Leaning heavily towards a...
Leaning heavily towards a resto appearance on the exterior and interior, Neal Hartz's fresh out '39 coupe hides a 383 stroker motor backed by a Tremec five-speed and 9-inch. The Villa Rica, Georgia-based Ford was a hit with everyone we spoke to.
The 39th NSRA Street Rod Nationals once again rolled into Louisville, Kentucky, the event's 14th visit to the city, and the 11th in succession. The Kentucky Exposition Center provides a perfect location, especially now the exhibit facility complex has been renovated, which houses not just the absolutely huge vendor exhibits but also the food court and Women's World.
It's easy to spend the better part of two days in the exhibit building alone, especially if you're a hands-on builder. The outside swap meet is an added bonus if it's original parts or early tin you're after, though this section seemed a little smaller than last year. In fact finding time to cram everything into the four days can be a problem, what with technical seminars, the Pro's Pick contests, vehicle safety inspections, the Builders' Showcase, evening entertainment in the form of bands in Freedom Hall, and the thousands of street rods present.
The Exposition Center grounds are huge, and there are rods parked or cruising throughout the facility, making it hard to determine whether sitting and watching them go by or jumping in your own and cruising the grounds is the better option to see most of them. We were working (yeah, hard life huh!) and therefore have the luxury of whizzing around in a golf cart shooting cars for posterity but would hate to imagine walking the entire event. Some bemoan the continued return to Louisville, and many could do without the humidity we're sure, but when a facility provides everything needed, including an adjoining theme park, it's hard to see a reason for change.
 |  This 'un had us scratching...  This 'un had us scratching our heads, though despite the headlight doors we knew it wasn't a '40 Ford! Turns out it's a '40 Dodge, with a Christman Racing-built round tube frame and heavily set-back 415ci Merlin Hardcore stroker engine. With less than 200 miles on the motor and trans-braked TH400 trans, it was for sale or trade for a nostalgia gasser. |  We dug 'Wet' Rob Rothweiler's...  We dug 'Wet' Rob Rothweiler's cool '25T as soon as we saw it. From the undropped axle and blackwall bias plies to the lunchbox hood latches and abbreviated truck grille it yelled 'early hot rod.' |
 With dual quads and a magneto...  With dual quads and a magneto feeding fuel and fire to the zoomie-equipped small-block, this chopped 'n' channeled T coupe looked like a lot of fun cruising the fairgrounds. |  With dual quads and a magneto...  With dual quads and a magneto feeding fuel and fire to the zoomie-equipped small-block, this chopped 'n' channeled T coupe looked like a lot of fun cruising the fairgrounds. |  There were a number of large...  There were a number of large delivery trucks at Louisville, but local boy John Gardner's '48 International Metro caught our eye thanks to its 'Bread Sled' sign writing and, upon closer inspection, the complete '59 Chevy dash and steering wheel. With a Dodge Dakota clip and 20-inch five-spokes, it drives great, if not exactly a comfy long-distance hauler with those tractor seats! |
 Akron, Ohio's Jeff Spry had...  Akron, Ohio's Jeff Spry had this very cool five-window parked outside the vendor building with a For Sale sign in the window. The stock height black-on-black beauty was running rare Electroline accessory headlights. |  We loved Larry Harper's Hemi-fied...  We loved Larry Harper's Hemi-fied 1930 A truck as soon as we saw it cruising the fairgrounds and jumped on it for a feature when we finally found it parked. It features numerous neat touches, such as the carpenter's levels as bed sidestakes. |  When Harold Ehle isn't fabricating...  When Harold Ehle isn't fabricating fiberglass '33-'34 bodies and components, he's behind the wheel of this gorgeous '41 kustom. Not only was it originally modified by Gene Winfield, but it was the basis for a 1998 Hot Wheels model, too. |
 Dennis Bordin and his '35...  Dennis Bordin and his '35 Chevy coupe were a long way from their San Leandro, California, home. Monochromatic paint and one-piece side windows bring it up to date, while the five-spokes keep it timeless. |  Simple, clean, and cool just...  Simple, clean, and cool just about sums up Grant Cassen's repro-bodied, Flathead-powered '32 roadster. Lots of little details drew us in for a closer look on a few occasions. |  |
 The NSRA Nats still seems...  The NSRA Nats still seems to be the show to go to if you want to find non-Ford or GM rides. Don and Phillis Gatlin's '33 Plymouth sedan appeared to have provided them with several miles of enjoyment so far. |  Scott Shaffer brought this...  Scott Shaffer brought this cool little '31 coupe down from Indiana, which despite its outward traditional appearance, was running disc brakes at each corner and aluminum coilovers. We'll bet it stops better than most bias ply-shod rods! |  We found the perfect trailer...  We found the perfect trailer for those of you who don't even want to chance getting your hot rod dirty pulling it out of the trailer. It'll also help take the guesswork out of what's inside for anyone who might want to steal it. |
 Riley Buttry's '34 Chevy coupe...  Riley Buttry's '34 Chevy coupe has been in his family since 1971, originally built by his dad and grandfather, but received a makeover when it passed into his hands as a teenager, with most of the work except the interior done at home. With 17- and 20-inch polished Americans and a GM Performance 350 under a three-piece hood, Riley has been driving the refurbished coupe since 2004. |  Fenderless sedans have a certain...  Fenderless sedans have a certain cool factor, but a chopped Vicky is just a little cooler somehow. Newark, Ohio's Bob Johnson is the lucky guy who owns the keys to this particular Victoria. |  We saw Dice Kobayashi's '47...  We saw Dice Kobayashi's '47 Ford at Goodguys Columbus show last year and were pleased to see it finished at the Nationals a year later. Extended rear fenders, custom bumpers, and peaked headlight rings give it a look all its own. |
 The Kentucky Exposition Center...  The Kentucky Exposition Center backs onto Six Flags amusement park, but Ray Herring's '32 Tudor looks more fun than any fairground ride, especially with that two-four-fed Hemi up front and skinny bias plies! |  Seeing as Larry and Sandy...  Seeing as Larry and Sandy Langdon's '48 Chevy hails from Ohio, it seems only right it should wear 'Ohio flames.' The healthily hammered coupe featured a neat molded front pan-come-bumper that would be easy to replace if damaged as it wasn't molded to the fenders. |  |
 Ben Smithson is barely into...  Ben Smithson is barely into his twenties but has assembled this '31 Ford Tudor and was proudly showing it off in Vintage Air's Under 25 arena. The body was channeled over the frame and the front buckets set back a little farther to make room for the '59 Chevy dash. The missing rear seat made room for a larger fuel tank. |  Keeping your build all-Ford...  Keeping your build all-Ford or all-Chevy is easy. Try building a Studebaker and keeping it all Stude. Tom Burns almost did it with his '27 Stude coupe sitting on the stock frame. The engine is a '63 Avanti R2 topped with a Cadillac 3x2 intake and shifted through a 4-gear manual. A Ford 8-inch, Vega steering box, Buick drums, and a few aftermarket hot rod pieces are about the only other non-Studebaker parts. |  If you had a 3x2-equipped...  If you had a 3x2-equipped 348 under the hood you'd leave it up too just as Howie Kittelstad did with his '47 Chevy convertible. |
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