Bill Neumann stands proud with his roadster displayed in the Rod & Custom magazine booth. Photo by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
Say the word “archive” and you’ll get the full attention of Art Director Aaron Kahan–that is, as long as he’s not already buried in the digital files of the newly created Petersen Archive at the moment! As you may have recently witnessed from our Little Pages annual 2012 issue (“Jewels From The Archive: Nosed!”), the results of Source Interlink Media’s archivist Thomas Voehringer’s tireless efforts have literally opened the doors to Petersen Publishing’s past—in digital format–including Rod & Custom.
It is our pleasure to present you, the reader, a monthly trip back in time with Rod & Custom, both excerpt material and outtakes never before seen (at least not in printed form). This month, join us as we revisit the 1962 National Roadster Show!
Check out the chrome wires...
Check out the chrome wires and piner whitewalls on the ’59 Buick LeSabre below. Doug Kinney’s same-year lime gold Cad on the left is very “Watson-esque”. Photo by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen...
Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
“The Gangster” ’27 Ford roadster...
“The Gangster” ’27 Ford roadster is shown with the ropes down, but Neumann photographed the neat show card. That might not be the best name for a car today, unless you can back that up. Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen...
Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
John Day’s Corvette-powered...
John Day’s Corvette-powered showstopping roadster pickup, “Utah Lucky”, graced the May ’62 cover of Car Craft. Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
What caught our eye in the...
What caught our eye in the bottom photo, besides the slick Panhead chopper, three roadsters, and all the period decor, was the custom trailer for the Orange Krate. (You can barely see the roof of the Orange Krate in front of the trailer.) Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
You can’t get any more ’60s...
You can’t get any more ’60s style than the rod and custom on this page. This El Camino is as pure mild custom as it gets. Slammed, shaved, candied, white tuck ‘n’ roll, chrome, and the killer tires of the day. All that wrapped by angel hair, too! Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.
Gary Kidwell’s Deuce roadster...
Gary Kidwell’s Deuce roadster “Sylvester ll” was recently found in a barn in its native Bay Area and restored/updated by New Metal Kustomz in Cotati, CA. It’s now named “Sylvester lll”, and was in competition for the AMBR at this year’s GNRS. Photos by Bill Neumann/Petersen Archive.