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The 58th annual Sacramento Autorama - Heart of Custom CountryExpanded for Web From the February, 2009 issue of Rod & Custom By Tim Bernsau Photography by Tim Bernsau
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We were still buzzed from the Grand National Roadster Show a couple weekends earlier. The sensory bombardment of seven-or was it eight?-buildings stuffed with the country's best rods and customs doesn't shake off quickly. Now we were at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento geared up to repeat the experience. Except now there were 10 or 11-or was it 12?-buildings jam-packed with more extraordinary rides of every description. The Sacramento Autorama is the nation's second oldest indoor hot rod show, a year younger than the GNRS. Northern California is custom country and the H.A. Bagdasarian World's Most Beautiful Custom award-named for the man who started this show back in 1950-is the big prize here. This year, 14 entries competed for the WMBC title. When the judging was done, the honor (along with a huge trophy) was given to Mercules, Bruno Gianoncelli's '50 Mercury high-tech hardtop. We spent a lot of time in Building D, temporarily dubbed the Suede Pavilion. Alex "Axle" Idzardi, of the Shifters car club, helped organize this show within a show, dedicated to nostalgic, traditionally built hot rods and customs. It wasn't all suede in the Suede Pavilion; in fact, painted cars were in the majority, and several could've held their own in the "regular" Autorama. Of course, that would've meant missing the live rockabilly, honky-tonk, and surf bands that played throughout the weekend, not to mention the crowd of pinstripers who kept their brushes busy at the panel jam organized by T.J. Pagano. On Sunday, all of the pinstriped panels and other custom-painted objects of art were auctioned off, raising several thousand dollars for the UC Davis Children's Hospital. Makes you proud. The photos give you some idea of the variety and quality of customs and rods at this year's Sacramento Autorama. More cars are featured in the expanded coverage at www.rodandcustommagazine.com, and even more are currently under construction for 2009's show. We plan on being there to see them in person. How 'bout you?  There's no bad angle on the...  There's no bad angle on the '63 Thunderbird built at Oz Kustoms by Oz Welch and his son, Kyle "Coyote" Welch. A 6-inch chop, extended side spears, and airbags add to the low and long look. The drivetrain is original T-bird, and paint is House of Kolor Candy Persimmon with variegated leaf trim. Oz Kustoms had 15 or 16 customs on display in Sacramento.  Oz Welch (right), was named...  Oz Welch (right), was named the 2008 Builder of the Year, and also received the Joe "Candy Apple Red" Bailon Award, presented by Bailon himself.  After years of driving it,...  After years of driving it, Charlie Runnels let Gary Howard turn his '51 Merc into a ground-scraping 'sled. The original Flathead runs six 97s, and the original seats wear Vernon McKean's hand-created upholstery. The long list of custom mods includes mostly Merc or Lincoln parts. John D'Agostino gave the car the Kustom d'Elegance Award.  It didn't win the WMBC prize,...  It didn't win the WMBC prize, but Matt and Colleen Beckdolt's '54 Chevy, built by Roseville Rod & Custom, earned awards for Undercarriage, Paint, Engine, and Detail. Small details like the curved B-pillars, and big ones like the injected Bill Mitchell 572, the two-tone paintjob, and Art Morrison chassis are secrets of its success.  The World's Most Beautiful...  The World's Most Beautiful Custom award for 2008 went to Mercules, this two-tone four-seater '50 Merc, owned by Bruno Gianoncelli from Perth, Australia. The Mercury has generated a great reaction with its blown 6.8L V-10 engine, 18- and 20-inch Bonspeed rims, chop, paint, and Mercedes headlights.  The legendary Dick Dean Kustoms...  The legendary Dick Dean Kustoms combined a '40 Merc coupe with a Corvette chassis to create Mervet, for Bob Ehnisz. The body has been chopped, channeled, sectioned, stretched, widened, and radically reworked in front. Another WMBC entry, it won the Gene Winfield Coolest Custom Award.  A wicked chop, '57 Studebaker...  A wicked chop, '57 Studebaker fins, HOK Pagan Gold, and lots of pinstriping set off this '57 Coupe de Ville, entered in the WMBC class. Brian Nieri is the designer, builder, and owner of the Cadillac, and did it wild without going cartoonish. Willie Taitano of Willie's Place gets credit for the great paint, and T.J. Pagano pulled the 'stripes.  Bob and Doreen Barton added...  Bob and Doreen Barton added some Thunderbird style to this WBMC-contender '51 Ford, notably with the '60 T-bird chopped and extended top, '68 buckets, and look-alike wraparound rear seat. It also features '54 Merc headlights, original '49 Cadillac hubcaps, and '53 Ford dash and gauges, plus a 302 under the hood.  Similar in style to the red...  Similar in style to the red and white '51 Merc that won the WMBC award in 2007, Frank and Demi Hinmon's green and black '49 wears Buick side trim and a DeSoto grille. The top was chopped and the B-pillar was lost to create a hardtop. A 500ci Cadillac fills the engine compartment.  Bet you didn't recognize the...  Bet you didn't recognize the '96 Chrysler top on Rick Robbins' WMBC class '53 Bel Air, did you? Other exterior mods are '56 Olds headlights, '55 Chrysler taillights, plenty of massaged sheetmetal, and who knows how many shades of violet. Bob Honstein did the fabricating on this Chevy.  The bright white on the lengthened...  The bright white on the lengthened Deuce 'rails, '57 392 Hemi with six 97s, period pearl-white upholstery, and extensive pinstriping sure got our attention. Tracy Ledford built the '31 five-window from an old drag car body, modifying just about every part of the coupe.  Duane and Pam Balogh made...  Duane and Pam Balogh made just enough mods-shaved sheetmetal, custom grille, lowered stance, Billet Specialties rims, leather interior, dressed-up small-block-to turn their '57 Chevy pickup into a nice contemporary custom without obliterating any of the truck's original personality.  We're glad Suede Pavilion...  We're glad Suede Pavilion organizer Alex "Axle" Idzardi saved a spot for his own suede '36 Ford three-window coupe. The car had been parked since 1962 when Axle found it. He restored it-including "real Tijuana tuck 'n' roll"-to how it could have been built back then.  There's a lot to look at on...  There's a lot to look at on Roger Scott's channeled '26 T sedan, one of our favorite traditional hot rods from the Suede Pavilion. The engine choice is a 250 inline-six with three carbs on an Offy manifold.  Randy's Rods built this '49...  Randy's Rods built this '49 Ford convertible for Dee and Carolyn Barnes, dropping the chopped, wedge-cut, and sectioned body over an Art Morrison chassis. Sid Chavers did the upholstery, and the judge's awarded it Outstanding Interior in the WMBC class.  Here's a Deuce like you've...  Here's a Deuce like you've never seen. The all-steel coupe, built for Mike Espinor by Tim's Hot Rods, drew double-takes all weekend due to some unusual proportions. The doors and quarter-windows were stretched, and the deck abbreviated, to create a whole new profile, executed by Bill Keylon.  In addition to some knockout...  In addition to some knockout traditional hot rods and customs, the Suede Palace offered live music throughout the weekend, including Lee Rocker, on suede doghouse bass, and his roots rock band.  This bare-metal '53 Ford pickup,...  This bare-metal '53 Ford pickup, in progress by builder Tom Pagano, was finished when it was an ISCA show winner in 1960 and appeared in Hot Rod magazine in 1962. The owner stopped a rebuild three years later. Tom's finishing the job, and we can't wait to see this survivor when he's done with it.  Paint-gun legend Art Himsl...  Paint-gun legend Art Himsl shot the '69 Camaro Blue on Richard Sides' owner-built Deuce Tudor, which took First Place in the Early Altered Street Sedan Pre-1935 class. The original-steel sedan is loaded with a 331 Hemi, while front and rear custom buckets fill the cockpit.  Ed Umland is hoping for 9s...  Ed Umland is hoping for 9s on the 'strip and 200 mph at Bonneville with his homebuilt '31 coupe. With a fully caged frame with drilled and sleeved 'rails, and an 8-71 blown 468ci big-block with Brodix heads, he has a good shot at doing it. The seats and dash are hand-tooled and hand-stitched leather (like you see on motorcycles); a matching top is in-progress.  This '31 Plymouth was first...  This '31 Plymouth was first hot-rodded in 1964. Dave Fluke bought it in pieces three years ago, and Josh "Lefty" Mullican built it, using a blown '56 Chrysler 354. The old owner built the chassis with a Mark William Funny Car torsion-bar suspension, while an in-between owner added Halibrand mags from a Mallicoat Brothers gasser.  C-notched 'rails and Air Ride...  C-notched 'rails and Air Ride 'bags drop Ken Harris' '36 deep down into the shag rug. Six Holley 94s feed the 327. The list of cool stuff includes a 31/2-inch chop, Mustang buckets done in white-pearl vinyl, a '59 Pontiac Bonneville wheel, and Radir wheels.  Dan Dermott put his '48 Ford...  Dan Dermott put his '48 Ford pickup through a radical makeover that included a scratch-built pancaked hood, shortened and narrowed late-'90s Ford bed, assertive chop, and raised fenders for a sectioned look. The blacked-out custom grille teeth and rims go great with the gray 'flake paint.  Here's another great Oz Welch...  Here's another great Oz Welch creation-Roger Stevens' triple-tone, chopped '57 Buick wagon. With cut-down and lengthened quarters, Motorspot wires with genuine knockoff spinners, and the stock Nailhead with three deuces, the wagon provided some tough competition for the WMBC prize.  Hot Rod Service Company did...  Hot Rod Service Company did a lot of work on Tony Sampino's silver '40 Ford, which the Autorama judges picked as the winner in it's class. The brightwork on the 4.6-liter Cobra motor, the Ron Mangus interior, plus some elegant bodywork contributed to the decision, we're sure.  There's a lot to look at on...  There's a lot to look at on Roger Scott's channeled '26 T sedan, one of our favorites traditional hot rods from the Suede Pavilion. The engine choice is a 250 inline-six with three 1V carbs on an Offy manifold and the custom '56 Merc dash was a cool surprise.  The outdoor portion of the...  The outdoor portion of the show was for driven-in vehicles like Anthony Orta's '51 Chevy pickup, a $300 gift from his dad when he was 15. Anthony redid the whole truck, building up the small-block, re-covering the stock seats, and dropping it just enough. The paint is a Lamborghini Diablo color.  The monochrome candy tangerine...  The monochrome candy tangerine finish on this '41 Ford Business Coupe clinched an Outstanding Paint prize for the chopped and reshaped, fat-fendered smoothie. The car is owned by Dick Graese and was built by Bobby Anderson.  Oh my goodness-is this traditional?!...  Oh my goodness-is this traditional?! Not exactly, but the traditional crowd is loosening up enough to appreciate a traditionally-inspired rod like Laura "Rusty" Parkers LT1-running '36 Dodge pickup. Rusty's hauler has modified with a two-inch chop and some cool interior work.  You've already seen a full...  You've already seen a full feature on Gary and Nancy Pettigrew 's '35. Hupmobile sedan in R&C. Here's another look at the owner-designed and built odd rod, which won a Radical Rod Sedan award in Sacramento. The engine is an LS1 disguised as a '54 Dodge Red Ram.  Richard Zocchi boldly covered...  Richard Zocchi boldly covered his '61 Olds in pink paint, shot by Art Himsl over John Aiello's incredible bodywork. The WMBC contender features a '60 Merc grille, '60 Buick headlights, handmade skirts, and a '61 Starliner top.  John D'Agostino's interpretation...  John D'Agostino's interpretation of a '61 Olds is nicknamed Aladdin, and was also in the running for WMBC. The bodywork was handled by Bill Hines' Kustom Shop, with paint applied by Oz Kustoms. It's a knockout.  Fred Stoke was in Sacramento...  Fred Stoke was in Sacramento with this impeccably-details '32 highboy, built by the owner using a Brookville steel body riding on a Pete 'n' Jakes suspension, and loaded with a 383-cubic-inch Chevy small-block. Best of all, Fred's said (right on his sign) that the Deuce is his daily driver when the weather is nice.  Here's another nice Deuce...  Here's another nice Deuce highboy roadster. This one's the property of John Ranacis. It runs a 350/350 drivetrain combinationa with a Currie 9-inch rearend, and features a Ron Mangus interior.  Steve Ball's '40 Pontiac convertible...  Steve Ball's '40 Pontiac convertible combines a resto rod exterior (with wide whites and all the chrome and trim) with a late-model interior (with leather highback buckets and a LeCarra wheel) to create a hybrid hot rod.  Dwayne Zajic showed up at...  Dwayne Zajic showed up at the Autorama with this beautiful black full-fendered '30 Chrysler coupe. It looks mostly stock, with a slight injection of hot rod attitude.  Have another look at Robbie...  Have another look at Robbie Azevedo's '29 roadster, built at Pacific Coast Customs, and fresh from it's appearance at the Grand National Roadster Show. Here his wild woodie competed in the Altered Street Touring, Pre 1935 category. The Townsmen
Several smaller buildings were devoted to club participation. That's where we met the Townsmen, a local club with an impressive collection of rides. More impressive is the fact that these guys and gals aren't into the whole velvet-rope, gold-trophy car show scene. You're far more likely to see these cars on some Northern California highway on a weekend road trip. They made an exception this weekend to help raise money for the Wind Youth Services, a local organization that helps homeless kids.  Frank and Maggie Austin displayed...  Frank and Maggie Austin displayed their '36 Ford with other members of the Townsmen club from Sacramento. The frame-off build-up included a contemporary leather interior and HO 305 motor. The Tucson Tan tudor took the trophy in the Conservative Rod Sedan class.  Roseville Rod and Custom did...  Roseville Rod and Custom did a lot of the work on Dave Foster's '49 Olds 88 Deluxe Coupe. It's all Olds under the hood, where lurks a 455. It rides on an air suspension, and his fellow Townsmen told us that this mild custom gets driven everywhere.  There's no missing Jim and...  There's no missing Jim and Barbara Major's bright red '36 Dodge Humpback panel truck, one of fewer than 150 built-and probably the only one rolling on Drag Lite wheels. It's powered by a Dodge 340 fed by a pair of Carter 500s on an Offy tunnel ram manifold. It's got a Mustang II frontend and a Ford 9-inch rear.  Bruce and Barbara Stevens...  Bruce and Barbara Stevens went wild with the dimensions of their '32 three-window. The Heritage body was chopped, stretched, pinched, and bobbed. A 450-hor Chevy 350 is hooked to a 700R4 automatic. A four-link suspension set-up was added front and rear.  A Weiand-blown '53 Ford 8BA...  A Weiand-blown '53 Ford 8BA flathead with Offy heads, backed by a C4 trans and shortened 9-inch pulls Carl and Donna Lembke's '36 Ford pickup. Carl did almost all the work except the interior. It's got a Mustang II set-up in front and a 4-bar in the rear.
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