LA Roadster Show

The LA Roadster Show is one of the oldest hot rod shows in the world. It was started in 1949 or 1950 and was specifically designed to showcase hot rod roadsters at a time when they were considered to be a dangerous vehicle built and driven by juvenile delinquents and criminals. In order combat the bad press this show was designed to show that these cars were in fact built and driven by some bright young minds with natural engineering talents. To that end, only finished roadsters were allowed into the show. There were many other hot rods that attended including coupes, sedans, customs, and partially finished cars. These cars could not be entered into the show, they had to park in the lot.

Over the years, the parking lot became more and more full of interesting cars and a swap meet also evolved. Today, the bigger show is in the parking lot!

Thanks to a lot of hard work and long days (and nights...thank you Jennifer!) I was able to bring both the Tsukagawa Deuce and my Studebaker to the show.  I made the Studebaker a driver the afternoon before the show, and drove it a total of 150-200 trouble free miles over the weekend. It took a little luck and a lot of planning and now I hope that things can get back to normal-ish around the shop.

This year's show was huge, bigger than I have ever seen. There was a lot to see, here's some of the highlights.

Both cars got a lot of attention at the show.

I love this 1936 Ford roadster, it has a perfect profile. That top is chopped just right.

Here's a view from the front, it has a Duvall windshield as well. I believe this was built from a coupe.

This is a restored old race car. Yes, people drag raced Thunderbirds back in the day, and named them after prostitutes as well. Makes sense to me!

Another old race car.

This is a famous old hot rod, built by Dick Flint back in the late 1940's after the war. It is based on a 1929 Ford roadster with a custom made track nose. The car is currently owned by Don Orosco and has been perfectly restored to within an inch of it's life.

The car is flathead powered and went 130 miles an hour at  El Mirage back in 1950.

It has an actual 1932 Auburn dash and gauges, just beautiful.

This is the cover of Hot Rod magazine from 1952, the car is an icon.

And finally, would you please just take a gander at this mullet? I overheard him talking, he was Eastern European. Funny how these hairstyles exist only in Eastern Europe and Arkansas, I wonder if Arkansas was originally populated by Vikings?