Up until a few years ago, there were some log buildings on the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York, where a bunch of guys and gals with traditional-built rods would hang out during the Goodguys East Coast Nationals. The setting inspired the name Fort Hot Rod. Although the buildings are gone, a bunch of traditional-minded rodders still congregate, and Fort Hot Rod lives on. But this group represents only a small fraction of the action at the East Coast Nats.
The guys at the gate let in all 1972-or-earlier vehicles, so in addition to rods, customs, and classic trucks, Rhinebeck is the place to see street machines, musclecars, and (as always) one or two vehicles that defy categories. As we expected, the styles ranged from period-correct traditional to high-tech contemporary. As we hoped, many of the traditional rides we saw had a look we associate with the East Coast: channeled stance, motorcycle-style fenders, square rollbars, and big numbers on the odometers. Despite the short season, rodders "back here" are big on driving their cars.
We spent three days at the show soaking it all in, dodging raindrops, making friends, talking to vendors, visiting the numerous Goodguys car corrals, perusing the swap meet, getting an eyeful of approximately 1,500 show vehicles, and trying to pick only 10 as the Rod & Custom Top 10 winners. For more coverage of the Goodguys East Coast Nationals in Rhinebeck, visit the Rod & Custom Web site at www.rodandcustommagazine.com.
When Kimberly Dolin wasn't...
When Kimberly Dolin wasn't driving her scalloped '29 A around the fairgrounds, it was parked on the hill with a bunch of other traditional rods at Fort Hot Rod. The roadster originally came from California, where it was part of the THEM club. The 351 engine is backed by a C4 transmission, and the '29 LaSalle dash is filled with Moon gauges.
All the members of the Beatniks...
All the members of the Beatniks drive eye-catching traditional customs, but we especially liked Billy Monroe's '54 Merc, powered by a 312 Y-block with a fabricated air intake system. The car was nosed and decked, and lowered 4 inches, but most impressive is the ambitious top-chop.
The '40 Ford commercial green...
The '40 Ford commercial green paint on Tom McCarthy's Deuce highboy roadster extends underneath the car as well, and looks great with butternut yellow steelies with chrome rings and caps. The engine is a '58 283 small-block hooked to a four-speed, with a Ford 9-inch running 3.50 gears.
Ed Flanagan did a beautiful...
Ed Flanagan did a beautiful job turning his Coast to Coast '36 Ford cabriolet into a unique ride. Ed extended the deck, lengthened and widened the hood, altered the fenders, added a custom grille, and extended the fadeaway headlight housings. He kept the handles at the rear of the suicide doors. The results are fantastic.
Martin Kocevar started driving...
Martin Kocevar started driving in the early '60s, and built his '32 Chevy in the style he remembers from those days. He kept the body stock, maintaining the original trim, but stripped the sheetmetal bare before shooting the suede black. Interior is black tuck 'n' roll with orange piping to match the rims. The 350 small-block has pushed the coupe to 135 mph at Cecil County Dragway.
The stock height top on Rob...
The stock height top on Rob Crane's '60 Starliner has been sunk into the cowl and rear deck area to provide a low look but retaining all window glass. Air Ride Technologies suspension adds to the pavement-scraping posture. Rob built the car in his 14x20 garage. The Thunderbird Special 352 is the original engine.
Rhinebeck was the first big...
Rhinebeck was the first big show for Jeff Bornstein's '32 roadster. The slicks, roll bar, straight pipes, and Big Al-blown small-block give Bornstein's Brookville-bodied Deuce an aggressive high-performance appearance, helped even more by red tuck 'n' roll, and some Radir five-spokes.
After 18 years, Dave White...
After 18 years, Dave White decided to get his "rusty and rotten" '56 Pontiac Safari out of the garage and back on the street. Now it's a knockout. Dave cleaned up the body lines, keeping the hood suspenders and side trim, and adding '54 Vette grille teeth and a few other custom touches. Power comes from an injected 350 engine.
The first thing we noticed...
The first thing we noticed about Paul Babcock's '56 Ford F-100 pickup was the Vanilla Shake paint, followed by the louvered hood and tailgate, and Colorado Custom 17-inch rims. The tasty pickup rides on a Fatman Fabrications chassis, and runs a 454 engine with a TH400 automatic.
Dick Applegate's super-smooth...
Dick Applegate's super-smooth '31 five-window coupe is an original steel ride. Dick bought the car in 2000 in bone-stock condition. As you can see, he's made a few changes, such as smoothing and shaving everything, molding the body panels, raising the fenders, and chopping the top. He dropped in a ZZ4 small-block and a Richmond trans.
Who paints black flames over...
Who paints black flames over gold? Joe Simon pulled it off with his '37 Chevy Master Deluxe Sedan, purchased 12 years ago at this same event. The original body has been treated to a 2-inch chop. The drivetrain combo is a TPI 454 with a 700-R4 and Currie 9-inch. Seats are from a Mercedes M-series. Wheels are 19- and 20-inch Intros.