Santa Maria - A Change Of P(l)ace - Expanded for Web

We first saw Burke Harrison's '38 Chevy from the other side, and literally did a double take when we spied what was (barely) under the hood! We'll bet it surprises more than a few people expecting it to be no more than a neat cruiser.

Mark Wilson's wacky little Model A coupe ran a Chevy W motor, stretched suicide frontend with no brakes on skinny 17-inch 12-spokes, and a semi-tubbed rearend with slicks.

Kendra Fleharty's track-nosed Model A runs four two-barrels on its Fernando Alonso-built 390 Caddy motor. Kendra built the roadster herself, and Circle City Hot Rods built the headers, tuned the engine, and got it running.

Right: We've seen a few of the Boling brothers' creations over the past few years, mainly at Bakersfield for the Hot Rod Reunion and March Meet, but Derrick Boling's simple-yet-killer '25 Dodge is the nicest yet, in our opinion.

David Aguilar's '35 Plymouth coupe has been the recipient of some serious bodywork and is another, like the Gambino Chevy, that heads in the hoodless kustom direction. Hey, David, are those '40 Buick headlights?

Chevy Fleetlines are always a bear to chop nicely, so it's a treat to see a good one like Henry Montebello's '50. With their stock fender skirts and a healthy altitude adjustment, they can't help but look good, and it just gets better with the addition of Appletons and lakes pipes.

Joyce Fischer's chopped 'n' filled '32 five-window was looking good with its Tri-powered small-block and cream wires.

Though the bodywork showed no ground-clearance scars, we suspect Reno Renovato may have to drive around manhole covers, his '31 coupe is that low. Heck, even the hairpins mount through the cowl!

Everyone loves a survivor car, right? Monrovia, CA, resident Nick Osborne was the envy of many with this great '34 three-window. What wouldn't you do for a stock body in this condition?

Let's face it, a '59 Pontiac doesn't need a whole lot done to it to make a cool mild custom, and Chuck Cushner's version is all the proof you need, thanks to its chrome wires, whitewalls, and low stance. It looked even better when the sun came out!

The '36 Ford three-window always comes to mind when early style customs are mentioned, thanks to Harry Westergard, but the '40 Merc runs it a close second in our book. Of course, no custom was this low back in the day.

Kevin and Suzy Gallagher's '51 Victoria out of Gallagher's Oil Farm in Napa, CA, employed all the traditional kustom tricks for a great look. The oxblood rolled 'n' pleated interior by Rene's Custom Upholstery matches the roof hue.

Looks like Thom Taylor's truck cab fetish is rubbing off. Entry and exit is by way of the open roof on this fun-looking little cabster. Better make sure you travel light, though!