WCKC Car Show

My, that would be a long title for a blog if completely spelled out.  It is the West Coast Kustom Cruisin' Car Show.  Just so ya' know!!!  My mother wrote to me about the 'parade' of old cars.  She said she can remember when they were new!!!  She loves the way some folks are committed to taking care of them, the time, effort . . . not to mention money!  Enjoy these.

Rare 1956 Continental Mark II.

This is a 1956 Chevy two-door.

This 1936 Ford is an iconic early hot rod from the 1040s, recently found and restored.

An outstanding example of a typical Model A Ford hot rod roadster.

A 1964 Buick built in the 1960s style while the car in the background is a 1949 Ford, another iconic custom car from the 1950s recently found and restored.

Classic 1956 Chevy Nomad.

A 1953 Buick.

Both the 1932 Ford and the 1936 Ford are cars from the past recently restored.

Full view of the 1956 Continental Mark II.

This is a 1953 Cadillac done in a classic leadsled style. So, I ask Tom, "What does leadsled mean?"  It refers to the choice of body filler.  In the past they used melted lead.  Now they use 'Bondo' body filler.  Just guessing it is easier with Bondo.

Pristine example of a 1935 Ford street rod coupe

A 1950 Chevrolet coupe with chopped top.

A 1936 Packard coupe.

Tom's ride to the show.  This is Jerry's 1964 Galaxie.  It has the paint job that Tom applied to it in 1964.  Jerry bought it for himself for his 20th birthday and asked Tom to paint it with three color blend of transparent blue, green and purple.  It won best paint award at the World of Wheels Show in Kansas City in 1966.  It had been in storage since 1972 and Jerry just recently got it out to restore it.  Paint job has held up well!!!

Classic 1932 Ford Deuce Roadster.

This is 'the' classic leadsled, a much lowered and chopped 1950 Mercury.  Kinda sexy in my opinion!!

Hot rodded Cadillac motor powering in an early model Ford hot rod.

A Buick V8 powering a Model A roadster, done in the style of a 1960s-built showrod.  This stuff gets rather technical and Tom appreciates the nuance . . . I just like the color a lot and like the way it pays attention to detail such as painting the inside of the carburetor induction scoops (that is why they call it a showrod).

"Show is over.  Let's go home!

Tom is blessed with great friends.  These are friends he has made over his lifetime, many of them going back decades.  He stays in touch, nurtures those relationships.  Many of his friends appreciate the older cars, restore them, show them off and invite him to come along.  This was such a trip.  There will be more.  His photography of these events is becoming more and more appreciated by a wider audience.  He has successfully blended one interest with another.  Hard to beat that!!

Lonestar Roundup Part 2

As promised, more images from Tom's trip to Austin for the Lonestar Roundup.  Enjoy.

Another 1932 Ford . . . in this case a sedan.  

Really!!  Another 1932 Ford.  OK, I am ready for a rat rod!

Haha!  Well, Tom can't give me a good rat rod.  Would I settle for potty graffiti?  When this good, yes!  Are those cars rat rods?

A 1950 Oldsmobile.  Lots of room for suitcases in the trunk.

This model is called a 'bathtub Nash'.  It is rarely ever customized.  It is a 1950 (more or less).  I think it is rather elegant.

Jerry's car.  A 1963 Ford Galaxie.  Paint job is holding up well.

Guess!!  Yes, you guessed correctly.

A 1958 Cadillac.

Sporting color.  It is a 1953 Chevy.

A 1932 Ford.

1954 Ford.  What?  "Not a 1932 Ford?" I ask Tom not so innocently.  Nope, he responds.

1931 Model A.  Cute rear end.  Almost qualifies as a butt shot!

1950 Ford with a chopped top.

1931 Model A

Tom said I made a good guess.  A 1932 Ford with a chopped top.  I think it has an attitude!

Yep.  It is.

Really stand out with the clouds behind it.  Jerry's car.

Tom thinks this is a 1948 Plymouth, 

A 1931 Model A.

A 1931 Model A.

A supercharged Thunderbird motor.

A 1960s style nostalgia dragster.

A six carburators on a Buick engine.

I think I am catching on.  Six on a Cadillac?  Tom says, 'Yes."

An impromptu conference room. Lots of sharing goes on at these car show. 

All from the show.  Tom will be going back next year.  Thanks for stopping by.

Grand Nationals Roadster Show

The Grand National Roadster Show is the most revered expo in the hot rod and custom car  world.  It was started in Oakland, CA in 1950 and moved to the Las Angeles County Fairplex in 2003.  Entries this year were from all over the United States, some as far as the East Coast, with two entries shipped over from Europe.

1934 Terraplane.  Very rare.  One of the few pickups designed to compete with cars . . . art deco styling.

1941 Ford.

1931 Model A Coupe Hot Rod.

1941 Willys Pickup, awarded top award 50 years ago at this same show.

Classic 1932 Ford Deuce, classic hot rod.

1964 Buick Riviera, custom.

1935 Ford Phaeton.

1932 Ford, three window coupe, built as a 1950s style hot rod.

1932 Ford.

1958 Pontiac built in a style that would reflect it being built as a brand new car in 1958.

1932 Ford five window coupe.

1927 Ford Roadster.

1930 Model A sedan hot rod in the green.  1954 Chevrolet custom in the purple.

1955 Chevy street racer.

1954 Chevy with custom van in the background.

Volkswagon Surfer Van.

1961 Custom Cadillac.

Exact replica of a car that was built in 1956.  A hot rod.

Copy of historical car from 1950's, a 1923 Model T "bucket".

Classic Harley Davidson Chopper

1956 Plymouth Fury.

That is it for now.  I am asking Tom to post all of them, when he has finished his edits, on his website.  I will keep you posted.  Right now he is feeding the HAMB website for Jalopy Journal where he gets about 25,000 views and  several hundred comments on the thread created with his images just for this auto show.    Thanks for sharing!