We've seen an awful lot of anniversaries recently, and the L.A. Roadsters is no exception, as 2007 celebrates the club's 50-year anniversary. The event that the club is known for, the Roadster Show, held every Father's Day weekend at the L.A. Fairplex in Pomona, is no spring chicken either, this year seeing its 43rd annual happening. And it's still strictly roadsters in the main show area, though the outside car display is as big, while the swap meet, manufacturer, and vendor areas can very easily keep you from seeing any cars at all if you're not careful, since they cover so much ground!
Fresh out of Circle City Hot...
Fresh out of Circle City Hot Rods, and forming part of that company's display in the swap meet area, was Curtis Murrell's Model A coupe. Cowl steering, six twos on a 425ci Buick Nailhead, filled grille, and spindle mounts ensure it's noticed. The blue windows remain from its original '60s build.
This swap meet seems to draw out the rare stuff, and while a small percentage is purely on display for bragging rights, with owners having no real intention of selling, you'll find parts here you won't find elsewhere, and there are definitely bargains to be had if you keep your eyes open. How about a 4-71 blower, still with the diesel drive and in immaculate shape, for $200? We're still kicking ourselves for not spotting it on the first day, as it didn't sell until Saturday afternoon.
We could have happily spent all weekend in the swap meet, but duty was calling, so we made our way around the hundreds of roadsters in attendance as well as checking out all the new products and goodies, some of which you'll be seeing in the "Rod Shop" pages soon.
As ever, the roadsters ranged from strictly traditional to high tech, though we'd be hard-pushed to pick any emerging trend. The closest being pseudo-race cars running the gamut from gassers and faux dirt-track cars to beautifully engineered rods using traditional components but with a European vintage race car bent, such as with the use of 18-inch-or-larger wire wheels and Dunlop or Excelsior tires.
From the now-traditional-and extremely well-attended-open house at SO-CAL Speed Shop on the Friday evening prior to the event, to the very end of Sunday's action, many attendees probably still get around it all, which in our eyes makes it a roaring success.
Subtle light green is complemented...
Subtle light green is complemented by the gray spokes on the Americans at each corner of this stock-bodied A roadster pickup. In an age of ludicrously large rims, the 17s on the rear are barely noticeable here.
Anaheim's Dave Rondou didn't...
Anaheim's Dave Rondou didn't have far to travel to show his '27 T pickup. There's a heavy '60s vibe going on here, with chrome steelies wrapped in whiteband cheater slicks, white pleated upholstery, and that diamond-accented tonneau with a shorty rollbar poking through.
We showed you the rolling...
We showed you the rolling chassis for this '57 gasser in our April issue. Jimmy Shine has been busy finishing Todd Haas' 150, now complete with sign writing and a Ron Mangus-stitched interior.
A healthy drop-job, tasteful...
A healthy drop-job, tasteful scallops, and chrome-accented hood louvers and running boards combine nicely on this mild custom '36 cabriolet from Burbank.
More Than Just a Roadster...
More Than Just a Roadster Show
Buick wires are the crowning...
Buick wires are the crowning touch on this slammed 'n' shaved Chevy ragtop, which refuses to be pigeonholed as a rod, custom, or lowrider, but has elements of each genre.
Flipper caps, spots, and skirts...
Flipper caps, spots, and skirts are just enough to embellish this deftly sliced '36 three-window, stopping short of garish.
Depending on your taste, the...
Depending on your taste, the cars in the swap meet could have kept you busy most of the weekend. There were some deals, but most were gonna cost ya.
Jim Lattin's fantastic 2004...
Jim Lattin's fantastic 2004 recreation of the Warth-Hilborn streamliner graced the SCTA booth, along with a selection of lakes racers from past and present. The original was severely damaged in '47, rebuilt, and sold to the Grant Piston Ring Company before disappearing.
The Stone's Speed & Sport...
The Stone's Speed & Sport '40 pickup wore an interesting two-tone paint scheme, incorporating scallops and using matching orange fender welting.
Ken Embleton's track-nosed...
Ken Embleton's track-nosed '28 roadster made it up from Santee in San Diego County. He's nailed the look with 'Stones at each corner, side and front nerfs, and liberally drilled backing plates on the Buick front drums.
As color combos go, it's hard...
As color combos go, it's hard to beat orange and black, as evidenced by this Deuce out of the Hot Rod Garage. The chromed split 'bones and Merc caps add just the right amount of glitter.
One of the neatest cars on...
One of the neatest cars on the grounds for us was this black-on-black '32, with its 18-inch Excelsior tires on black 'n' chrome wires, and an extended hood covering a superbly detailed 24-stud Flathead. It's a beautiful blend of old meets new.