grand national roadster show 2010

I'm quite sure you don't need an introduction to the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona. In case you do, this is what the official website says about the show: «The GNRS is now in its 61st year. Once known as the Oakland Roadster Show, it is the longest running indoor car show in the world!» And while you're reading this, the 2010 edition is in full swing. For guys like us who can't attend it, we are more than thankful that there are talented guys like Dave Lindsay, equipped with digital cameras and providing us with an illustrated show coverage. Dave even shot a lot of pics when they set up the cars on thursday! Check them out or view them as a slideshow.
(Photography © Dave Lindsay)


As an avid LOWTECH reader, you should know this heavily sectioned chevy.


I love wagons. And those longroofs seem to be big this year.


Ford wagon with a killer paintjob by Vintage Color Studio.


Freshly restored: famous '57 nomad Rod & Custom cover car.


One of my alltime favorite wagons: the '56 nomad built by Salinas Boys.


I heard it through the grapevine. Funny? Not.


Seeing and therefore knowing the Pierson Bros. Coupe is actually at the show, gives me goosebumps.


Yeah!

rev it up!

Well, I mean yeah, maybe. Cool pic though.

chopped '54

Sorry fellows, not much blogging time at the moment. So for now, just an old chevy with a beautiful chop (photos borrowed from the HAMB). I hope to catch up soon and get back to a higher pace again as I got some ideas spinning in my head. Stay tuned.

old & blown

I'm a sucker for vintage hot rod photography. Unfortunately I don't know anything about the whereabouts of these old pics I probably found some time ago on the HAMB. The blown engine, while still looking impressive today, must have been quite a sight at the time.

thank you, philip morris

The 1980s were the worst decade ever. The music was horrible, maybe except for some british heavy metal. Yuppie culture was at its all-time high and the cars were butt-ugly. Even in the hot rod and custom scene, there was no relief. Pastel colors, splash graphics and jaguar rear ends ruled the world. But there was a ray of hope... It must have been around '87 or '88, when a caravan of more or less traditional custom cars toured the world's shopping malls. They even showed up in the shopping mall close to my hometown! I just had to be there and I, 12 years old and with a bmx as my only means of transportation, was simply blown away by these wild rides. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos at the time, but at least I bought this set of postcards. After all these years, the memories have faded a bit, but I remember very well that the Merc above used to be my favourite, apart from the '61 Corvette roadster being the first prize of the raffle held during the exhibition. Well, here they are for your viewing pleasure. There were a couple more cards with cars, but these are the highlights.


The Ala Kart clone.


Gene Winfield's Strip Star.


The Beatnik Bandit... don't know if it was a clone or the real deal.


I also don't remember why Dean Jeffries' Manta Ray was pictured only as a fuzzy airbrush painting.


Silhouette, built by Bill Cushenbery.


The first prize in the raffle. Wonder who won it and where it is today.


And there was a whole bunch of wild customs, built by Darryl Starbird: Vantasta...


Trick Truck...


Illusion...


and Star Treck.

rock around the block

Soon it's weekend and soon there will be spring again. Well, maybe not that soon but as I just felt the urge to drive an old car I decided to hop into my '49 and go for a spin. The spin actually consisted of driving two car lenghts in front of my garage. But still, it rocked.

searching for the sun

Winter sucks. And it sucks big time in this part of the world. Not so much because of the white stuff laying everywhere but rather because of the lack of sun. So, I try to get every ray of sunshine, even if it's just the reflection in the candy apple green paint of this bitchin' Bellflower Buick I saw at GNRS almost one year ago.

let's build a model a... three-window coupe

Maybe you remember my previous posts (part 1) and (part 2) about the build-up of the Schaub coupester. In the meantime, the car has progressed a lot and its builder finally figured out if it's gonna become a coupe or a roadster... Well actually, it still ain't that easy. Just for the hell of it, and as he likes to challenge himself a little, he decided to build a model a three window coupe... something good old Henry never carried in his range of products. Check it out.



The friction shocks were built from scratch. The metal parts were laser cut, while the material in between is a strange stuff called volcano fibre.


Even something as basic as a floor can become a work of art.