Paso Ain't Passe - Web Expanded Show Coverage

It wasn't the first appearance at Paso for Mercury Charlie's fabulous '51, but he went back to Austin, Texas, with a well deserved award for Outstanding Interior.

Chopped and dropped '56 Ford wore Crown Victoria side trim and skirts, effective modifications that accentuate the car's lines.

'55 Olds grille bar and headlight doors, plus the addition of wire wheels, lend a European appearance to the venerable '53 Chevy.

Mark Morton from Hop Up Magazine wanted to attend Paso incognito, then gave himself up by putting his name in the windshield of his too cool mild custom '65 Riv.

Dave Smith brought this neat '28 Model A from La Habra to join in the fun. With plenty of louvers in the hood, splash apron and visor, the green paint was perfectly complemented by the cream wires, interior and roof, while the chrome garnish moldings didn't hurt.

Von Franco already cloned Norm Grabowski's Kookie Car and let it go, so came back a few years later to reproduce its previous incarnation, the Lightnin' Bug.

Robert House's '50 fastback was parked off to one side of the park, yet drew admiring looks thanks to its many subtle body mods, air bag-assisted altitude and way cool custom color mix.

John D'Agostino's Golden Star '57 Olds Super 88 is his seventh collaboration with Oz Welch of Oz Kustoms, and the latest in a long line of D'Agostino creations. The tangerine beauty placed in the Wild Custom class.

One of the more traditional '50s customs in the park was Lou Bertelli's '50 Merc. From its modified and smoothed bumper and single grille bar to its rear fender scoops and Lincoln 'caps, it nailed the era, but the organic burgundy paint was the crowning touch.

'53 Buick Skylarks don't need much to look like full customs, but Rick Dore worked his magic on this one for James Hetfield, scooping the Wild Custom award along with Bill Hines' Best Paint trophy. The cleaned up front bumper really helps this 'un stand out, among other subtle mods.

There were some way cool custom trucks at Paso this year, and up against Craig Hahn's F100 for our vote was this fine chopped '59 Fleetside owned by Alvin Garnico.

The Sweetwater Special coupe-turned-pickup featured some neat touches including hood ornaments bolted to the valve covers. Yeah, it sounds weird but it worked.