Goodguys Del Mar Nationals - Where Hot Rods Play

Look real close to see the white pinstriping along the beltline of Scott Robert’s ’41 Ford truck, built by Hot Rods & Custom Stuff. There’s more striping on the tailgate. This knockout pickup is packed with a Flathead with two deuces and Edmunds air cleaners. The cab is done in cream tuck ’n’ roll.

The bright red finish on Buddy Pepp’s ’34 three-window is a driveway lacquer job sprayed in the ’70s. The chrome is from the same timeframe. Pepp has had the coupe for more than 15 years. Drivetrain consists of a small-block Chevy and TH350 automatic with a 9-inch Currie rearend.

In the truest custom tradition, Tony Miller’s slammed ’56 Ford Victoria was modified with ’55 Customline side trim and grille, ’56 Lincoln hubcaps, ’55 Olds headlights, ’55 Merc taillights, a ’65 GTO hood scoop, and ’64 Thunderbird interior parts, to name only a few mods. Underhood is a built-up 351 Windsor.

Needing something to drive to Del Mar, Carly dePeralta bought this low-mileage ’55 Chrysler New Yorker a week before the show. The Hemi is the original 331. Lace paint covers the top, while she got rid of the fur carpet but kept the fur dash top.

One of our Del Mar favorites is Jack Burns’ ’41 Studebaker Champion Deluxe Custom Club Sedan (it was a Top 100 pick back in 2006). The Nailhead-powered Stude with a mid-’60s switch pitch (variable stator) TH400 still looks great with Cypress Gold Frost paint and Torq-Thrust IIs.

Terry James’ ’49 Chevy Fleetline features one of our favorite body styles. This homebuilt Chevy is nosed and decked, with frenched headlights and taillights. Traditional rolls ’n’ pleats fill the orange and cream interior. The engine is a 425ci Buick Nailhead.

The historic Pete Henderson roadster from the early ’40s is one of the “75 Most Significant ’32 Ford Hot Rods” and the legendary “car that raced the horse” (Google it). It was recently restored by current caretaker Ralph Whitworth of San Diego, and won the Period Perfect and Real McCoy awards this weekend.

Still fresh from the Grand National Roadster Show, Dana and Lorene Hinkle’s “Gold Rush” Deuce pickup has ’60s show rod written all over it. From the gleaming small-block to the white diamond stitch interior and African zebrano wood bed, the steel-bodied ’32 attracted a little bit of attention.

Joe’s pavement-scraping ’56 wears a shade of red that would make the lights on the Vegas Strip look dim in comparison.