-together with a few friends at the back door of SO-CAL Speed Shop in Pomona, California (back when the business was called PC3g), became the annual party held the Friday afternoon before the annual L.A. Roadster Show. It is now one of the best "car shows" in the country, and it only goes on for four hours! With the luxury of being located in the heart of the hot rod world-Southern California-SO-CAL Speed Shop now sees 500 cars show up, many of which don't attend any other "organized" car shows. Parked on the street in front of the shop four wide for more than an eighth of a mile and another two-wide for another eighth, attendees were treated to free In & Out burgers while checking out the 14 or so projects SO-CAL is currently working on. A mini cackle-fest with a single front-engine dragster (courtesy of Texas-resident Tom Prufer) wowed the crowd before a special reveal reunited Gary Lorenzini with the untouched T-bucket he built 35 years ago and sold three decades ago. For more photos from this event, check out www.streetrodderweb.com.  Paul Gommi must have scoured...  Paul Gommi must have scoured the earth to come up with the rare accessories found on his '32 Ford phaeton. Some, like the Pines Winterfront grille, the S.Co.T. supercharger, and the Electroline headlights are easy to pick out. Others, like the modified '50 Ferrari air cleaners, Pierce Arrow inside rearview mirror, and '34 Rolls-Royce stop/turn light require a second look.  Bruce Elder drove his '29...  Bruce Elder drove his '29 Ford phaeton from Staunton, VA. The tub rolls on ribbed fronts and dirt track rears. Note the headlight bar and the framerails that don't appear to be A or '32.  Gary Defer spent 10 years...  Gary Defer spent 10 years building his '15 Ford T-bucket. The Grabowski inspiration is evident-the '50 Caddy mill, Horne four-pot intake with Stromberg 97s, Offy valve covers and Roto-faze distributor, and a carved shifter knob by Grabowski tops it all off.  Luis Loyola owns this pale...  Luis Loyola owns this pale yellow '29 Ford roadster. It rolls on steelies wrapped with bias-ply tires, wearing '41 Ford hubcaps. Between the A 'rails is a Studebaker V-8 with a Paxton centrifugal supercharger.  This T is a real survivor....  This T is a real survivor. The Jack Foye and Ross Heale collaboration utilized the front half of a '26 T touring and a custom bed with blown Chrysler power. It ran 130-mph-plus at the drags in the late '50s and early '60s, it was at the first L.A. Roadster Show and appeared in the movie Palm Springs Weekend. Ross and Doug Peterson dug it out of storage after 30 years.  You're likely to see anything...  You're likely to see anything in L.A., and here's proof it won't all be subtle. King of the Kustomizers, George Barris, cruised the grounds in the Munster Koach. There were two built, the first one took 21 days in 1964 and cost $18,000.  Another roadster from the...  Another roadster from the past, Tom Cobb's '29 Ford roadster used a 268-inch Flathead with a GMC 3-71 blower under a quartet of Stromberg 48s modified for methanol. The unusual grille was from a '34 Desoto.  Another example of this subtle...  Another example of this subtle approach is this '28 Ford roadster. Note the modifications to the cowl-the gas filler has been removed and the seam on the sides have been filled and smoothed.  So when's a roadster not a...  So when's a roadster not a roadster? When it's one of the 4,637 phaetons built by Ford in 1936. Tubs have plenty of room for hauling friends and this one has a ZZ4 underhood, making it haul in another way. Chrome wheels and wide whites add to the classic appeal.  We didn't get the owner's...  We didn't get the owner's name, but we sure like the wide-five wheels on this Model A roadster pickup. Used on Fords from 1936-39, the wheels are getting scarce and so are good brake drums to mount them to.  With total production of just...  With total production of just over 3,000 for Master and Standard series, John Flores' '34 two-tone blue Chevy is a rare roadster.  If there had been a prize...  If there had been a prize for the largest roadster in attendance, Richard Tupper would have hauled it home in his two-tone gray '35 Seagrave roadster pickup. A former fire truck, Tupper's creation is remarkably graceful for a vehicle of its size.  When we say just about everything...  When we say just about everything without a solid roof and roll-up windows is likely to show up, we're not kidding. What this Studebaker racer lacked in finesse was made up for with a hearty exhaust note.  While not eligible for the...  While not eligible for the roadster display, we wouldn't throw this '39 Ford convertible out of our garage. This year and body style was the last Ford to offer a rumble seat.  Another case of building what...  Another case of building what never was, John and Karen Mee are the owners of this '36 Ford roadster pickup. It takes a good eye and more than a little skill to take the top off any vehicle and make it look right. 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.  For $3,000 you could have...  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...  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...  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?...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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...  "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,...  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...  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...  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,...  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...  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...  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,...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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,...  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...  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...  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...  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...  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.
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